Page 66 of Without Fail

“Have you spoken to my father?”

“No, why?”

“He’s not going to take what you did lightly.”

“What I did?” Marshal’s brow puckered with confusion.

“You pushed him.”

“He’s lucky I didn’t knock the fuck out of him.”

Ryker clutched at Marshal’s arm. “No, you can’t think that way.”

“Calm down.” Marshal brushed tender fingers over his cheek and beneath his chin. “I’ll handle your father.”

Something occurred to Ryker just then. “I need to get into my grandfather’s safe.”

“Oh?” Marshal asked, careful to keep his tone casual.

“Yeah, I’m looking for acquisition documents and records.”

“Can’t you just go in there and get them?”

Marshal knew the answer, but he needed to know where Ryker’s head was at.

Did the man suspect his father of criminal dealings? He had to very carefully go about finding out.

“Normally, yes. But I have a feeling my dad doesn’t want me meddling in the family business.”

“So, what do you need from me?” Marshal cupped the back of Ryker’s neck.

Fuck. This could be way easier than he had first thought it would be.

“I need him distracted. Preferably out of the house while I get into his office and search the safe,” Ryker said. “He goes to an off-site meeting every Friday.”

“Yes, but he monitors that room on his phone app,” Marshal murmured.

“I know. That’s why I need the FBI to take down the feed for me.”

Marshal blinked.

Ryker seemed to have it all planned out.

All he needed to do was come along for the ride.

No harm and no foul, right?

Shit.

The thought sat like lead in Marshal’s gut. He needed to come clean with Ryker.

“Ryker—”

The door was suddenly shoved open and Lydia Langston walked in. She took one look at a wide-awake Ryker and burst into tears. Rushing to the bed, she wrapped her arms around her son.

Marshal slid from sitting on the side of the bed and into the hospital chair next to it.

There would be time to inform Ryker about what was going on.

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