Page 114 of Desperate Actions

“Part ownership? Hell no. Uncle Adrik doesn’t just hand out pieces of the company. Not even to family.” He shrugs. “I’m on the board because I’m rich.”

I blink again.

“What do you mean rich?”

Sammy smirks. “What do you mean, what do I mean?”

I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean.”

He stretches his arms above his head like he’s completely unbothered while I sit here trying to figure him out.

“Well,” he says lazily, “first, you’d need billions just to get a seat at the table.”

I stare at him. “Billions?”

He nods, lips twitching.

“And money alone isn’t enough. You need resources. You need something that can be leveraged. That’s how business works.”

“Resources like what?”

“Mines.” His eyes gleam. “Mineral rights. Oil, depending on the market.”

I still, my heart pounding. “And you have those things?”

Sammy gives me a slow, knowing grin, like he’s been waiting for me to catch up.

“Yeah, Pixie. I do.”

My stomach tightens. There is more to my husband than meets the eye.

Sexy, protective soldier Sammy? I know him.

But ruthless, cunning tycoon Sammy? I’m just meeting him.

And the worst part? I’m completely captivated.

“See,” he says, shifting closer, “my mother’s family was old money. Her first husband? A fucking piece of shit. He married her to get his hands on her father’s company—Maxwell Mining.” His expression darkens, voice dropping to a low growl.

“Sammy,” I whisper, my hand on his bare chest, feeling the way his muscles tighten beneath my touch. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “I want to.”

He inhales deeply, and for a moment, I swear I see ghosts in his eyes.

“My mom’s ex? He’s not my father. I don’t even remember him. Andres Ramirez is my dad. Mom didn’t even know what that other prick was capable of. She risked her life for me.”

His voice is rough, uneven, like the words are scraping his throat as he forces them out.

My stomach drops. I had no idea. Not about any of this, and my heart constricts inside my chest.

“He only married her to take her inheritance,” he continues, eyes flickering with something lethal. “And after her father died, he tried to tear it from her hands. Terrorized her.”

My chest aches, a lump forming in my throat. “Oh, Sammy. I am so sorry.”

“Don’t be sad. There’s a happy ending. See, when she met Dad he fell head over heels,” he murmurs. “Married her. Protected her. Adopted me. Taught me what a real man is.”

I bite my lip, feeling the weight of his words.

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