Page 92 of Master of Fortune

“The last thing I would ever expect of her is to hold that position.”

“She needs someone without our baggage, and you know it. Do you think your uncle and cousin are the last of the bastards who will use her to get to you? You have a slew of enemies who would love to find a way to break you. My sister won’t become collateral damage for a man like you.”

“What makes you think I have any feelings for her?”

“Those pictures show a man who’d burn the world down for her,” Evan observed. “From what I hear, you cleaned house of anyone rumored to have any involvement in the incident with Nyx.”

No one outside of my men was supposed to know the truth behind my war with my uncle. Now it looked as if Stevie and Tony had a set of eyes in their organizational structure sending information to the Mykos brothers.

“I don’t tolerate traitors.”

“Bullshit. You don’t just throw away a decade of planning to take down your biggest enemy for anyone.” Tyler learned back in his chair. “How many are dead for targeting her? How many are out in the wind for thinking to use her against you? How many of your people watch out for her safety in addition to her own?”

“Anyone would take care of their fiancée in a similar fashion.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“Spell it out for me, Mykos. What is it that you want me to do?”

“Break it off.”

“By doing that, are you willing to forego such a large sum?”

“For my sister’s happiness, absolutely. But we know you aren’t going to actually end the engagement. You will end your personal relationship and just hold to the formal aspects.”

“She won’t like that you are interfering.”

“You aren’t going to tell her. This is between us. She won’t ever learn that I know anything about her activities in Vegas.”

“Why wouldn’t I disclose this?”

“Because I will still honor the port transfer. It technically belonged to your family generations ago, anyway.”

“Your sister’s happiness is worth that much to you?”

“The question is, what is it worth to you?”

Everything.

I held his cold gaze with one of my own, not saying anything.

Fucker knew he had me by the balls.

“You’re lucky I didn’t kill you for the terms of your arrangement in the first place. But seeing as it brought you to your knees, I can live with it.” Tyler rose from his chair. “As I said, if you love her, then you let her go. Give her the freedom she craves so damn much.”

“What makes you think she won’t pick me?”

“It’s not a matter of picking you or not. You’re not going to give her an option. Wasn’t that how it all started? Blackmailing her into your arrangement?”

“I have no incentive for letting her go.”

“How about this? The second you break it off with her, I will hand over the port. I won’t make you wait out the rest of the term for the contract.”

“You’re trying to bribe me?”

“This is no different than before. But wait”—he paused, a calculating smirk touching his lips—“it is. You’re in love with her. You have to weigh what’s worth more to you. My sister or something to expand your empire.”

He knew damn well there was no competition.

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