Page 225 of Mad As Hell

“No,” I answered honestly.

He kissed me quickly. “Me neither. Let’s go.”

CHAPTER 61

MADDIE

I should’ve asked Ash for one of those itty bitty cameras I could pin to the front of my outfit. The looks of confusion on Gary’s and Beckett’s faces would forever be imprinted on my mind.

The board members of Cain Industries were seated around a long wood table with a finish so glossy I could see their reflections in it. Nearly a dozen men were there, each looking somewhere between amused and bored as Gary and Beckett faced off in front of a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased a breathtaking view of the Los Angeles skyline.

Beckett smiled at Ryan. “Son, I wasn’t aware you were joining us, but good timing. I was just about to show Gary how epically he just lost everything.”

Ryan nodded. “Don’t let me stop you.”

Gary looked at me, suspicion in his eyes as he realized something wasn’t right. “What’s this?” His eyes focused on where Ryan and I were holding hands. Unlike Beckett, he didn’t assume I was here to take his side.

Maybe he was the smarter of the two after all.

“This is you finally getting exactly what you deserve,” Ryan replied, his smile icy as he stepped away from me and dropped the briefcase onto the table with a bang. He glanced around the room. “Gentlemen, why don’t you all take a break? We have some family matters to discuss.”

No one moved.

Ryan smirked. “It wasn’t a suggestion. Get the fuck out or I’ll have security escort you from the building.”

A man with thinning white hair and a beer belly for days scoffed at him. “Beckett, your boy is out of line. Handle him.”

Beckett’s face turned a vibrant shade of red and he stalked toward Ryan, grabbing his arm as if to physically manhandle him out of the room.

“What the fuck—” Beckett’s hissed question was abruptly cut off when Ryan spun and decked him. Blood spurted from Beckett’s nose as he fell backward onto his ass with a curse. Several men jumped up from the table.

“Get the fuck out!” Ryan roared, and several men practically ran for the door. I quickly stepped away so I wasn’t blocking their exit, my eyes on Gary.

I saw the moment it clicked that he knew something was wrong. That he’d messed up.

Triumph surged in my veins, the elation giving me a high so potent I was almost lightheaded.

A few men lingered, unsure about Ryan, who simply cracked his knuckles as Beckett shoved to his feet. Ryan barely spared him a glance. “Don’t even think about touching me again.”

Beckett’s gaze snapped to me, and Ryan snarled. “And don’t you fucking dare look at her.”

The man who had questioned Ryan looked intrigued. “Who the hell do you think you are? This is a board meeting—”

“Considering I now own the majority stock in CI, I’m overruling whatever board decisions you think you’re empowered to make.” Ryan cut him off with a smirk. Facing off against a room full of assholes—and punching Beckett—was seriously hot.

My husband was so getting laid tonight.

“You don’t own shit,” Beckett spat, blood still dribbling from his nose. He stumbled around to the other side of the table before slapping a hand on the speaker box. “Get me fucking security.”

No one answered.

“Gave your secretary the rest of the day off,” Ryan drawled. He pulled out his cellphone and tapped out a message. “But if you want security, I’ll have them come up.”

It took less than a minute for three security guards to walk into the room, each one bigger than the next. And finally, Royal stepped in behind them and closed the door, his look somehow furious and indifferent at the same time.

Beckett gaped at Royal, clearly recognizing him. “What—”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Royal to handle security until I can find someone I trust to do the job,” Ryan explained with a feral smile. He glanced at the man who we had asked to come help us literally take out the trash.

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