Page 227 of Mad As Hell

Gary picked it up, his brow furrowing. “What’s this?”

“The balance of my accounts in Switzerland and the Caymans,” I replied sweetly. “It’s where I had my inheritance moved to. My attorneys filed all the paperwork needed for me to collect it at the beginning of the week.”

The slight tremor as the papers shook was the only sign Gary was rattled as he hissed, “What?”

I faked innocence. “Well, between that money and the money I’m getting from Brookfield, I was advised—”

Gary’s sudden yell made me jump, and a second later he was rounding the table, his eyes murderous.

Ryan stepped between us, intercepting Gary with a punch to his jaw that made him stumble back. Ryan followed it up with a shot to his ribs before pushing him backward onto the boardroom table, his hands around Gary’s throat.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks,” he seethed as Gary uselessly clawed at Ryan’s wrists. He was no match for Ryan’s strength or fury. “You don’t ever get to touch Maddie again, asshole. Try it, and they’ll need dental records to identify you.”

Ryan’s icy gaze lifted to Beckett as Gary’s feet kicked uselessly. “That goes for you, too. You’re done. Both of you. I suggest you leave town before the Russians figure out they’ve been played.”

Beckett’s hands balled into fists at his sides. “You’re going to pay for this.”

“Somehow I doubt that,” Ryan chuckled. “But feel free to stick around and try. I hear the last guy who reneged on a deal with the Russians got fucked by a cattle prod until he had a heart attack.”

My gaze dropped to Gary, who was turning a concerning shade of bluish purple as his attempts to get free started waning. “Ryan, enough.”

Like he was my own trained attack dog, he let Gary go and stepped back to my side. “Whatever you say, Maddie.”

Gary rolled onto his side, coughing uncontrollably as he wheezed in a sharp breath.

Beckett turned to me with accusing eyes. “You played me, you lying whore.”

Ryan took a threatening step forward, but I grabbed his arm. “You played yourself,” I replied, shaking my head.

“Ryan, she’s going to fuck you over, too,” Beckett insisted. “Are you really this stupid? That blinded by mediocre pussy?”

Ryan just smiled, not rising to the bait. “You’ve lost, old man. Get your shit and get out before I have my security toss you out one of the windows up here.” His gaze slid to Gary, who was just getting to his feet. “That goes for both of you.”

“This isn’t over,” Beckett snapped before storming from the room.

Gary was slower, his gaze moving over me. “I underestimated you. Both of you.”

I lifted my chin. “You did.”

He stumbled to the doorway and paused, meeting my eyes before he left. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

CHAPTER 62

MADDIE

I needed a nap.

Watching Ryan slip into CEO mode as soon as Beckett and Gary were confirmed off the premises was hot, but also exhausting. I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on, but watching him literally roll up his sleeves and flash me some forearm porn while he jumped on no less than a dozen calls while pacing the length of the conference room? Yeah, that was sexy.

By the time everything at CI was under control, the sun was slipping behind the LA skyline.

Ryan finished his call and turned to me. “Ready to go home?”

I perked up and slipped my feet back into the heels I’d kicked off hours ago. “Definitely.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face before flashing me a tired smile. “How are you doing?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” I countered, walking to him and resting my hands on his chest.

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