Chapter 20
I wonder if Mr. Duncan would consider parting with this ranch. I”m sitting in the study of my temporary headquarters, staring out the window at the rolling hills that stretch as far as the eye can see.
This ranch has provided me a sanctuary of sorts over the past few months as I orchestrated my revenge against Winston Westbrook.
But now that it”s done, now that I”ve taken him down and seized control of his precious empire...I feel nothing but a hollow ache in my chest.
My gaze drifts to the framed photo on my desk—a candid shot of Mama, J”Mario, Jalisa, and me from happier times—before the betrayal, before our family legacy was ripped away and ground into dust.
That old wound still stings, even after achieving this long-sought vengeance against the bastard who destroyed us. Maybe because in the process of claiming my victory, I”ve inflicted fresh devastation on the community I once called home.
The knock at the door jolts me from my brooding thoughts. ”Come in.”
J”Mario and Jalisa file in, their expressions matching masks of grim determination. No need for pleasantries between us - we”re all soldiers united on this battlefield, bonded by blood and a decade of shared struggles.
”You summoned us?” Jalisa arches one delicate brow, ever the pragmatist. Her gaze roams over the surface of my desk, taking in the various documents and spreadsheets detailing Westbrook Industries” byzantine network of subsidiaries and partnerships.
”I did.” My voice is a low rasp against the tense silence. ”We need to discuss our next moves regarding the company and its ties to Madison Grove.”
J”Mario settles into the chair across from me, his hulking frame dwarfed by the oversized leather. ”You”re having second thoughts about dismantling Westbrook”s entire operation.”
It”s not a question. My big brother has always possessed an uncanny ability to cut straight through my bravado to the doubts lingering beneath.
I give a curt nod. ”The more I look into the scope of Winston”s business dealings, the more I realize just how deeply his poison has seeped into our hometown”s economic roots.”
Jalisa frowns, worrying her full lower lip. ”So what are you saying, Jermaine? That we should just walk away and let that corrupt son of a bitch reclaim his stranglehold over Madison Grove?”
After everything we”ve sacrificed, every underhanded tactic deployed to finally bring Winston Westbrook to his knees...there”s no way in hell I”ll allow him to slither back and reclaim his throne.
”Not a chance,” I growl, leaning forward to brace my hands on the desk.
My siblings” eyes are twin mirrors of intensity, reflecting my own burning need to see this through to the bitter end. ”Winston”s reign of terror is over. But we may need to adjust our strategy for dealing with the...collateral damage.”
The words leave an acrid taste on my tongue. Jalisa scoffs, flicking a dismissive hand.
”You mean Londyn and her little brewery, right?”
A tremor races through me at the sound of her name. The memory of those warm brown eyes, brimming with a complicated swirl of hurt and hope as I presented her that ludicrously oversized check...it”s burned into my psyche.
”Among others,” I force out through gritted teeth.
”Good,” she says. ”Someone wants to speak with us. My brow furrows as Jalisa waves Sterling Westbrook inside the study.
My former best friend. Winston”s son.
I tense as he strolls in, hands jammed in the pockets of his slacks. Sterling always did have that easy confidence about him, the kind that comes from being born into privilege.
”Jermaine.” He nods, mouth curved in a slight smile. ”J”Mario, Jalisa.”
My siblings greet him with wary silence. None of us are quite sure what to make of his unannounced visit.
Sterling”s gaze sweeps the room before landing squarely on me. ”Figured it was time we talked.”
I lean back in my chair, studying him. His hazel eyes are clear, expression open. No trace of the arrogant frat boy who once trashed my brewery lab as a prank.
”So talk,” I say flatly.
Sterling shifts his weight, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. A nervous habit he”s never been able to shake. ”I know my father”s a jackass…but....”
My muscles tense instinctively. If he”s here as Winston”s lapdog, to threaten or posture...
But then Sterling continues, and the words that tumble out yank the floor straight from under me.
”I want to help.”
J”Mario makes a low sound of surprise as Jalisa”s brows wing upward. ”You”re serious?” she asks, studying him intently. ”You want to help us take down your old man?”
Sterling meets her stare levelly. ”No, I”m done making excuses for the way he does business. Westbrook Industries is out of control—you all know it as well as I do. But I”m hoping together we can make it better.”
I sit forward in my chair. Every instinct screams at me to shut this down, to refuse his offer on principle.
But then I remember the crushed look on Londyn”s face when she realized the full extent of my plan against her boss. The unintended casualties of my single-minded pursuit of justice.
If there”s even a chance Sterling can help mitigate the damage, protect the community I claim to care about...shouldn”t I take it?
”Say I believe you,” I growl, not trusting until he proves himself. He”s still a Westbrook. ”What exactly did you have in mind?”
A glint of something like respect flashes in Sterling”s eyes.
”I want you to keep doing what you”re doing,” he says evenly. ”Acquiring shares, undermining investor confidence, taking the fight straight to my father”s door. But this time, with me on the inside to help grease the wheels.”
J”Mario frowns, clearly skeptical. ”Why should we trust you? You”ve spent years enabling Winston”s shady business, turning a blind eye to his questionable ethics.”
”You”re right.” Sterling”s shoulders slump with a sigh. ”I have. And I”m ashamed of the way I let him manipulate me, used the family legacy as an excuse to justify all manner of corporate misbehavior.”
His gaze finds mine again, raw and sincere. ”You of all people know how much it means to fight for the thing your parents built from the ground up. To protect it at all costs, even when it means making...difficult choices.”
The words are like a punch to the gut, forcing the air from my lungs in a harsh exhale. He”s absolutely right—the driving force behind every ruthless move I”ve made has been to restore the Knights family name.
To avenge the wrong done to our legacy all those years ago.
And here”s Sterling, offering me the chance to achieve that goal while avoiding the unnecessary destruction I”d resigned myself to causing.
It”s tempting. More than tempting.
But can I truly trust the man whose family ripped away everything I loved? That made my father…
Sterling seems to read the hesitation flickering across my face. ”We”ve had our differences, Jermaine. More than our fair share of bad blood.” His expression turns rueful, regretful. ”I was a dick back then—you know it, I know it.”
Jalisa snorts indelicately. ”No arguments here.”
”Fair enough,” Sterling allows with a dip of his chin. ”And maybe I can”t ever fully make up for the ways I”ve wronged you and your family over the years. But this?” He gestures broadly, encompassing our clandestine war room. ”This is bigger than you and me, man. It”s about righting the kind of systemic injustice that destroys people”s lives and livelihoods without a second thought.”
My chest tightens as visions of Londyn”s warm, radiant smile flash through my mind, quickly followed by the pained downturn of her lips as she clutched that ridiculous check.
The damage I”ve already caused by letting my vendetta blind me. The people caught in the crossfire, their businesses and dreams put at risk...
All because I was too pigheaded and obsessed with vengeance to consider the bigger picture.
Swallowing hard, I force myself to meet Sterling”s intent stare. ”Say we do this your way. What”s to stop your father from making you the next sacrificial lamb, like he did to my old man?”
”You let me worry about that,” Sterling says with a grim smile. ”I”ve got all the leverage I need, trust me. But the key thing is, we put me in charge and make some long-overdue changes to the way Westbrook Industries operates.”
My brow furrows as I consider his proposal. ”Such as?”
”Severing ties with all of Winston”s shadier partners and under-the-table contracts. The city contracts, the construction deals—all of it gets reviewed and renegotiated under strict ethical guidelines.”
J”Mario”s eyes narrow thoughtfully. ”You planning some kind of ethical rebranding?”
”Something like that,” Sterling confirms with a nod. ”A return to Westbrook Industries” roots as an innovative, community-driven brand committed to supporting local business and entrepreneurship.”
My heart stutters at the implication behind his words. If he”s serious, if we manage to pull this off...
”Londyn,” I murmur, more to myself than anyone else.
Sterling hears it anyway, those perceptive hazel eyes finding mine again. ”Her brewery would be one of the first we”d look to bring into the fold. Crown Jewel”s success is a key part of rebuilding that connection to Madison Grove”s heritage.”
A surge of hope swells in my chest, quickly tempered by hard-won pragmatism. ”Even after everything I”ve done? You really think she”d be willing to partner with us?”
”I think she”d be willing to listen if the offer came from the right person,” Sterling counters meaningfully. ”Someone she still has... feelings for.”
The breath catches in my throat as realization dawns. Sterling is handing me a second chance—not just to make amends with Londyn, but to actively fight for the woman I love and the dreams we once shared.
To build something together, rather than tear it all down in a sea of bitterness and destruction. An opportunity to reshape my priorities, to become a man worthy of her.
A glance around the room shows my siblings watching me carefully, their faith in my judgment plain to see.
No matter how deeply I”ve fallen, how far I”ve strayed...they”ll back my play. As they always have.
Turning to Sterling, I extend my hand. ”You”ve got a deal, Westbrook. Let”s do this right—for our families, for Madison Grove, and for the people whose lives and livelihoods are at stake.”
Relief washes over his features as he clasps my hand firmly. ”You won”t regret this, Jermaine. I give you my word.”
As Sterling outlines the finer points of his strategy, I find my attention drifting, my mind painting vivid fantasies of the future.
Of striding through the doors of Crown Jewel Brew, head held high, to find Londyn behind the bar with that radiant smile...
Of pulling her into my arms and drinking in her warmth, her intoxicating scent, as I lay out the new path forward for us...
Of cradling her beautiful face in my hands and promising her everything—my heart, my future, my unwavering devotion.
This is about more than just reclaiming my family”s legacy or reshaping Westbrooks. It”s about winning back the only woman who ever truly understood me.
I can only hope she”s prepared for what I”m about to unveil.