24. Ava #3
I didn’t let my desperation show. Of course he’d figured that out. Anyone with a laptop and five free minutes could have researched the headlines about my family.
“I’ve already got five other partners across the continent,” I said. “Do you think I’d come to you a beggar, that I wouldn’t secure everything I needed and then some?”
Those five other companies had only agreed on the condition that I got Fitz Global as well.
If I walked out of here empty-handed, I had nothing and my entire trip, everything we’d risked, would have been for nothing.
But he didn’t know that, couldn’t have known that.
I held my chin higher and donned my corporate armor.
“This is a conditional transaction,” I continued. “The condition being that Vanderbilt Holdings takes the controlling share. You get to keep your name on the building. You keep the chairman’s seat. Olivia keeps her title. But let’s drop the pretense. We both know what this is and what it isn’t.”
I paused to let that sink in, staring Scott down, refusing to flinch. When a few moments passed where no one said anything, I sighed softly to myself and grabbed my briefcase to stand.
“So be it. Call me if you change your mind.” I headed toward the door.
Lycan fixed his jacket and stood to follow me. Poe glowered but trailed behind us.
“Wait,” Scott said as soon as I touched the door handle.
“Uther Vanderbilt’s daughter, indeed,” said the man to Scott’s left.
Scott let out a slow, measured exhale. He glanced to his colleagues, all of them giving him pointed looks that suggested he might as well do what I asked.
“Alright, Lonnie,” he said. “We’ll do it your way.”
Pride beamed down the bond between Poe and me as I returned to the table to sit, and Lycan placed a hand on my thigh under the table.
I curled my lips into a venomous smile, trying not to gloat. “Perfect. And Liv?”
Scott almost sneered at the mention of his sister. “She’s been briefed on the particulars. She’s in favor of this arrangement.”
I doubted it, but I didn’t press further.
After everything was finalized and the draft terms of service were signed, the room cleared out. I stood to pack my things into my bag while Scott meandered to my end of the table.
“I’m glad to see you haven’t lost your ruthlessness,” he said. “It was always one of your best qualities.”
I hummed in subtle agreement, but his gaze caught on my wedding ring and he furrowed his brow.
“You got married?” He jerked his head back and looked at Lycan, who put a protective arm around me and flashed a smug smile.
“You made a mistake, letting this one go,” Lycan said, his tone dripping with territorial possessiveness. “Good to see you again, Fitzgerald.”
“We’ll be in touch.” I gave Scott one last nod and headed toward the door. Poe trailed behind us and fell in next to me in the elevator. He waited until the doors closed before turning toward me and scooping me into a hug.
“That was fucking amazing,” he said, kissing my cheek. “You’re terrifying.”
“Thank you for being here,” I said. “Thank you both for helping me with this.”
Lycan laughed. “You live up to your name, Trouble. The Earl didn’t know what to do with you.”
I let the excitement of our victory wash over me. Guin would have the term sheet before she was out of bed. The underwriters would have it shortly after that. Nobody would put a sign on our field.
Then I sank back to reality. Yes, I’d secured the deal.
Yes, I’d gotten it for less than we’d budgeted.
But the real threat still lingered in my periphery.
Evelyn hadn’t shown herself on our way here.
The pack had escorted us to the meeting and waited outside while we handled our business, but we still had the trip back to the townhouse and the plane ride home to consider. We weren’t out of the woods yet.
Perhaps sensing my anxiety, Poe pressed his lips to my forehead. “We’ll be okay, baby.”
I wanted to believe him. We marched through the lobby, met up with Orion and the rest of the pack outside, and climbed into the Range Rover that would take us back to the townhome.
“Keep your eyes open,” Orion said to Locust in the driver’s seat. “If anything smells rotten, peel off. Your priority is getting them out. Let us handle the rest.”
Locust started the vehicle, but I didn’t like the idea of leaving the rest of the pack behind to save myself.
Orion and Mill were my brothers-in-law. If I came back without them, Sol and Maeve would be devastated.
Despite arguing that they should be allowed to come, my sisters stayed back.
The Bastards said they wouldn’t be nearly as effective if they were worried about their mates the entire time.
I thought that was some misogynistic bullshit, but I didn’t want them in danger, either.
Evelyn wanted me. So let her have me to save them.
The first ten minutes of the drive passed without issue.
We hit traffic getting out of the Square Mile, but nothing substantial.
I almost loosened the tight knot in my gut, the one telling me the other shoe was about to drop.
It would take us thirty minutes to get to the base, so I pulled out my phone to text my sisters the good news about Fitz.
“I can’t wait to get back to the States,” Locust groaned. “I’ve had enough Europe to last me a lifetime.”
“What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get home?” I asked with a smile, typing out a message.
“Eat a fucking hot dog,” he said.
Lycan laughed. “There are hot dogs here.”
“A sausage is not a hot dog, you fucking swine.” Locust rolled his eyes.
My husband scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’re in your snob era. You’ve been spending too much time with Trouble.”
“Hey!” I swatted Lycan on the chest, who caught my hand and pressed a kiss to my palm.
Lycan opened his mouth to respond, but my focus caught on the sight behind him. A huge Escalade barreled toward us, and before I could shout at Locust to move, it rammed into the side at full speed.