73. Chapter Seventy-Three #2
Gage cleared his throat. “I’d feel better having Lynette downstairs, too. I don’t want Liam and his idiots having access to all three of the most important Agostis.”
“I’m staying upstairs at my daughter’s side.”
All our attention snapped to Lynette, and Lianne tipped her head to the side as she glanced at her mom. “Why?”
“A show of power, my dear. You want him to see we aren’t afraid to be in the same room as them, especially in our own home.
They are coming in here thinking they are tough shit.
Let’s show off the team. Let Liam and whomever he brings with him think they have some kind of power.
Then you can remind them just how wrong they are. ”
“Lynette, I don’t—”
“I’m not asking you, Mr. St. James. I’m talking to our Don.”
My eyes went wide as Lynette cut off Gage. That wasn’t her typical style, and from the stunned expression on his face, he hadn’t expected it from her, either.
Lianne stared at her mother for a moment. “Fine, but I get to do the talking, and the second anything feels off, Gage is going to pull you and Ben the hell out of there to keep you safe. No arguments.”
“Of course.” Lynette grinned in a way that made a sliver of fear shoot down my back. “Like I’ve said before, let Liam and his associates see exactly who is sitting on the throne he gave up. He’s been fucking around too long. It’s high time he found out.”
Lianne matched her mother’s terrifying expression and nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Lynette now leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “But what about you, my dear? What’s the plan when you face your eldest brother?”
A proud smile appeared on her face. “I’ll have my A-team flanking me, guns at the ready. The only question I have is for Tori.” She turned and looked at me, and I tightened my grip on Peter’s hand as nerves shot through me. “Would you like to be in the vicinity of this showdown?”
I was stunned she even asked. Everyone else had been handed their orders. “You’re in charge, Lianne. You tell me. Do you want me in the room when it happens?”
She shook her head. “No, Tori, you have a say in this. You’ve been hurt and screwed over the most by this man.
You’ve got just as much skin in the game.
You don’t have to lay eyes on him if you don’t want to.
If I'm being honest, I'd prefer to keep you as far from him as possible. He doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near you, but I respect you too much to make that decision without your consent. You are a grown woman and you have a say about what happens, especially when it comes to that man. The only non-negotiable point is that Peter will be covering you.”
I nodded and gave him a quick glance. “That is a non-negotiable thing for me, too.” I let out a tense breath, trying to ignore the fact everyone in the room was staring at me.
“I’d like to at least overhear what is happening.
Peter and I can stay out of sight initially.
If I feel that I need to say something, I’ll reveal myself. ”
Lianne’s gaze held mine for a moment, but I saw Lukas’s lips tighten as he tried to stay quiet. I looked at him. “Say it, Lu.”
“If he’s here for you, I don’t want him anywhere near you. We could move you into Connor’s place for the next two days. Liam doesn’t know it exists.”
“No. I’m tired of hiding away in safe houses.” Looking over at Lynette, I continued, “Not that I don’t appreciate everything you have done for the last seven years, but I’m done hiding.”
She nodded. “I know, my dear. I don’t blame you one bit.”
“Okay, Tori. You can stay in or near the foyer for this.” Lianne’s voice was strong and steady, and I saw bits of her mom and dad in her as she sat there as Don of the Agosti family.
My chest swelled with pride and honor at being in her presence right now.
“One wrong move, though, and Peter pulls you the hell out of there and into the safe room in the kitchen. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Once everyone is in the foyer, that’s where we are staying. The lounge and conference room are for invited and welcomed guests. Liam and his men are neither.”
“You know they are going to be wired, right?” Ryan pointed out.
Lianne nodded. “I thought about that. What’s your plan?”
His expression turned dark as he leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.
“Remember how they fucked up our comms before shit went down at Poppy’s office?
I’ve learned a few tricks since then. I can make sure the signal is jammed whenever we want.
It will cut off some communication here on the compound as well, but since most everyone on the team will be surrounding you, and the otters will be here in the war room, I think it’s a calculated risk we can take. ”
Jess grinned. “I love your diabolical side.”
He shrugged. "Not sure how diabolical it is. I’m just doing my job to protect my family.”
They turned their attention to preparing alternate plans, and I did my best to pay attention, but my focus kept going to where Peter was holding my hand. My thoughts also kept circling around the fact I was going to see Liam tomorrow. It was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
“Alright. Let’s take a breath and get something to eat. Be back down here in an hour.”
Lianne’s dismissal brought me back to the present, and as everyone was leaving, a thought popped into my head that made me chuckle.
“What’s so funny?”
Looking up at Lianne, I smiled. “Remember when you asked for twenty-four hours of quiet around your birthday and I said challenge accepted? Well, I think we had close to seventy-two hours. Do I win a prize?”