Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
“How did they undercut us?” Spencer asked, looking tired and disheveled, without his trademark stupid grin. “With very similar plans?”
“Someone stole our files, that’s what happened,” Quaid said grimly.
“Fuck,” Spencer groaned.
“The question is who,” Quaid murmured.
“Someone at the office, right?” Spencer said, looking between him and Slade.
Slade stood at the windows, looking out at Hyde park. Then he turned to them. “Billy.”
Hmm.
“Billy? What do you mean?” Spencer asked.
“He’s the only connection between us and Zodiac construction,” Quaid murmured.
“And he hates us,” Slade added.
“But how would he do it?” Spencer asked.
“He could have bribed someone that works for us,” Quaid said. “I’ll alert Shepherd. Get him to go through the video footage at the office.”
“I’m going to talk to Billy,” Slade said.
Quaid eyed Slade. That was probably a stupid idea. Just because Billy was Zodiac Construction’s lawyer didn’t mean he’d had anything to do with this.
But Quaid wanted him to be guilty.
He wanted that slimy bastard out of Indie’s life.
The timing had always been off with her and them. First, she’d been too young. Then they’d been building an empire.
And then she met Billy.
Fucking Billy.
He’d thought she’d eventually wake up and see him for what he was.
A complete and utter fuckwit.
But she’d lived with him now for five months and eighteen days. He didn’t know the hours or minutes. He wasn’t a complete psychopath.
They’d planned to make their move on her this weekend. To ensure that she never went back to him.
Quaid didn’t give a fuck about Billy’s feelings for Indie. Or whether she had any for him. The guy was going to lose and they were going to win.
And if he had to lock her up in their penthouse in order to achieve that?
He would.
Of course he hadn’t divulged that part of the plan to the others. He’d just told Slade to invite her to stay. That it was time to start making a move to separate her from that wanker.
They barely saw her anymore and it was eating at Quaid that he didn’t have the right to take care of her. To protect her.
To boss her around and have her under his control.
Quaid liked to be in control. And he wasn’t going to apologize for it.
“I’ll come with you.”
Slade rubbed his temple as he drove to Birmingham at a breakneck speed. His jaw was clenched tight.
“Slow down,” Quaid murmured.
Always so calm. Even when he wasn’t.
“I need to get there. To confront him.”
“I know. But we need to get there in one piece. And you need some painkillers.”
“I’m fine,” he snapped not wanting to be coddled.
“You should have let me drive.”
“I said I’m fine.”
Fuck. He was being an asshole. Quaid wasn’t the enemy.
Billy was.
“Here, take these or you’re going to be useless to me,” Quaid said in his normal cold, sharp tone as he held out some painkillers.
Quaid had trouble expressing how much he cared about others, but Slade knew that he would throw himself in front of a fucking bullet for the three of them.
The four of them.
Although Indie didn’t know yet that she was theirs.
He swallowed the painkillers with a few sips of warm water. Quaid was right. He needed his wits about him to deal with Billy.
Slade slammed the door open as he strode into Billy’s office. ignoring his assistant who was loudly protesting. Quaid walked silently behind him.
Quaid was the best choice to come with him. He was their fixer. Although how he could fix this when the bid had already been won by Zodiac Construction, Slade had no idea.
“Slade, how nice to see you,” Billy said warmly, standing up and giving him a smug look.
“How did you get them?” Slade smacked his hands down on the desk.
“Get what? It’s all right, Margaret. This is Indie’s brother. No need to call the police,” Billy called out.
Fucker.
“Stepbrother.” He needed to get her away from this asshole. Slade was certain that Bily was the reason they barely saw her anymore. That he’d moved her to Birmingham to put distance between them.
“Zodiac Construction undercut us on a bid with plans that were similar to ours,” Slade snarled. “How the hell did they get hold of them?”
“Are you saying that you think they somehow stole your bid and used it to undercut you? And that they used your plans? Now, those are some accusations. I hope you have proof,” Billy told him with fake concern.
Fucker.
“No?” Billy said. “So why would you come to me?”
“You represent them,” Quaid said.
“Oh, I do more than that, now. I’m a business partner.”
Slade’s fury grew and he had to fight hard not to smack this asshole in the face. “What the fuck?”
Billy smiled. “It’s just business, boys.”
“Not if they stole from us,” Quaid said. “That’s theft.”
“And I ask you again, can you prove it?” Billy asked.
“We will,” Slade said. “We have cameras in our offices. We’ll figure out who you used to steal the plans.”