Iris told me about their confrontation when we were in the car and Colby was hounding Harry with a million questions, so that little asshole is on my shit list forever.
“Sit, Eian,” Harry says, but the smirk on his face doesn’t lie.
Yes, Your Highness, is on the tip of my tongue, but I bite that back and sit next to Iris with Colby on my other side.
Next to him is Michelle Blackwell, then her son Matthew, then Eli Ellsworth, the tablet guy from the other night, and his father Michael. And lastly Baron Alton, the oldest Alton brother, and his daughter Beatrice is next to Harry.
The museums guy is right in front of me, one of the other two girls from this weekend beside him—his daughter Patricia. Then there’s the hotels guy, Richard Cockerton—which will never not be funny—and his daughter Virginia. Next to them sits Jim Barclay, who ownsalmostevery professional sports team in the city, and his son Tucker, and finally...
“Well?” The woman on Harry’s right asks. She’s Shirley Wall, Chair of Wealth, and boy is she wealthy.
The world thinks she’s richer than Harry, and of course now I know that’s not technically true, but she does own and lead one of the largest banks in the world.
She’s Zack’s mother. The little rat.
“You heard her.” Harry nods at Iris. “Eian is my cousin and Iris’s uncle. Yes, he’s also the head of the Irish Mafia, andyes, I’ve been keeping this a secret from everyone all my life, as did my father. Yes, my mother is the sister of Ronan Dempsey, and you should all be glad she has better self-restraint than he did or more than a few of you would’ve died while she was Dad’s heir then mine. Yes, today we’re inducting Eian as the roof of the Turris and Chair of People, and no...”
His steel gaze meets every face in the room except mine.
“I don’t care if any of you think that’s a good idea or not.”
Well then . . .
“Let’s get started, shall we?” I ask, all smiles for my new friends. “Don’t look so gloomy.” I chuckle at the varying emotions—rage, confusion, and almost hate in some. “You’d all still be listening to that asshole Brent if it weren’t for me.”
I smirk over at Michael Ellsworth then drop the funny act and make sure every word comes outveryclearly.
“And you’d still be firing good people without cause.”
“It’s fine,” Colby says, and pats my forearm. “I’m sure he feels bad enough, don’t you, Michael?”
Colby’s smile is not kind. At all.
Fuck I love him.
An hour later,after discussing in excruciating detail how the Russians, Chinese, and even Italians helped us close down the human trafficking operation upstate, how the FBI has taken over, and what the situation with the mayor will be moving forward, everyone stands to leave.
“May I have a word?” I ask Michael Ellsworth, then look at his son. “With both of you?”
Michael turns scared eyes to Harrison, who nods in reassurance.
“He won’t hurt either of you, but I’ll stay if you want.”
Clearly no one gives a fuck whatIwant, but it’s Harrison, so I don’t mind.
A lot of significant looks get thrown around as everybody else takes their sweet-ass time getting the fuck out, but then Iris stays too, and when I raise an eyebrow in question, she raises one right back, daring me to tell her to leave.
I let out an annoyed sigh.
“You’re becoming annoyingly similar to your father,” I tell her.
“Thank you.” She stands taller.
“Wasn’t a compliment.” I send her a wink then look at Eli. “It’s my understanding that you’re exceptionally good with computers?” I phrase it like a question, but Harry alreadygave us the rundown of every member—Chair or heir—of the Turris.
“I-I am,” the poor boy stutters, and manages to sound even younger than he looks. Only twenty-one, but it makes me feel like I’m a hundred years old.
“I have a guy, young like you, in my family. He’s pretty good too, but Harry assured me you’re better. I was wondering if he can... contact you.” I really don’t like asking anyone for any favors, but Seamus deserves the chance to become who he wants to become.
