Devon was quite happy to let me lounge about in yoga pants and tees. Oliver would have had a fit. Despite not wanting to contrast the pair of them, I did so constantly. That was because the differences between the two of them were glaringly obvious.Devon seemed genuine, as far as I could tell, while Oliver was beyond fake.
“Hey.” Devon flopped down beside me on the blanket. He’d been swimming in the sea and shook himself all over me.
“Devon!” I squealed, and he laughed.
“I couldn’t resist; you looked so serious.”
“I’m okay, was just lost in thoughts,” I replied.
“Don’t bring him here. He’s not worth it,” Devon said, and I nodded.
“You’re not wrong.” I stretched and smiled up at him. “What’s for dinner tonight?”
Devon cracked a wicked smile.
I giggled, smacked his hard chest, and added, “Not what you’re thinking.”
“But an Alicia with whipped cream is my favourite dessert,” Devon complained, ducking his head and nuzzling my throat.
“Food, Devon, you know, sustenance,” I teased, and Devon made a moaning noise.
“Evil woman… but I can’t have you waste away. Plus, I need my strength to keep up with you,” he whispered in my ear.
I shivered, and his eyes took on a wicked look. I leaned up and kissed him, and then jumped to my feet and raced back to the cottage. Devon roared and chased after me as I laughed like a loon.
Winona
I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “Are you serious?”
Aaron shook his head. “Appears so.”
“This is bullshit!” I exclaimed. “You’re not going?”
“Fuck no. But the timing is convenient. Zade just marched into second place, and Oliver’s shitting himself.”
I growled at Aaron. Oliver’s latest stunt was to throw a huge charity event, and he was inviting the most influential people around. The Funding Five had been ignored and not included. It was a deliberate slap in the face. “Cain Russell?” I asked.
“Also left off. Oliver’s circling the wagons, but many of those he’s invited have already refused, pending a prior arrangement.” Aaron smiled.
“Which one?” I demanded.
“Oh, we’re holding a fundraiser for the new children’s hospital wing and air ambulance,” Aaron said. “Lines are being drawn, and we’ll make a note of who chooses Oliver’s side.”
Holy hell, were we entering a war that the business world had never seen before? Because it certainly seemed like it.
Chapter Twenty-Four.
Cain
“Reply to Aaron Sinclair that I’ll attend his charity event,” I ordered my secretary before sitting back in my chair. I tapped the invitation Aaron had sent out and smiled. “Also, post on my social media where I’ll be attending.”
That statement alone would let people know where I stood. Kensington’s fundraiser would be a failure; nobody but idiots wanted to cross me. Not unless they had a death wish. It was obvious why Kensington was doing this. Zade had just climbed the ranks with the announcement of Mystique signing with them. Undoubtedly, Kensington had heard and was now shitting himself. If he wasn’t more fool him.
I turned to my latest report. Alicia had spent four days away with Harrison, and that burned. Especially as they had become intimate with each other, while it grated, it wouldn’t last. Alicia would be mine, and I’d wait for her patiently. She needed whatHarrison could give her, and I’d allow that. Alicia may not remember me, but I remembered, and I’d never forgotten her.
Cain – fourteen years ago.
He was dead. I couldn’t believe it. Rand was gone. My older brother hadn’t come home as he promised. Beside me, Dad stared at the coffin and at the flag that covered it. Anger burned deep within me, mixed with grief. This was his fault. Dad’s. He’d forced Rand into joining the army, full of comments about how it would make a real man of him. Bull-fucking-shit. Instead, Rand had died on his first tour.
