“That you are not your uncle.” He reaches into his bag where it hangs on the edge of his chair, pulls out a data stick, and slides it toward Kane. “That’s a peace offering, my way of showing you I’m loyal to Lilah, I’m loyal to you. He doesn’t know how to protect himself or his assets. You better clean that shit up.”

I don’t look at Kane. I don’t have to. I can feel the spike of predatory energy in him. And I can feel his stare resting coldly on Lucas. And I know what is coming. Lucas may think he’s cornered Kane. He may think this is how he earns a place in Kane’s inner circle. Or maybe he thinks he can hold Kane hostage to therefore protect himself, and even his relationship with me, in some way. But he’s a mere rabbit taunting a lion. All the lion has to do is flick his paw and this is over.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Kane picks up the data stick, eyes it, and then fixes a hard stare on Lucas. “These are my uncle’s secrets?”

“Yes,” Lucas replies.

Kane leans forward and drops the stick in the glass of soda sitting near Lucas. “I’m not my uncle. I want nothing to do with his business. And if you have duplicates, I suggest you get rid of them. Or you could always offer your services to my uncle. That’s a good life-long gig. Of course, as my father proved, it will be a short life.”

“Is that a threat?” Lucas demands, eyeing me. “Are you going to let him threaten me?”

I shrug. “I don’t save people from their own stupidity on an empty stomach. I’m just not made that way.”

“If I was threatening you,” Kane replies, “you wouldn’t have to ask. Don’t connect me to my uncle. Ever.”

“Holy hell, this place is a madhouse.”

At the sound of Andrew’s voice, I turn to find him rounding the table to join us. “Did you already order?” he asks. “I’m so damn hungry I could eat from the plates on people’s tables.” He laughs and sits down next to Lucas and across from Kane, but he’s looking at me. “Remember Mom said that in that one movie?”

I actually laugh despite being suffocated by the testosterone at present, but I give none of the men at the table credit, not even Andrew. I give it to my mother and the fond memory of being on the movie set the day she shot that scene. “She had to shoot twenty takes, stuffing her face each time. She gained five pounds.” I glance at Kane. “You know the scene.”