“You heard me. If that bastard is going to control me from beyond the grave, I will at least have the staff I want. You, Lacey Ward, will be my personal counsel. I’ll double whatever you’re making at the firm.”

She reddened. “I’m not qualified—”

“You’ll learn.”

“Rock,” Reid said again. “This isn’t helping. We have a great legal staff, and I’ll show you the way around the company.”

“That’s right. You’ll be the COO, Reid. Chief operating officer. That’s who really does all the work anyway, right? Did our esteemed father issue any other edicts?” I nodded to Lacey. “What about Roy and Riley? Are they mandated to be involved?”

She shook her head. “The only mandate is that you head up the company and take a day-to-day role.”

“So if I do this, Roy and Riley can do whatever the fuck they want with their lives and still get their quarter share of everything?”

“That’s correct,” Lacey said.

“That asshole.” I downed my second bourbon.

“None of us are happy about this,” Riley said. “If you want…I’ll stop modeling and work for the company. I’ll do my share.”

I eyed my baby sister. She was beautiful, a female version of Roy, who was considered the best looking of the Wolfe brothers. And she had a successful career ahead of her as a model. I couldn’t take that away from her. Not after what she’d been through, what I’d tried like hell to protect her from. She hadn’t seen me in over a decade, but she was willing to make a sacrifice for me. I always knew I’d done the right thing all those years ago, trying to protect her, but her selfless gesture further cemented it.

“No,” I said. “You do what you want to do. There’s no reason for all of us to suffer.” I turned to Roy. “You too. Keep working at your art. Someone’s bound to discover your talent someday.”

“That’s big of you, bro,” Reid said.

“You sound surprised,” I said. “Though you may think the worst of me for staying away all these years, I’m not a bastard like that jerk who fathered us. But I do have my condition. And that rests with Lacey.”

8

Lacey

All eyes gazed at me.

I wasn’t going to be Rock Wolfe’s tool. We had only just met, despite the quickie in my office, and he wasn’t going to drag me into this.

“You come work for our company,” Rock said.

“You’re nuts.”

“I agree, Rock,” Reid said. “Lacey’s a great lawyer, but she’s an estate attorney. We have no need for her at the company.”

“I told you. I’m hiring her as my personal counsel. She comes along or no deal.”