“First,” he said, holding up a finger and sitting down in the chair across from me, “I need to tell you that this is big. Huge, even. The Fitzgerald family, the Whitmore family, and others are wanting to steal the spotlight. A group effort has been launched to attack families like mine who don’t pick sides, and my father is awaiting a prison sentence because of it.”

What did I care about his family? There were takedowns on a regular basis in our world and his family wasn’t anything special.

“You’re not in our circles, so what the fuck could you know? You were the one cozying up to her to get in the good graces of the inner circles for your family.” I poured myself a drink, kicking my feet up on the table.

God, it felt good to act in charge. I could get used to it.

He scoffed. “Believe what you will, but I’m out here fucking hiding from everyone. I’m sticking my damn neck out here for the sake of her.”

The Bradford family had been grasping for straws in recent years, unwilling to play by the unwritten rules of the inner circle. The look on his face told me he was serious, but he could have been playing well.

“Hiding? Wonderful. If no one knows you’re here, I can bury you in my garden and no one would be the wiser. I suggest getting to the point of your visit.” I tipped the glass back, drinking up all the whiskey from my glass. Being in front of the man who almost had everything I wanted was testing my patience.

“Fine.” He crossed his arms and glared at me. “Fitzgerald wants Montgomery. As in Fallon Montgomery. Whitmore decided she wanted to meddle to get back at you.”

“Tell me something I don’t already fucking know, Bradford. Tick tock.” Pressing a button on the keypad in my office, I paged for Dave to sit in on my little meeting.

He shifted in his seat, looking at the keypad warily. “Fallon is to be ousted from her company.”

“As I said, I already fucking know.” Standing, I placed my hands on the desk, leaning over to tempt him with my anger issues. Everyone knew I had them, not many were stupid enough to try me. “I am running the Vaughn family, and I know everything about everyone. Tell. Me. Something. I. Don’t. Know.”

He breathed out. “She’s to be contracted to the Fitzgerald company as his wife for her company to be spearheaded by some other person who has the authority to do so.”