Page 81

“We have evidence on our side, is what we have,” Rose said.
“So, what’s the plan?Because no offense, Ben, I want to watch your father burn.”Wyatt said.“No one fucks with the Grassos and gets away with it.”
Rose lifted on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek.“Damn right.”
“No offense taken.I’ll light the match, if that’s what it takes.”
I stepped between the three of them.“We need to be smart about this.He’s powerful, well-connected, and if we go in guns blazing without a plan, he’ll find a crack.We can’t let him find a crack.”
“That’s why I already sent all this to Char, so she can incorporate this evidence into her presentation.”
“She’s going to dismantle him piece by piece,” I said.
“She’ll make it public.Not just the board, but the whole damn town.She’ll let everyone see who he really is.Even if the mayor is on his side, if the town and the board aren’t, he’ll never be allowed to build anything in Vine Valley.”
Ben looked at me, resolve hardening his features.“He came here thinking he could ruin everything.But your family?This town?He underestimated you all.”
I took Ben’s hand and squeezed.“He underestimated you, too, and this is the last time he ever will.”
Chapter 27
Sherry
The Carmichael wedding was closing in.There was a month until the day, and everything had been running smoothly.Almosttoosmoothly.While Chardonnay continued to build her case against Gold Crest, I kept waiting for more sabotage, or for Ben to be greeted by his father’s goons again, but it had been eerily quiet.
“Maybe your father realized he was outsmarted and outnumbered,” I said to Ben as we shared lunch in my office before my phone call with Domenique to go over the finalization of the seating chart and vendor confirmations.
Ben arched a brow and popped a grape into his mouth.“My father doesn’t walk away quietly.If it’s quiet, it’s because he’s planning something.”
I sighed, leaning in my chair, resting my salad fork on the edge of the container.“That’s what I’m afraid of.The only good thing is that the town hall meeting is before the wedding.Once he knows he can’t make us look bad, he’ll have to put his tail between his legs and scamper off.”I picked up my fork and froze.“But what if he still comes after us?What if he ruins this wedding?What if something goes wrong?”
“No,” Ben stated fast and abruptly.“I won’t let that happen.We’re prepared.We have eyes everywhere.”
He had worked with Wyatt, Laurent, Franc, and Rhone to set up cameras all over the property.Every building’s alarm system had been upgraded and tested.You talked with Maury.He can only take cancelations from you directly in person.”
“Yes, but I can’t help but think about the lost footage of our security tapes.We wanted to find out who destroyed Murray’s furniture, and we got a loop.We wouldn’t even have noticed it if it wasn’t for Rose.”
“I think she missed her calling in the FBI.”
Ben leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.“You have every right to be worried, Sher, but we’re not oblivious anymore.If anything, we’re five steps ahead of him, and we’re not waiting for him to make the next move.Char is going to destroy him and any chances he has to come to Vine Valley and spread his venom.”
“You got that damn straight.”Chardonnay stood in the doorway, laptop in hand, and revenge in her eyes.“I’m here to show you exactly how I’m going to do that.”
She placed her laptop down on my desk and clicked into a presentation.
“Does that say sixty-two slides?”Ben asked.
“It was seventy-five, but Brady told me to cut down, or I’d lose everyone’s attention.”
“How many times has he listened to your presentation?”I asked.
“What version?”Char said with a smile.
“That man deserves a medal.”
“Why does he need a medal when he has me?Honestly, I’m much better than some hunk of metal that will just collect dust.And besides, he’s been busy with the distillery, so I have been having Ron as my audience.”
My eyebrow arched.“Brady’s dad?”