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Piper forced out a breath between clenched teeth, placing her wine glass down with a little too much force. “Duke, we’re talking guaranteed money—no more headaches. No more dealing with cattle prices, droughts, or whatever other nonsense comes with running a ranch. Just a clean break, cash in hand.”
I pretended like I was giving it some thought and then shook my head. "Let me get this straight. You want me to trade generational wealth for a payout that barely scratches the surface ofmyranch’s potential?”
Fiona sighed dramatically. “It’s an exit strategy, Duke—a smart one. You think I’m going to let you get screwed on a deal? You could take that money, start fresh, invest it in something more scalable—hell, you could build a new empire or keep growing Ironwood.”
“I don’t need the money, Fiona,” I retorted.
“Then what is it you need?” she asked flustered.
Kaz, the smooth bastard, watched me with a lazy kind of interest like he was waiting to see if I’d take the bait. “Now, Duke, I never expected you to turn sentimental.”
I stilled.What was the son of a bitch up to?
Piper’s gaze sharpened like she smelled blood. "Is that what this is? Christ, Duke, people sell their family’s lands all the time. It’s called progress."
The congressman scoffed. “Are you really throwing away hundreds of millions because you’ve got some cowboy nostalgia?”
I let them talk. Let them think they had me on the ropes. Then, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Read my lips. No deal for two fifty.”
Kaz’s grin widened. “How much to deal, Duke?”
I glanced at him. The man was confusing the hell out of me.
“Seven fifty.” I threw the number because it was over the top.
Piper gasped. Kaz laughed. Fiona hissed. The congressman looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
I raised a hand to silence them. “In the name of transparency, I want to amend my answer to Kaz’s question.” I paused and stretched it. “Appreciate your time, folks, but I’m not selling…for any amount of money.”
Silence.
Then—
“Excuse me?” Fiona’s head snapped toward me so fast I thought she might break her neck.
I met her gaze, calm as hell. “I said I’m not selling.”
Piper blinked. “You’re joking.”
I could see the wheels turn in her head. She’d thought I’d gotten into an argument with Gloria; I’m sure my mother spun it that way, asking Fiona to gently bringme to heel, which she thought she could with money. A few months ago, she would’ve been right.
“I don’t joke about business.”
The congressman let out a slow breath, tapping his fingers against the table. “Son, do you understand what you’re walking away from?”
I smiled. “Perfectly.”
Kaz’s eyes gleamed with amusement as he lifted his glass to his lips, saying nothing.
Piper let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. “Well, that’s disappointing.”
“I think it’s interesting,” Kaz commented.
Fiona looked like she was seconds from ripping my throat out.
Congressman Thornton shook his head, his lips pursed. “Son, you’ve just bought yourself a whole hell of a lot of trouble.”
“I reckon I have, Congressman.” I pushed my chair back and stood. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”