Page 35 of Bully for Sale

Ned’s throat tightened, his mind going back to the insane conversation he’d had with his father just a few nights prior. He should tell Heath all about that now, inform him that he’d been offered a great deal of money to take Ezer off George Fersee’s hands, so long as he did itnow.

“But, then again, you have me.” Heath’s brows lifted meaningfully. “I’ve always promised to make sure you have what you need to live a good life, so long as you keep your father’s hands away from my money and stay out of trouble.”

“I’ve done that, sir. Since you helped me last year, I’ve done both of those things.”

Heath scoffed. “You may have kept Lidell from gambling away your trust fund, but I’m sure you’ve been snorting Bright’s powder alongside Maddox and Tenmeter.”

“I swear I don’t snort Bright’s, sir. I promise. On my da’s grave.”

Heath sighed. “You’re so young.”

“Sir?”

Heath ran a hand over his head again and then sat back. “You only call me sir when you’re afraid of me. Are you afraid right now?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Because I want you to do what I say this time, Ned. Stay out of trouble. Get away from the Maddox and Tenmeter boys, and don’t let your father pull you into any more of his schemes.”

“Yes, sir.”

Heath sighed. “He should never have asked you to involve yourself with immoral and corrupt people in order to safeguard his contracts. Exposure to rot leads to rot. Do you see what I’m saying?”

“I haven’t let them rub off on me.”

Heath scoffed. “They’ve rubbed off on you plenty.”

Ned looked down at his hands again.

“I believe you’re trying to straighten things out. Also I believe you’re in love with this omega, and, oddly, I support this attachment despite Fersee being a rancid piece of crap stuck to the bottom of far too many shoes in this city.”

“You do?”

“Yes, because I liked his omega parent, and I can tell you want to be a better man for this boy.”

“I do.”

“If you can make it right with this boy, then do it. When the time comes to handle his first heat and breeding, even if Fersee has disowned him, I’ll support you in it.Ifyou don’t fuck it up…” Heath pointed a finger at Ned and said with scary calm, “So don’t fuck it up, Ned.”

“I won’t, sir. I promise.”

Heath seemed skeptical, but an alarm on his watch went off. He tapped the screen and sent a message. “I’ll be a little late. Don’t hold tea.” His attention turned back to Ned. “I need to go. Repeat to me what I’ve told you.”

“Ditch Braden and Finch. Do whatever it takes to make Ezer forgive me. Stay out of Father’s schemes.”

“And?”

Ned searched his memory, finding nothing. He shook his head.

“And trust in me.”

“Yes. Trust in you, Uncle.”

Heath smiled, and it was more frequent now than it used to be before Heath had met Adrien, but it was still an unusual expression to see on his face. “I don’t have time to deal with this until after Adrien’s given birth. But, when things settle, I’ll return to Wellport, and I’ll see what I can do to help smooth the way for you with this Fersee kid. All right?”

Ned’s heart lightened. “You’d do that?”

“If you do what I tell you, yes.”