Page 40 of The Billionaires' Gamble

“What are we talking about?” Gabe asks, drying his hair with a fluffy white towel as he strides into the room.

Katherine, Alex, and I stare at him. Wordless. I don’t want to be the one to bring up a man who caused him so muchpain. After what he told me last night, I wouldn’t piss on Henry Chanler’s grave if it were on fire.

“My inheritance,” Katherine says, fingers closing over the edge of the counter. It’s like she’s steadying herself.

Gabe stops short, towel atop his head. He glances from her to Alex to me.

“Remember the guy from the auction?” Alex asks.

Gabe drops his hand, then twists the towel like it did him wrong. “The fucker who was bidding against us?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t like that guy.”

“I talked to him yesterday after he cornered Katherine at lunch.”

“What?” Katherine and Gabe say at the same time. She swivels toward Alex, and Gabe circles the island.

“He seems to think I need to be watching your back,” Alex says to her.

“You already do,” Gabe says.

Alex nods, glancing over Katherine’s head at his best friend. “I do, but he specifically thinks that Lucinda is after Katherine’s inheritance.”

The screen on Alex’s tablet lights up, a little notification appearing in the middle. He glances at it and sighs.

“I mean, she’s been on my case a lot recently, but that’s just how she is,” Katherine says.

“He seems to think your mother wants to buy out Cort but doesn’t have the money.”

“What? That’s crazy!” Katherine’s jaw drops.

Alex’s phone rings, and he curses. In front of him, the tablet lights up with a flurry of notifications. “You’ve gotta be kidding me?—”

“Take it,” Katherine urges. “This’ll keep.”

I’ve never seen a man look so torn. Only when she squeezes his forearm and gives him a nod and a smile does he answer the call with a terse “Speak.”

After pushing back his chair, he stalks off, his voice echoing through the house.

“Why would your mother do that?” I hedge.

Katherine shrugs and tosses up her hands. “She’s crazy?”

I can’t tell if that’s a statement or a question. She stands and reaches across the island, snagging my mug. “I just need a sip.”

“It’s all yours.”

She takes a big sip, eyes closing, and then sits back in her chair. After a long moment, she nods and glances up at me. “I needed that.”

Alex’s footsteps echo across the floor, announcing his return. “I’ve gotta go. There was a break-in last night in Boston. One of my guys was caught in the crossfire?—”

Katherine’s out of her seat, mug forgotten. “Oh, Alex.” She slips her arms around his waist. Gabe’s right there with her, squeezing Alex’s shoulder.

“Go,” she urges.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”