Page 71 of The Billionaires' Gamble

“Tell us everything,” Pierce Montgomery says, waving a hand toward the porch.

I glance up at Alex. Our fearless leader has handled everything like the pro he is. No wonder his company is so well respected. I don’t know how he does it, though. I’ve been a ball of nerves for far too many hours now. I’m going to crash hard the moment my head hits a pillow.

Ford squeezes my shoulder as we head for the massive house.

“Let’s go through to the den,” Pierce says, gesturing to the hallway off the right.

Alex and Gabe follow him, but I glance around for Wildfire.

Ford reads my mind. “She’s in good hands.”

“I know.” But knowing doesn’t make me less anxious.

“Come on. Dad’s bar is fully stocked.”

“This feels like a nightmare.”

Ford huffs a laugh. “Gee, thanks.”

“You know what I mean.”

He leads the way into the cozy den. Unlike the rest of the main floor, the ceilings are a little lower in here.

“She’s under arrest,” Alex says as I enter the room. I guess we’re wasting no time talking about Cruella. “As are the men she hired. The crew was in their cabins and is currently being questioned.”

Pierce settles in an armchair by the fireplace. Alex perches on the edge of the sofa across from him, Gabe by his side, looking like he’d rather be back on that boat than here.

“Beer?” Ford asks, crossing the room to the wet bar along the far wall. He bends and opens a small refrigerator, pulling out two bottles, and raises a brow at me.

I shouldn’t. Right? I already feel woozy enough from the stress of the day. We probably shouldn’t add alcohol to the mix.

Ford must read the indecision on my face, because he twists the top off both bottles, thrusts one into my hands, and then steers me toward the other sofa with a gentle shove.

All the while, Alex and Pierce are discussing the situation.

My god, the situation. I take a hearty swig of beer, hoping Pierce won’t judge me too harshly.

“So this is all about the inheritance Henry left Katherine?” Ford asks.

Interesting that Ford calls his grandfather by his given name.

“The plan apparently was to force her into marriage with Tyler Pembroke. My reports say Lucinda’s been very cozy with him the last few months. Yesterday, he warned me and said Lucinda would do whatever it takes to win her father’s approval?—”

“Henry’s dead,” Pierce says, reminding us of what we all know.

Alex nods. “Doesn’t mean she’s not fighting a ghost.”

“I don’t care what she’s fighting,” I say.

“Neither do I. The point is. She wants control of the money, and to do that, she has to have control of Katherine.”

“She’s always wanted control,” Ford says.

“Why now?” Pierce asks.

Alex glances at Gabe, then me. “Cort wants to sell their half of the company.”

“Ahh.” He sits back, thinking. “The fallout from this will be…”