Page 72 of The Billionaires' Gamble

Pierce doesn’t finish the sentence.

He doesn’t need to.

We all understand how fickle the finance world is. James Winthrop will probably divorce her before the year is over. Katherine will always be known as the woman whose mother had her kidnapped.

The wood paneling on the walls glows in the lamp light. I glance from Pierce to Alex, then to Gabe and finally at Ford. They all look just as stunned as I feel.

“Catastrophic,” Alex fills in. “The company’s going to take a hit.”

“I couldn’t care less about the company,” Pierce bites out. “And forgive me, son, but your mother can rot in prison.”

“No complaints there,” Ford quips, taking his father’s comments in stride.

How did we not see it? How could something like this happen right beneath our noses? It’s no secret I never liked Lucinda. I had my reasons, of course. And they only strengthened over the years.

But she’d been absolutely unhinged.

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” I admit softly. The words are just out there before I can think better of it, and now I can’t snatch them back.

“I never should have let Katherine stay with her. I knew Henry was poisonous. I just never imagined…”

“None of us did,” I agree.

There’s a long, silent moment that stretches and expands.

Alex meets my gaze. A muscle clenches in his jaw. Then he looks away. “I had my suspicions.”

“That she’d kidnap her own daughter?” Pierce scoffs, reaching toward the small table in between the upholstered chairs. He snags a highball of amber liquid, or what’s left of it. “We had our issues, but I never thought she’d do something like this.”

“You said it yourself,” Ford adds. “She’s cutthroat.”

It hits me how hard this must be for Ford. Pierce too. He married the woman and fathered two children with her. Ford didn’t get on with her, but she was still his mother.

“Well, thank you for rescuing her.” Pierce leans forward, bracing his elbows on his knees, glass dangling from his fingertips. “If there’s anything you ever need, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Anything,” Ford agrees, sincerity ringing in his voice.

“Honestly, she did most of the hard work. Moving outside, keeping Lucinda talking until help could arrive.”

“Still, we’re grateful.”

Alex nods in understanding. Hell, he’s nodding for all three of us.

Pierce studies us over the top of his glass. Has he heard the rumors?

What am I thinking? Of course he has. He might look casual in his broken-in jeans and pricey sweater, and he might enjoy outdoorsy pastimes more than the next billionaire, but Pierce Montgomery is shrewd when it counts.

He drains his glass and sets it to the side, then leans forward, fingertips pressed together.

“Ford thought you guys might enjoy the pool house. It’s quiet, with plenty of space.” He stands, signalling that our conversation is over.

Alex doesn’t miss a beat. “That sounds great. Thank you.”

I watch Gabe follow them from the room. He’s unusually pensive. I have no idea what he’s thinking, but I know the signs of a brain that’s running away from a person. We can only hope that he’s feeling better in the morning.

I finish the rest of my beer and then push to my feet. “Still got the hockey simulator?” I ask Ford.

“You know it.”