Page 59 (1/2)

"In the years before you cut back, were you focused on the nitty-gritty? Like financials and insurance?"

His father waved a hand "That alas your uncle Russ's forte, not o to JT I preferred the hands-on dealings and once I slowed down there, I focused ulp of his drink He regarded his son and his expression sobered "What's going on, Ryan?"

As succinctly as possible, Ryan began to explain everything he'd discovered about Uncle Russ

"Impossible," Mark said

"Unfortunately, it's true," Uncle Russ said as he entered the room and joined the, and I assuht"

"I can't believe you sent edy and our business" Mark raised his voice to his brother in a way Ryan hadn't heard in years

"It was a long tis he'd come to terht he was bailing Faith out"

"You're defending him?" Mark yelled

Uncle Russ placed a hand on his brother's shoulder "Don't You'll wake the woood question Why are you defending me?"

Ryan drew a deep breath "You've always been there for et that Plus I know you, and I have a hard ti I'm over it or that it won't take tied "Life's too short to waste tiht oing so far as to pull him closer and pat him on the back

"I'll leave it to the two of you to deal with the business and the past," Ryan said to his father and his uncle and started for the door He hadn't been involved in the family business before and he wasn't about to start now

"Ryan?" his uncle called to hiest you attend to your future"

Ryan didn't need to ask his uncle what he meant

Chapter Fifteen

ZOE LET HERSELF into her parents' house around 3:00 am and quietly placed her keys on the console by the front door She slipped off her shoes so she wouldn't wake anyone and silently headed toward the stairs

"Did you ever hear the expression, too busy to think?"

At the sound of an unexpected voice, Zoe jerked around and shrieked aloud "Mom! Jeez, I didn't expect anyone to be up at this hour You scaredheart

"What were you doing out so late?" Elena asked, rising fro on her ki up the sides of the flowing garment with her hands