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“Thanks for throwing me to the wolves, Nia,” I quip “Nice to know you’re on my side”

“Whatever you did this time, I’m sure the punishment will fit the crime” She winks, then shoves a beer in both our hands “Now out to the lanai with you I need to check on dinner, and you have to leave so we can shaossip about you”

Nia isn’t kidding, but I expected it “Go easy on her, please She’s barely been here five minutes”

“Oh, I will It’s your ass you should be worried about After your text this , my husband cursed a blue streak like I haven’t heard in ression between the sheets with me, so maybe I should thank you”

“TMI” I wince

She just laughs—and nudges us toward the back door “Out with you both Go”

Evan opens his beer, takes a long pull, then steps onto the lanai with a sigh I send Sloan a long last look as I pop opento Nia She’ll be in good hands

But I can’t worry about her now I have to focus on the bigger battle in front of me

Evanthe ocean, under a lazily swaying ceiling fan “Now that we’re alone, what the fuck are you doing?”

I plop down on the outdoor sofa and take a long sip of ht as well be honest “I don’t know anymore”

“What the hell?” Evan leans in, looking like he wants to throttlemost of Stratus’s liquid cash behind this to make your under-the-table takeover happen, and you don’t knohat you’re doing?”

I get it He trusted me with this operation, and I haven’t been solely focused on business I haven’t been strictly using logic

“I can’t think straight since I h “That sounds shitty, but it’s the truth Before you get pissed off…I did everything you asked I analyzed Reservoir, down to its last penny, in less than a week I shut Bruce Rawson down, put all the pieces in place to take over, ousted everyone coeet in a handful of days It will be running right as soon as they get new funds”

“Yeah, I know And that’s great, but… Bas, you’re not running right You’re letting this woet under your skin”

I give hi her under my skin She’s already there”