“I think the other families have called a truce.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it? What’s the problem? If they’ve dropped the lawsuit we don’t have anything to worry about.” Maybe things were better than I could have realized.
Cane shook his head. “No. They’ve decided they’re going to divide our land in half. Each family chooses an acre until it’s split equally between the two.”
I glared. “They can’t do that.”
“They are doing it. They’ve filed a second suit with the judge to make this immediate.”
Something inside me snapped. “This family is going to be left intact.”
Cane smiled. “So, you told the doc?”
“It shouldn’t be any of your fucking business, but I didn’t tell her yet.”
Cane shut his eyes then turned away. “Brett, you have to. We can’t lose what is rightfully ours.”
I had lied before. I had lied so many times as a Delta it was as natural as breathing. I would go undercover to gain trust. I would use sources for information, feeding them what they wanted to hear.
Cane wanted to hear that the family’s legacy was safe with me. What he didn’t want to hear was that I wanted it all. I wanted both worlds. I wanted to go back to Kazastan and lead my team. I wanted Gretchen to stay here and wait for me, having my family while keeping my bed warm.
“Brett??” Cane eyed me. “Are you going to call a meeting?”
I shook my head. Things weren’t getting better. “Give me tonight. I need to talk to Gretchen.”
“I don’t know if we have another night,” he warned.
“Go to the Osborns. Tell them I will call a meeting tomorrow. Got it?” my finger pressed into Cane’s chest.
“You’re the boss. If you need another day, then I’ll tell them.”
“Good.”
I shoved my hands in my pockets, looking over my shoulder. Gretchen was inside, waiting for me.
“I’ve got to go. I’ll charge my phone. Call me next time before you just show up.”
Cane walked back to his truck. “Got it. I’ll take care of it.”
I had to go back inside and tell her. She needed to know what was going on. She didn’t know she was the key to saving my family’s legacy. She was a strong woman. She was intelligent. I would approach her with the facts, and she would understand her role.
I opened the door, expecting to see Gretchen sitting on the couch or on the table where I left her, but as soon as the door closed her arms were around my neck.
“Hey,” I muttered.
She tugged at my neck until my mouth was pressed to hers. Her tongue curled against mine. “Hey.”
I felt her hands slide under my shirt, the softness of her palms tracing the sculpted lines of my chest.
All the things I was going to tell her could wait. I needed her right now.
She backed away from me, slowly unbuttoning her top button. I crossed the room, scooping her in my arms in the process.
She squealed. “Where are we going?”
“We never had lunch,” I grinned.
I saw her eyes light when I placed her on the table.