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voice. Now, Sean knew he d been played. Maybe not a lot, because at the core of it all, he knew instinctively that Alfred had spoken the truth, but Sean also could tell when he d been manipulated. After all, he was a master of manipulation himself. Took one to know one. So you re telling me that both Diandra and I were the victims of your& gift? Sean put his friend on the spot. 119 Alfred shifted uncomfortably on the sauna s seat. Not victims, Sean. Recipients of a power that managed to keep you from fucking up your life. If it weren t for me, do you think either you or your sister would have ended up mated? Both of you were so stubborn and arrogant, refusing to see the truth, not wanting to be seen as weak. Alfred made a rude sound and his gaze locked with Sean s. If I hadn t butted in and used my gift to help you, both you and Diandra would be single today and unhappier than you could ever imagine, he said solemnly. Sean bit back his own sigh. He couldn t imagine. His life would be awful if he didn t have his mate and wife, Careen. Yet, getting to the place where he d accepted that he had a mate, a woman he loved beyond everything else in his life, had been a particularly rough road. The same had held true for his sister Diandra. Her path to love and marriage had been every bit as rocky. Now, Alfred made it seem like neither he nor Diandra would have managed to mate without a nudge from Alfred s power. Please tell me that you didn t pick our mates, he growled, feeling unnerved by everything Alfred had told him. Of course not. Those are nature chosen. But it s my job to ensure that those who are resistant become& more amenable to having a mate. Alfred smiled, something Sean knew he rarely did. I smooth the path in any way I can without disrupting the natural flow of a mating. Sean s brain raced as he absorbed Alfred s words. And now you re telling me that Holden is in trouble? Alfred nodded solemnly. A lot more trouble than you and Diandra put together. I need your help, Sean, or your brother will be unhappy until the day he passes to the Afterlife. Fuck. Alfred had him. Sean loved his younger siblings fiercely. He would fight anything that threatened their lives and happiness. So you re in. Alfred looked at him expectantly, triumph already shining in his eyes. This time Sean did sigh. Yeah. I m in. He shook hands with Alfred and realized that he d sealed a pact of duplicity and manipulation as he did so. Luckily, being Machiavellian was second nature to Sean, and he bet Alfred knew that fact quite well. 120 Chapter One The first to arrive, Holden slipped into his seat and opened his leather covered notepad with irritation. He disliked rah rah meetings. Despite all the team building pep talks, things always went back to the way they had always been& with his oldest brother Sean wielding his iron fist and micro-managing while he and his other brother Declan struggled not to let Sean overwhelm them. In Holden s opinion, corporate life had been worse while Declan had been gone. During Declan s tenure at a European conglomerate, Sean had refused to replace him. Instead, Holden s oldest brother had taken on acquisitions himself in his brother s absence. Sean had gone crazy buying up whatever he could. Declan had a lot more finesse and savvy when it came to choosing the funeral homes and cemeteries that offered the best value. The company needed Declan s firm hand and cool head when it came to acquiring new businesses and Holden had been relieved when his brother returned to Antaeus International. Declan s return to the company heralded the end of their sister Eden s term of employment in the corporate world. Her contributions to the company were myriad, but all of them had been tainted by her unhappiness in that environment and Sean s determination to keep her there. It had all come to a head not long after Declan s return. Eden had ditched her marketing job at Antaeus International, packed up her cameras, and headed to New York City. Within a few months, she d become the fashion industry s new hot photographer, making her name shooting nearly naked men in designer underwear. Sean s fury knew no bounds over her defection and both Holden and Declan had borne the brunt of it. The door opened and a muscular man with unruly black curls entered the room. Holden cocked one brow up at Vahid Delrey, his brother Sean s right hand man and the company s Chief Operating Officer. Vahid had also been Eden s live-in boyfriend for two years prior to her departure from all things Antaeus. Holden had always been amazed that Vahid had retained his cool demeanor, his deepest emotions, if he had any, masked from everyone when Eden had dumped him. Not for the first time, Holden wondered how Vahid had ever gotten together with his free-spirited sister. They seemed like such polar opposites. This is another attempt at a team building meeting, isn t it? Holden asked as Vahid took the chair opposite him. A dry chuckle escaped Vahid. You know Sean. He may suck at something, but his determination won t let him stop trying to master it anyway. Holden felt his lips curl in a derisive smile. My brother is a force unto himself that s for sure. Now, Vahid s brows rose. Nice way of saying he s an arrogant ass. The door whooshed open and the subject of their conversation strode in with Declan and another man behind him. Holden s nose twitched. The scent of spearmint assailed him. Thanks for the compliment, Vahid, Sean said smoothly, a sardonic expression on his [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |