Uncovering You 4: Retribution Read Free Page A

will be complete.”
    Esteban surges up. “I never—”
    “Sit down, man,” Stonehart growls. He leans forward and takes his hand off my shoulder. Intensity pulses from him in waves. “You cannot change anything now. You came to America looking for a suitor—” Stonehart flashes a triumphant smile, “and you got me.”
    “The Israeli government will never ratify a hostile takeover.”
    “You think not?” Stonehart laughs. He reaches into his jeans pocket and takes out a folded sheet of paper. He passes it to Esteban. “Then tell me, please: what is that?”
    Esteban takes the paper from Stonehart. He regards it as if it were a ticking bomb. He unfolds it slowly against his leg, straightening the creases, and reads.
    It takes only a moment for his expression to change. His eyes darken. “What is this?” he asks. He sounds shaken. “When did you get this? How?”
    Stonehart leans back, puts his arm around me, and offers a casual shrug. “You see,” he says, his triumphant smile never reaching his eyes, “it helps to have friends in high places. The Israeli Minister of Finance, for example, has benefited from his relationship with my company on numerous occasions. This is just…” Stonehart motions vaguely in front of him, pretending to search for the right word, even though I know he’s just stretching out the killing blow, “…him returning the favor.”
    “You can’t do this!” Esteban protests. “You can’t—”
    “I already have,” Stonehart says softly. “Who do you think alerted me to Dextran’s troubles? The deal is as good as done. What I would worry about now, if I were you, is what type of impression you’re leaving on the man who owns your entire business.”
    Esteban looks at Stonehart, suddenly defiant. “I am the best there is. Nobody else comes close. You would be a fool to fire me.”
    “A fool from your perspective, perhaps,” Stonehart intones lazily.
    “Dextran’s employees have loyalty. We are like a family. They won’t take to a usurper.”
    Stonehart laughs. “Is that what you think? That I will take control of Dextran’s day-to-day operations, personally? If so, you’re a bigger idiot than I thought.”
    “Who else?” Esteban challenges.
    Stonehart looks at me. “Lilly.”

Chapter Three

    A shocked silence falls upon the room. I don’t know who is more taken aback: me, or Esteban.
    He recovers first. After sputtering a few nonsensicals, he sneers. “The girl?” he says.
    “Yes,” Stonehart answers. “And it would do you good to address her with more respect. From what I gather, all six of your family members are Dextran employees. Trust me when I say that you do not want to see Lilly vengeful.”
    “This is an outrage,” Esteban proclaims. “A mockery!” He surges up. “I came here because you invited me to discuss a business proposition. Instead, I find… I find… this !” he spits, glaring at me.
    Stonehart stands, too. He steps in front of me, shielding me from Esteban’s baleful stare. “Then I suggest you leave.”
    Esteban’s jaw works furiously. But he is still the meek man I first met. He’s not a fighter.
    So, true to his nature, he turns and stamps out of the room. Alone.
    After the front door slams shut, Stonehart turns to me. He has an easy, relaxed smile on his face as he rubs his hands together.
    “So,” he says. “That went well, I think.”
    My mind is still reeling as I try to understand what Stonehart could have possibly meant when he suggested I take Esteban’s position.
    “You were joking,” I say in a small voice.
    Stonehart looks mildly amused at my incredulity. He shakes his head as if it were on a swivel. “No, Lilly. I’ve told you many times that I am a man of my word.”
    “But…” I sputter. “I mean… me ?”
    “Yes, you,” he smiles. There is no cruelty in his eyes or voice.
    It’s like yesterday never happened.
    That concerns me.
    “You’ve proven yourself more than capable of standing up for