Devoted: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella by Lexi Blake Read Free Book Online Page A

Glendale and we’re both heavily invested. Chase is, too.”
    “I’m not playing her. I’m still trying to figure out if she’s playing me. I’m kind of starting to believe she’s not. Do you think it’s possible she’s feeling me out? Like she wants to get to know me?”
    Mitch seemed to visibly calm, his face turning curious. “Is that what you’re doing? Getting to know her?”
    He had no fucking idea what he was doing. “Maybe.”
    “What has she told you about herself?”
    There was the rub. “She said she works for a big corporation. She told me it was too boring to go into. When I try to talk about her work, she diverts me.”
    “Does she ask about your work?”
    “Yes. I told her I worked for McKay-Taggart writing code for their security systems.”
    A long sigh issued from Mitch. “And you say you’re not playing her.”
    “I’m feeling her out. I think that’s what we’re both doing. And I do write code and I have been working with Chelsea Weston on a security system code.”
    Mitch settled himself on the couch across from Flynn. “I know you do and it’s important code. That’s why I’m worried. Have you talked to your CEO today? Do you know what’s going on?”
    He felt himself frown. “I got some texts but I was busy.”
    “You’re not paying enough attention to the business,” his brother chided.
    “Do you have any idea how much you sound like our father right now?” Big brother was taking on their father’s persona in his old age.
    Mitch sent him his happy middle finger. “Dad ever do that?”
    “Our father was actually quite proper and uptight, so no. I never saw him shoot anyone the bird,” Flynn admitted. “You know you could take over the company. I would one hundred percent give that job to you. He left you stock.”
    “Yes, which I offered to give back to you and Chase,” Mitch pointed out. “I’ll oversee legal, but I’m happiest working for myself. Have you considered selling?”
    Only a million times. He could take the money and use it to start his own tech business. “I can’t until I’m sure Chase won’t want to take over. I’m keeping it solid until he’s old enough to make an informed decision. He needs to get through college and then we’ll talk. Until then, the guy I hired to run the company is solid.”
    “He’s a ruthless shark with five rows of razor sharp teeth,” Mitch pointed out.
    “Yes, so he’ll take care of the company. He’s being paid a nominal salary. His real money comes in bonuses if he meets the company growth goals.” It was the way CEOs got paid in his world.
    “He called me an hour ago, which is another reason I’m here. He couldn’t get you on the phone. He said he got a call from a man who used to work for Slaten. He’s willing to talk for a fee.”
    “Talk? About what?” His stomach tightened. He didn’t want to discuss this. It was so much easier to pretend Amy was nothing more than his training partner and a girl he was trying to get into bed. He was happier with that Amy. They were rapidly becoming friends.
    He hadn’t had one of those in a very long time.
    “About Slaten and their business practices,” Mitch said with a frown. “He says he knows the ins and outs like no one else and he can prove that Slaten has been sending in corporate spies for years. He claims there are still a few. He’s also willing to talk about their upcoming bids.”
    “And he used to work for Slaten?”
    “He was fired by Amy about a week after she took over the company. You know new CEOs like to clean house.”
    They tended to want their own people in the power positions. “How many people did Amy fire when she took over?”
    “Her father’s entire management team.”
    He’d hoped to hear something different. “It’s not unusual.”
    “Her father was a genuinely terrible human being. He still is. There was a reason I helped her with the takeover.”
    “Did she enjoy the fact that you were her rival’s son?”
    Mitch