Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires #3) by Lauren Asher

Once the meeting is adjourned, I pull Arnold aside to schedule our next meeting with his team. I don’t have an assistant or anything fancy, so I coordinate everything myself.

My brothers stick around, whispering behind my back. It’s not until the room clears out that I finally face them.

I turn around and cross my arms. “Are you two done talking about me?”

“What was that?” Declan motions toward the spot Arnold just occupied.

“Don’t worry about it.”

His eyes light up. “Keeping secrets from your new CEO already?”

Rowan’s jaw drops open. “Is it official?”

Declan spares him a glance. “Not until the lawyer draws up the final paperwork.”

I grin. “Congratulations, Daddy.”

Rowan chokes on his inhale.

Declan’s eyes narrow. “Call me that again and I won’t hesitate to rip your tongue out and mount it behind my new desk like artwork.”

Rowan’s eyes bounce between us two. “Does anyone want to fill me in on what’s happening?”

Declan pulls out his wallet and hands Rowan a photo of the sonogram. “Here.”

“Holy shit. You’re going to be a dad.” Rowan traces the circle. “It looks like a jellybean.”

“Say hello to your nephew.” Declan preens like a peacock showing off its feathers. It’s the most un-Declan-like behavior I have seen, which only makes me laugh.

“Could be a girl,” I tease.

Declan taps his chest. “I have a good intuition, and my gut tells me it’s a boy.”

Rowan’s eyes roll. “And if it is a girl?”

“I already have a heart doctor on speed dial and every police captain in Chicago under my payroll to arrest anyone who steps within six feet of her.”

“You can’t arrest every guy or girl they’re interested in,” I say.

He swipes the photo out of Rowan’s hands while glaring at me. “Watch me.”

My car is packed and I’m ready to head back to Lake Wisteria when I receive a call from Leo asking me to come to his office for an emergency meeting. Before taking off in the direction of Leo’s office across town, I text Lana to let her know that something came up and I’m not sure if I will make it home tonight.

I spend the entire drive fidgeting from anxiety. When I enter his office, my nervousness is only amplified as I find my brothers staring my father down from opposite sides of the sitting area.

Leo sits behind his desk with a neutral expression. “Callahan. Please take a seat.”

He motions to the only empty spot available beside my father. I sit down, practically hugging the edge of the leather couch to avoid him.

“I’m glad you all were available tonight to meet with me.” Leo opens a file.

Like we had any other option.

“What is all this about?” My father’s voice hints at his building temper.

“I was asked to read one last letter from Brady.”

“Another letter?” Rowan sits up.

Leo tips his head in confirmation. “This one was addressed to the four of you.”

Declan remains quiet, his gaze glued to Leo pulling out the letter from an envelope.

“To my family,” Leo begins. “A man’s legacy shouldn’t be determined by how much money he made or how successful he was, but rather by the memory he left behind and the way he made people feel.” Leo pauses to look up from the letter.

“What?” Declan grunts.

“Sorry. Your grandfather noted that I should pause for dramatic effect.”

I explode with laughter. Rowan and Declan follow, the three of us filling the whole room with the sounds of our amusement. My father remains rigid beside me, completely emotionless.

Leo continues, his lips tugging upward. “My way of going about you four earning your inheritance was unusual. Leo warned me as much when I called him at two a.m. after a crazy dream, letting him know I needed to revise the will.” He pauses again to look up. “I did. Just for the record.”

“Cut the useless chitchat and read the damn letter,” our father barks.

Leo doesn’t balk or snap, although a small tic in his jaw appears. He refuses to give my father any attention as he returns to his reading. “Each of you were given a task that I chose based on your strengths and weaknesses. Given that Leo is reading this letter rather than the other one I wrote, I assume the four of you met the requirements asked of you to receive your inheritances.”

Leo pulls out a second sheet of paper from the envelope. “To my son, Seth. I gave you two choices regarding your inheritance. While I had hoped you would rise to the challenge and pick the more difficult path, you went with the easier option of the two.”

What two choices? Were they like mine and based on contingencies, or was he given two clear paths from the beginning and it was up to him to choose?

My father’s foot shakes, his only nervous tell.

“I understand why you chose to get sober in order to receive your shares of the company. I really do get it. Just like I understand that I cannot with good conscious hand them over, knowing you made that choice to benefit yourself.”

What. The. Actual. Fuck? Are parts of our inheritance revokable now?

The blood drains from Declan’s face. We lock eyes for a moment before returning our attention back to Leo, who continues reading off the page.