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(Brandon)
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Brandon listened to Macamber, he listened intently. ? He wanted to laugh at her, he knew of the will, but the public will was what remained¡the private will was what he had access to.? He knew the truth, it was all left to Ireland!? In truth, he wasn¡¯t mad nor angry.? It made sense.? She was better suited, she was smart, diplomatic, resourceful, headstrong, and beautiful.? There were so many days he wished she wasn¡¯t his sister, but then he remembered Raine¡¯s words which told him, he never really stood a chance! ?
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?His brother often used that to remind him of his weakness, even last night he accused him of letting it happen, of not being there!? Of letting her spend more time with Dad, instead of being there for her.? The first time he gets a woman, he turns his back on everyone¡Ireland was always in his corner and he still didn¡¯t believe or trust her.? He figured she only came back to show him up¡when in truth he needed to step up.? He was not going to be their leader if he was too busy pining after a woman! ?
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?He found himself listening to the woman before him whose words truly fell on deaf ears.? Ireland was the heir apparent and Raine and he was to support her.? The two boys would have to share the throne and only if Raine made amends and came back.? He knew that wasn¡¯t happening.? Raine told him in so many words that Ireland¡¯s death was his fault and he was NEVER coming back!
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?He couldn¡¯t agree more!? Had she been with him instead of in that copter she would still be alive to run the company so it was, his fault!? He played the tape over and over again in his head¡ ¡®I love you¡but you don¡¯t love yourself enough to be concerned for anyone else¡but you!¡¯
That was what he heard!? It was true, every woman he ever found himself going after seemed to feel the same thing¡and none of them wanted a weak man!
Someone that didn¡¯t think they were worthy themselves!? How could he value them, if he didn¡¯t value himself? ?
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?He wasn¡¯t a hero because he put others first!? He was a hero because he couldn¡¯t be killed!? Because every day he went out there¡he wanted to die! ? He made sure those around him were safe, that was why he put himself in harm¡¯s way.? He was a coward! ? In so many, many ways.? He didn¡¯t stand up to his father, he didn¡¯t take responsibility, he didn¡¯t honestly try to be someone that Ireland could love and respect. ? He honestly wasn¡¯t brave enough to pull the trigger himself!
All of the criminals and villains that he put away, never learned his secret! ?¡®How do you kill a man with nothing to live for?¡¯ ?The pain and hurt of never feeling good enough, never feeling worthy, lived and breathed in him.? To those looking in, he was son to one of the richest men in the country if not the world, what could he want for, be depressed about.? And yet every day he walked around as he had given up on life.¡®He was six feet from the edge and the drop didn¡¯t seem that far down!¡¯ ?He just wasn¡¯t willing to take it!
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?His father could not in good conscious leave the company to him.? Too many lives depended on him.? That was the irony of this situation!? Now they depended on him anyway.? He was on the road to nowhere¡and he was trying to escape! ?
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?He could only smile to mask the pain. ?¡°The better choice?? I see.¡± ?He could only sit and listen his fingers steepled in front of him. ?¡®If she only knew!¡¯ ?He thought looking at the woman before he speak.
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?¡®Good for the company¡try last resort!¡¯ he licked his lips. ?¡®Not an accident!¡¯ ?His attention perked up. ?
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?He listened to all of the information. ?¡°Time is something none of us have any more¡¡±He looked at her. ?¡°Process grief?? How do you propose or when do you, propose that I do something like that Macamber?? I have a company to run, bills that need to be paid, projects to finish.? People¡¯s lives and livelihoods to contend with.? I don¡¯t have time to mourn now.¡± ?He looked up, there was a fire of boldness within his eyes.
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?He heard of the investigation, ¡°I need that to be put on high priority, I will go through the books this weekend.? I should be ready by Monday.¡± ?He looked up. ?¡®Everything that was my father¡¯s was now mine¡I am his successor by default!¡¯ ?He really let that sink in.? Chord chose Ireland but she wasn¡¯t there to take over so rather than bringing in an outsider it fell to him. ?
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?He found himself chuckling, as he listened to where his two teammates were. ?¡®They were secure in each other¡¯s arms right now. ? He would page Mia again to make sure she was safe.¡¯
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?¡°Raine had nothing to do with this¡I can assure you!¡± ?He said still rubbing his jaw, recalling the fight from last¡this morning.? With all of his skill, Raine wasn¡¯t that good of an actor.? He tore into him after finding out that Ireland really was gone. ?¡°And he already knows.? I can call him, I can even give you his number, but he won¡¯t be stepping foot inside of here without trying to bring the building down around our ears.
There has been enough bloodshed with my family thank you.? Leave him where he is¡please.¡±
He paused, ¡°he might have hated our father, for whatever reason, he might have been angry at Harrison, but he respected her.? He loved Ireland like a pair of lucky drawals.? If he did it, I will have been duped by him, yet again!? But right now there will be no me and him together unless it is on the battlefield.? Whoever killed our sister better pray I find them first.¡± ?He could only imagine what someone with deity-like power would do to someone like that!
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?¡°Anything else Ma¡¯am?!?¡± ?Brandon was aware and focused right now.? He might mourn days, even months later, but right now he was in that place of just getting things done.
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(Macamber)
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Macamber hesitated a moment, mentally processing what Brandon had said, then nodded.? "As you wish, sir.? We will hold off taking any action with regard to Raine, but I think it would be advisable to keep him under surveillance as much as possible.? Especially given what you've just about the state of your relationship with him." She favored him with a serious look.? "We cannot risk losing you on top of losing your father."
"There's nothing else at the moment, sir.? I will keep you appraised of any new information that turns up.? And I'll also continue to try and bring Mia back into the facility.? For her own protection." She glanced down at her tablet and her mouth quirked wryly.? "I don't think we have to worry about Kites and Gen going anywhere for the time being.? They seem to be quite... occupied, for the moment at least."
