"I'll protect you and Buddy, no matter what. No one will hurt you," Lyon vowed. He had already decided that if things went south, he would find a way to get me and Mason to safety.

As we were speaking, the oil was reaching temperature.

I dropped the meatballs in. "Don't worry so much. We'll be fine. The three of us will be alright."

Lyon walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around me with a hum.

Tom stood by his living room window, talking on the phone to Drake. At the very mention that he hadn't been able to bring Prospectus Technology to bankruptcy, Drake sneered, "Tom, have...