ChapterOne
Ten minutes. That’s all he needed.
The deal of Seth Justice’s lifetime was so close he could taste it—the way any red-blooded male could taste a giant steak sizzling on a grill after a week held prisoner in a vegetarian health retreat.
So fucking close.
But the payoff could vanish with one tiny blunder.
Never show the bastards fear. His adopted brother Adam’s voice played in his head.
As teenagers, Adam had drilled those words into Seth. It was their mantra as, with two other rejects from broken homes, they’d battled gangs and criminals to survive on the streets of Sydney.
Back then, the four of them were tight. A band of brothers. Now it was… different.
Seth’s chest ached as past regrets knifed deep. If he could make this deal come together then maybe—
“You’ve reviewed our initial offer?” Impatience edged the other male’s voice, interrupting Seth’s thoughts.
Concentrate fucker or regrets are all you’ll have left.
Seth kept his gaze trained on the silver-haired man opposite the glass topped desk and ignored the view of downtown Seattle visible through Brooke-Porter Digital’s floor-to-ceiling windows. “I have, Mr. Fox. Your bid’s attractive.”
Jesus, did he just equate a one hundred-million-dollar payout for his phone app design business as attractive? He’d always been able to bullshit with the best of them—his special skill as a runaway.
Seth battled to get comfy in the confines of the chrome and black leather visitor’s chair. The testament to stylish office décor was far too small for someone weighing a couple of hundred pounds or for anyone larger than six feet. Did corporate types only come in economy sizes?
Stanton Fox’s brown eyes narrowed. “Who else has spoken to you?”
“A few parties.” Three, but none had matched Brooke-Porter Digital’s offer. Not even close.
“And they want a deal, too.” The CEO ran a hand over his tailored grey suit jacket, revealing manicured fingernails. Figured. Seth ran the tip of a finger over the straight edge of one of his nails. Image counted, but he was no show pony. And he’d rather swallow glass than use gel in his light brown hair.
Fox continued. “Your product is popular, especially with the lucrative phone and tablet market. The perfect fit with our business.” He stared back at Seth. “Let’s not waste each other’s time. You’re here because you like our offer. I want to close the deal.”
“I’m all for direct speaking.” Seth rested his clasped hands over his flat abdomen.
“Yes, you Australians are known for your”—Stanton’s patrician features stretched as he attempted a smile—“bluntness. It’s refreshing, and fits with the story behind your upbringing.”
Seth shrugged. “I’m proud of where I come from and what my brothers and I have achieved.” Nothing came without effort. Every step of the way, they’d left a trail of their sweat and blood to mark their journey.
“So you should be, Seth.” Stanton acknowledged with a nod. “Four runaways meeting on the streets and banding together then getting adopted by a wealthy, influential American is an extraordinary tale.”
“The reality isn’t the movie script you’re thinking.” Talk of his past was overrated. Some turned it into a version of Oliver Twist on steroids. “My eldest brother, Adam, saved the life of an American tourist. His mum was grateful. Got to know us. A year later, we were living in the US.”
Not quite the whole story, but Seth could hardly admit that he, Adam, Zach, and Heath had been hanging around Bondi Beach looking for naive tourists who’d left their wallets on their towels before enjoying a dip in the ocean.
A bad wave had dumped one of those tourists, Dillon Justice. Seth and his fellow delinquents had witnessed the teenager being taken under by the churning waters. Adam, their leader, had raced into the sea, using his rugby player size and strength to rescue the skinny young man and drag him to the beach. With Zach’s help, they’d managed to breathe life back into Dillon as the kid’s mum and the lifeguards reached their small huddle.
Seth could still remember Aurora Justice’s crushing grip on his arm as he’d used all of his fifteen-year-old strength to hold her back so Adam and Zach could perform their miracle. She’d cried and done deals with God, promising her own life if He’d spare her son.
How could they have known that, years later, God would hold her to her word?
Bitterness formed like a stone in the pit of his stomach. Seth swallowed against the gravel-rough lump jammed in his throat and forced himself to stay on track.
“I think you’re underselling your story.” Stanton’s gaze turned watchful. “Take for example the name of your company. Shazad.” Fox stated the name and looked at Seth expectantly.
“The name’s derived from the first initial of each member of my family; Seth, Heath, Adam, Zach, Aurora and Dillon.”