Ben exhaled slowly, forcing his temper back under control. His voice, when he finally spoke again, was calm, and that made their skin prickle.
“Consider this your first and only reminder,” he said, his eyes sweeping the table. “Miss Curtis has powerful allies who will not tolerate her name being dragged through the mud. Whatever suspicions you hold, keep them to yourselves. What matters is that she owns this land. This town stands today because of her.”
He let the words linger as his gaze dared anyone to challenge him. But no one did.
With a clipped nod, Ben turned on his heel and strode out of the room as the heavy doors swung shut behind him with a final thud, sealing the council in uneasy silence.
The cool air hit his face the moment he steped outside. He unclenched his fists, pulli
