Harvey’s soft command tugs at me, and my fingertips whiten around the pen. The goon moves my hand until the tip of the pen is at the signature section.Oh hell no.My family can find all sorts of loopholes to break out of contracts, but a retainer agreement is another matter. Even if we do it legally, it can create a negative perception, and sometimes that’s more important than the truth.
“This is coercion. And the retainer is just going to be another worthless piece of paper when it’s proven I was drugged,” I say.
Crossing his legs, he swirls his whiskey. “How confident are you that you can get tested before it’s gone from your system?”
Fuck.
“Just sign it, Ares. The law firm will love having our business. I promise it’ll be lucrative. A great, long-lasting partnership founded on blood ties and boundless profits.”
My fingers twitch. The pen shifts on the paper, leaving a short line.Sign, sign, sign,the voice that sounds just like Harvey urges in my head. Nausea roils. Sweat pops out on my forehead and back. There’s a great reason I shouldn’t sign, but what…? My thoughts grow unclear.
“Come on,” Harvey says gently—a paternal figure leading a lost youth back home. “You don’t truly believe your mother just gave up on you and your brothers, do you? The agreement between our families stipulates that she’s free to reach out again when all the boys reach the age of thirty, and your brothers just celebrated their thirtieth birthday last month.”
I stiffen. Grandmother and Father seemed a bit tense at the party, but I assumed it was simply a management problem at the firm. After all, the Huxleys’ relationship with the Webbers has become awkward, and things are still shaking out.
“Bullshit,” I say finally. “My family would’ve called for a restraining order in perpetuity.”
“Wanted to. Couldn’t. Not when she threatened to cut her wrists.” Harvey’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Zoe’s hard to stop when she’s motivated. And your grandfather loves her. A mystery, isn’t it?”
For this, the family would’ve extracted something from the Dunkels. Still…Fuck.
Then I recall the text I received earlier.My little prince. Mom would call me exactly that…
“She’s trying to find a way to get to you. My men tell me she’s going to use young, beautiful women this time. She’s been busy with her little side business in gambling and lending and got her hands on women so desperate they’d do anything to seduce you and bring you back to the fold and the love she’s been saving for you.” He waits for his words to sink in for a moment.
It takes a while, with my head so foggy. But when I process it, nausea roils through my gut.
Harvey continues, “I can keep them away from you. Keep you insulated and safe. You don’t want to be Zoe’s little puppet, do you?” He gives me a Satanic smile, bargaining for my soul. “Sign the retainer. I promise you won’t regret it.”
I shouldn’t. I can’t. “I need to pee.”
“What?” Harvey squints at me.
I jump to my feet, but his goon pushes me back down into the seat. His meaty paws are strong, and he doesn’t mind being rough.
“Sign first,” Harvey says.
“Pee first,” I counter.
The muscles in his jaw flex. “Ares—”
“I’m going to pee on the contract if you don’t let me go to the bathroomright now.”
“You wouldn’t.”
I reach for my belt buckle. Harvey scowls, his expression somewhere between disbelief and horror. I unbuckle, then begin to lower my zipper.
“Fine!” He turns to the goon. “Take him to the bathroom.” He looks at me coolly. “Once you’re done, you’ll come back and sign like the good nephew that you are.”
A thin smile curves my lips, although my head feels fuzzier. I observe the scene like it’s happening outside of my body.
The goon takes me by the arm, and we leave the room. Soledad jumps up from a chair and lunges at me past Goon Number Two.Ugh.I don’t have the mental energy to deal with her right now.
Putting two fingers on her forehead, I push her back into her chair. “Stay.”
“Ares, you know I love you, right? You won’t forget about me?” She looks at me tearfully, but her mouth is twisted into a weirdly manipulative smile. She probably has some ground pepper in her purse to rub into her eyes. Should’ve given up when she was ahead. Her profession of love only strengthens my resolve to make my escape.
“I’d rather cut off my dick than be with you.”
