“I forgot about it, actually.”
He was quiet for a second too long.
“Sure, bitch. Let’s see if you forget about it when I post the video.”
“You know revenge porn and posting things on sites without the participant’s approval is illegal, right? I know you’re not the sharpest tool in the shed, but being a cop, you must know something, right? Please say that you know that and restore some of my faith in Hade Harbor’s civil services.”
“Shut your dirty mouth,” Preston rasped, clearly getting pissed off that the conversation wasn’t going the way he wanted it to.
Cal had been lying on the sofa opposite mine, napping. Now he opened his eyes and lay there listening. He tapped his ear, like he wanted to hear. I put the phone on speaker.
Something I’d come to realize over the last few days was that Brody and Cal had no secrets. He knew everything that was happening, and weirdly, I was okay with it. Cal was a vault.
“Listen to me. You’re going to meet me tonight, at the Chickadee Diner. You’re not going to tell anyone where you’re going, or what you’re doing. If you don’t want the video released, you’ll bring ten grand in cash to that location?—”
“How do you think I can get ten grand?”
“From your billionaire stepdad; I’m sure he has some safe in that fortress of a house you call home. Or take advances on your credit card, I don’t care. Get it, and come to the diner. If you treat me well, don’t piss me off, and make me feel really good, I’ll think about getting rid of the video.”
I glanced at Cal. He considered the offer and gave me a thumbs-up.
Swallowing my nerves, I mentally prepared myself to see Officer Preston tonight.
“Okay, I’ll be there—I don’t want to be, but I will,” I added, feeling like it might make Preston suspicious if I gave in too easily.
“Yeah, of course you will, you little whore. I bet you’re looking forward to it. Maybe we can have a viewing party of your video back at my place after… get in the mood,” Preston laughed.
My skin crawled, then the call disconnected.
The worst, most traumatic night of my life was just a joke to this guy. Leverage to get money and sexual favors. I let out a deep breath to stop myself from tearing up and simultaneously screaming with rage.
“You’ll go, you’ll record him, and then Cal and me will come in and take over. We just need evidence of his blackmail attempts, according to our lawyers,” Brody’s voice said from behind me.
I jumped. He leaned against the archway to the kitchen. He’d clearly heard everything. His hands were bunched into fists.
I nodded, and he pushed off the wall, his jaw tight.
“I’m going for a run,” he tossed to Cal and left the room.
I watched him go.
“You’re worried about the plan?” Cal asked.
“No, just wondering why Brody isn’t forcing me to exercise. Like he usually does,” I muttered. Maybe actually hearing Preston talk about the video was too much. Maybe it made him think differently of me.
“He’s too mad to run with you. He’s furious. He wants to hurt someone, preferably Preston, but since he can’t, he’s going to go and hurt himself.”
“I get it,” I murmured, and I did. I really did.
That night, I let Brody tape a goddamn wire between my breasts in his car, like we were in an episode of one of my favorite crime dramas.
“This is going to work. There’s no risk to you. It’s simple. Go in, get him to say something incriminating, which will be easy because this guy is thick as mince, and then get out. Cal will be waiting for you. Go home, job done. You never have to hear from him again.”
“Right. Because plans always work the way we want them to,” I said, sweating from anxiety.
“Selena, listen to me. I’m going to be with you the whole time, right outside the diner. Nothing is going to happen to you, sweetheart.” He cupped my face. “Remember when I told you I was keeping you?”
My heart now pounded for entirely different reasons. I nodded.
