Page 7 of Miss Trust

She interrupted. “What’s in it for you?”

“What?”

“I asked what’s in it for you?”

“Nothing. Reid is my brother, and Teagan is who he’s in love with—”

She waved her hand. “I get all that, but what is in it for you? Because rich, busy guys like you don’t track down someone like me at the Lucky Lady and then again at my apartment the next day, unless you have some sort of personal agenda. Otherwise, you would’ve sent someone who works for you instead of coming yourself.”

This was supposed to be easy. Why did she have to be so difficult? My temper snapped. “Do you want a job with medical benefits or not?”

“Pass.” The door shut in my face.

I looked around the hall as if I’d find someone to ask, “can you believe this woman?” Didn’t she realize the trouble I’d gone to? The all-night flight to get here, the private investigator. The time I was taking away from more pressing matters.

Then it hit me. She wasn’t wrong. I was in it for something personal. I knew it, and she knew it. And I was a dick for pretending I didn’t have an agenda.

This time when I knocked, she didn’t answer the door. “Let me in, Tory. I won’t ever bother you again if you don’t like what I have to say. Give me ten minutes.”

She opened the door, scowl firmly in place. “You have three.”

“Fine.” I walked into the apartment and quickly surveyed the space. It was small, nothing but a living room with a kitchen in one corner. I assumed there was a bedroom and bathroom through the one interior door. The kitchen was in need of a serious update, and the furniture had seen better days. Though small, the place was clean.

“Start talking. I have things to do.”

She stood there, hands on her sexy hips, every inch of her five-foot-and-a-smidgen frame vibrating with pride.

“You’re right. I do have something to gain.” This wasn’t part of the plan, so I struggled for the words.

“Ticktock. Either spit it out, or leave.”

She wasn’t budging an inch, and I had no doubt she’d be throwing me out as soon as my three minutes were up. “Fine. I screwed up.”

“I’m listening.”

If she’d spoken with her sister, then she was already privy to some of the details, leaving me at a distinct disadvantage. “I believed your sister was a gold digger, and I tried to blackmail her into leaving Reid.”

If anger were a person, it would have been Tory right then.

“Blackmail her with what?”

“Information about her stripping in Dubai.” Doing so was illegal in the Muslim country. As soon as I’d learned of her secret job, I’d offered her money and my silence to convince her to leave Reid. I’d assumed she’d take the cash, but she’d surprised me by telling me off. An attitude I could see ran in the family.

“You threatened to tell Reid about her job?”

Retelling this story made me sound like a real prick, but I refused to give excuses. It wasn’t my style. “Yes. Then I offered her money to leave him. She told me to fuck off, by the way.”

“Are you aware my sister worked at the club in Dubai in order to help pay for my daughter’s medical treatment? To help keep her four-year-old niece alive?”

Christ. Crow wasn’t something I was used to tasting. “I didn’t know at the time. I am now aware of the circumstances, yes.”

“Were you also responsible for the misunderstanding where Teagan thought Reid had gone back to his ex?”

“No. My mother and Reid’s ex were responsible for that debacle.” They’d used Reid’s phone to send text messages to Teagan claiming he was reconciling with his ex. Believing the messages, Teagan had left him.

“The same ex-fiancée who cheated on Reid by sucking your dick at a family Christmas party?” Tory asked.

I mentally winced. She didn’t have the entire story, but again, I wasn’t making excuses. “Yes.”