Page 174 of The Monster and the Masochist

They thought I’d somehow manipulated Nolan into saying something so outlandish in an effort to paint him in a bad light and get ahead in our long-standing rivalry.

Nolan opened his mouth, but this time, I took the lead.

I pinned both of the annoyingly amused partners with a flat look and smoothed my hands over my skirt.

“I’m sorry, did Mr. Cross fucking stutter?” I asked with a sweet smile, and the amusement disappeared from both partners’ faces at my condescending tone.

I didn’t really give a fuck about making a good impression anymore. I was so beyond done with this, it wasn’t even funny.

“Mrs. Walker, I would be very careful–”

I cut Edmund off with a scowl.

“Mr. Cross said both of us would walk if you do not agree to terminate our contract with the reverend. This is not some elaborate ploy I’ve organized in an attempt to make partner. This is a serious ultimatum, and I urge you both to treat it as such before you find yourself scrambling to find talent capable of taking over both of our caseloads.”

Vivian and Edmund exchanged a look, though this time there wasn’t an ounce of amusement on either of their faces.

Vivian pursed her lips, and Edmund finally turned back to us.

“Something has happened.”

“No shit,” Nolan snapped, and Edmund’s eyes hardened.

“Perhaps it might be more productive to share with us whatever developments have transpired to spur such an aggressive… proposition.”

Nolan nodded, turning to me.

“Show them, Cass. Show them what you showed me.”

But I was already keying up the first video and sliding my phone across the table that separated us from the partners.

Vivian and Edmund slipped closer together on the couch so they could both lean in to watch. I did my best not to outwardly shudder as the familiar voice of Reverend Sterling floated out from the speakers, and I watched as the blood drained from each of their faces, and the seriousness of the situation finally sank in.

“How did you get these?” Edmund barked at me after the video ran its course

I held his gaze, refusing to flinch under the cold steel of his rage.

“My source wishes to remain anonymous.”

“We need to turn this evidence over to the police,” Vivian said immediately.

Edmund’s lips pursed, and I could tell he was clearly agitated by the suggestion.

“We have to, Edmund,” Vivian repeated firmly. “These girls are minors. It falls under the mandatory reporting law. We can’t just drop the man and bury this. If it gets out, we’re fucked.”

Nolan scoffed next to me, clearly enraged that the partners were putting the firm before the reverend’s victims.

“Why the fuck would we bury this?” he snapped. “He’s raping these children!” Nolan shouted, his face turning red with fury. “What if it were your daughter in one of these videos?”

Edmund paled, and for a moment I thought he might hit Nolan for even suggesting such a thing.

“Enough, Mr. Cross,” Vivian snapped. “Obviously, we’re reporting this. It’s just… we need to be very careful here. There’s… complications that the two of you aren’t aware of.”

Oh?

My monster’s ears pricked, and I cocked my head to the side, eyeing Vivian curiously.

“What complications?” I asked, and Edmund looked almost ashamed for a moment.