Page 51 of Mr. Risky

Granger put a big hand on my head, positioning me to face toward Hayden, the heavy gold of his wedding band knocking into my ear.

“This one’s mine. Is that clear?”

There was blood running down his face,

“What the hell, man?” Hayden spat at him.

“I’m afraid she’s always been mine and you got played.”

“Oh, when I tell my sister you two are fucking, she’s going to divorce you. You know she’s jealous as hell of Sosie. She’s always been jealous of Sosie.”

“But you’re not going to say anything, are you? I wonder what some of those big-name reporters out there would think about you getting caught with your pants down jerking it to the performers.”

“No—no,” he said eagerly. Too eagerly.

“Get out there, both of you.”

Hayden obeyed without another backward glance.

“Granger—”

“Go,” he said, that smile on his face that made him look like something unearthly and diabolical. “I’ll shut the door here.”

But I felt like I had to stop this, no matter what it cost. Who knew how long Hayden or any other of Chamberlain’s disgusting freak friends had been spying on the Sirens?

He had told me not to tell anyone. But I still had to give Pippa warning.

But when I pulled her aside, it did not go as I expected. Even though we were no longer friends, at least, at the very least, I would have thought she’d want to stop this. . .

In a few breathless sentences, I told Pippa most of what had happened. Or at least enough for her to understand that her brother had been spying on me naked.

“And how did you find this out again?”

“Granger—discovered it. Discovered the hidden room.”

“And why did he do that?” her hand was gripping my wrist, her hold painful.

“Wh—what does it matter?”

“Because it matters to me if my husband is out here rescuing you.”

“It’s not just about me! It’s about every Siren! You need to shut this down so it doesn’t happen to any other woman.”

I had to use my full strength to wrench my wrist out of her grip.

“Thank you for telling me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you going to shut this down?”

“If I were you, I’d forget all about it. It’s a huge compliment that Hayden would go to such great lengths to get your attention.”

“Seriously? You’re fucking disgusting, Pippa. He’s a creep.”

“He’s been in love with you for a long time. If I were you, I’d see that as romantic.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’m afraid your time here, and the opportunities you have to better yourself from your trailer trash background, are over.”