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Jack parked alongside a shiny silver Land Rover and cut the engine. This wasn’t at all
what he’d expected to find. Cooper wasn’t exactly the rundown farm type.
He scrubbed at his eyes and slid out of his rental, long strides taking him up steps that were on the rickety side and a porch that was leaning a little too much to the right. The doorknob turned, and he didn’t bother knocking. He walked inside and closed it behind him.
The place was in darkness, but the moon allowed him to see enough to move around without bumping into anything. He’d seen a light from the road, and because the driveway had twisted and turned, he was thinking the light had come from the back of the house.
Jack spotted a hallway to his left and made his way toward it, ears picking up when he heard music on low and a man’s voice. Cooper. The hallway opened up into a large room, one that was dimly lit, and Jack spied Cooper sitting at a table and working at a computer. His back was to Jack, but his cousin was shirtless, humming along to some old rock from the 70’s.
“Cooper.”
Cooper stopped typing and glanced over his shoulder. His blond hair was mussed, he hadn’t shaved in days. Jack had never seen this GQ Simon looking so rough.
“You look like you need a drink,” Cooper said, getting out of his chair. He was shirtless, and his jeans had more holes in them than his damn driveway.
“I know about the pictures and the tapes of Donovan and Derek.” Jack’s voice was rough, like sandpaper.
Cooper glanced up at him before opening the fridge and tossing him a cold beer. Jack watched Cooper pull back his tab and take a good long drink, but he didn’t open his. He was too angry to drink.
“She told you?”
“No.”
Cooper was surprised. Jack could see that.
“Did you leak the story?” he asked through gritted teeth.
Cooper set his beer down onto the counter. “Jack I’ve been here since the fundraiser and no I didn’t leak the story. I’ve got hydro and water and that’s about it. I’ve got my cell and the only reason I called Maverick back was because he threatened to out me if I didn’t. I’m not ready for the world to know I’m Lee Holloway.”
“Who?”
“Never mind. It wasn’t me. Hell, I don’t even have internet. Nothing.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t me.”
Jack saw the truth in his cousin’s eyes, and he pulled out a chair, setting his beer on the table. He had a good idea who it was.
“The story was leaked to the press when I was up at the cottage. .A story about Donovan and Derek, and it alluded to video and pictures of the two of them together. I just came from Derek, and he told me it was true.” Jack grimaced. “Said he’d had sex with Donovan, but that you had the evidence.” He glared across the room at his cousin. The thought of anyone seeing Donovan like that made him sick. “Do you have it?”
Cooper ran his hands through his messy blond hair and sighed. “I do.”
Jack was off his chair in an instant, long legs carrying him across the room until he stood toe to toe with Cooper.
“Calm down,” Coop said, hands in the air, palms up. “Just listen before you go off half-cocked and throwing punches.”
Jack let him back up and watched him closely. “How the hell did you end up with something like that?”
“A few years ago, Derek hosted a Christmas party as his place, remember? A lot of your staff was there. Tucker. Beau. You left, and I stayed for some more tequila. Derek got loaded and started going on about Donovan. Told me he was the reason for your breakup. Said he had evidence.”
Jack swore and ran his hand along his jaw.
“Look. I’ve never liked the guy. He’s always had an unhealthy infatuation with you, and I never trusted him. I didn’t know if he was bullshitting or telling me the truth, so I asked to see his so called evidence. The guy was cocky as hell and took me to his office. He poured me anther tequila and then popped in the thumb drive. I didn’t see much, a few images, no video, but it was enough to know that what was on there would do damage. I took it and told him that if he ever mentioned it to anyone, I’d make him wish his life was over. I’d take everything. His wife, his nice cushy life and, most of all, I’d make sure he never had anything to do with you again.”
Jack bent over, hands on his knees. This wasn’t what he’d wanted to hear. Maybe some part of him was hoping it was all a big misunderstanding, but this? This was real.
“She’s pregnant with my kid.”
Cooper was shocked. At least that’s how Jack was going to take the blue streak that fell out of his cousin’s mouth.
“I gotta be up front with you, Jack. I warned her to stay away from you.” At Jack’s blank stare, Cooper sighed. “Look. You’re family, and I thought she was bad news. At the fundraiser, I told her to stay away. That if I caught wind of her hooking up with you, I’d release the tapes. It was bullshit, but she didn’t know it. Hell, I’d never wish that kind of political storm on you. But for her to risk that.” He shrugged. “Maybe I was wrong about her. Maybe you mean a lot more to her than I was giving her credit for. What’s she saying about all this shit?”
