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I groan. Yeah.I really did not want to have to play this card. It’s so low. And manipulative. Then again, what do I care? He’s a pedophile for god’s sake. Manipulating men is what I do.
“You heard me. All those connections? I can use them for good or bad. And I’ve given you plenty of opportunities to cough up a name. Your partner doesn’t need to know you told me. I can lie with the best of them.”
Letting out an angry chuckle and rubbing his hands together, Ben moves his gaze to the floor, shaking his head. When he finally looks up at me again, I can see the look of victory on his face. “Go ahead. Do your worst. I don’t give a fuck.”
“You don’t care that I can completely demolish your reputation with one simple phone call?”
He walks my way, like he’s succumbing to the same pull I feel. What the hell is wrong with me? I hate it. Feel it and hate it.
“You can’t demolish shit, sweetheart. And you should know,” he adds, rubbing his chin and licking me visually from head to toe, making my flesh heat. “Whatever damage you think you can do, I can double when it comes to your personal and professional life. I also have connections in L.A. I’m headed there next week in fact, can set up meetings and arrange shit to ruin your reputation. Yours and everyone in your family. So don’t fuck with a fucker, you got me,Alejandra Sanchez?” He stretches out my name, emphasizing each syllable.
I clench my jaw, feeling my blood pressure rise. I try to think of a retort but I’m stumped. This asshole has me speechless. And it’s all I can do to keep my cool as he turns and walks out of my home with the quietness only a child predator can pull off.
I
Want
Him
Dead.
Chapter 7
“I’m a failure.”
“You’re not a failure.”
I sigh loud enough to rip the space-time continuum.
Rigger swivels his head in my direction, and I can feel the sternness in his silent lecture.
“She need a refill?” Jake asks.
“And then some,” Rigger answers with a nod.
They both laugh but I’m too pissed to even crack a smile, so I sit there stewing as Jake slides a full glass of beer my way and taps me on the hand. “On the house.”
“Thanks,” I mutter.
Jake is the bartender at Shooters and he’s a major flirt. Always has been. But he’s not creepy about it so I let it slide.
“Now, let’s talk strategy.”
“Let’s not and say we did.” I feel like giving up.
Rigger reaches down and grips the edge of my stool, spinning it until I’m facing him. “This guy is going to be a challenge.”
“Hmm…” I stare at the hairs of his beard. It looks like he trimmed up since leaving my place two hours ago.
He hooks my chin and lifts my head enough that I’m forced to meet his gaze. “But I’ve never seen a challenge you couldn’t overcome.”
“This may be my first.”
He shakes his head. “No. This is how you grow, Vay. You run into a brick wall and you figure out what it takes to knock those bricks down. Or how to climb the wall.”
Honestly, I’ve never come across a man who stumped me the way Ben does. And damn it, the asshole has me calling him ‘Ben’ instead of ‘Benny the Baby Snatcher.’
“After our tense exchange before he left, I’d be a fool to show up at his office again. He’ll think I’m a masochist.”
