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“Get there, baby, come on. That’s it.” He took my mouth, muffling my cry as a blinding pleasure bounded through me and caused my body to tighten around his dick. “Fuck.” Gripping my hips tight, he slammed me down on his cock once, twice. And then he exploded.
Chapter Eight
On a video call with my friends the following afternoon as I meandered around the grassy area at the rear of my home, I wasn’t surprised to see their faces turning various shades of red. I’d known that they wouldn’t take the news of Camila’s ‘visit’ well.
Cat hissed. “She honestly tried to blackmail you? That fucking skank.”
“Appropriate description,” Briar gritted out, tossing down her pen.
“I cannot believe thenerveof that woman,” clipped Izzy. “It’s bad enough that she turned up at your house, Inaya. Butthreateningyou?” She shut the dishwasher door harder than necessary. “I would seriously love to scalp that bitch.”
“I’d help you, Iz.” Cat shook her head in disgust, her upper lip curling. “What kind of person would be prepared to use the tragic story of a man’s suicide in such a spiteful way?”
Watching as both Chubs and Goose came rocketing toward me, I adjusted the position of the sunglasses that kept slipping down my nose. “Kaiser doesn’t think that Camila will truly blab about it to the tabloids. His opinion is that she only made that threat to garner a reaction from him.”
“But that doesn’t make the situation any better,” said Izzy, her expression tight. “Even if she did lie, she’sstillcapitalizing on someone else’s tragedy, isn’t she? She’s using his suicide to try to get what she wants. Or, more specifically, to get rid of you.”
“Don’t be so sure that she’s calling your bluff, Inaya,” advised Briar as she leaned back against her headboard. “If what her uncle told Trace is true, she’s a freaking master at creating messes when she doesn’t get her way.”
Forcing a smile for Goose as he dropped the soggy tennis ball at my feet, I gave his head a quick stroke. “Kaiser confirmed that she acts out like a spoilt princess when her world isn’t going exactly how she wants it to go.”
“Kind of like my mother,” Briar grumbled.
“We could use Danton’s shady connections to have Camila shot,” Cat proposed.
I jerked back. “What? Don’t be—”
“It doesn’t have to be a killing shot,” Cat added, as if that would make the whole thing okay.
“I personally think this is the way to go,” said Briar.
Izzy gave a firm, decisive nod. “Best idea I’ve heard all day.”
I inwardly sighed, scooping the ball out of the prickly grass. “I appreciate that you’re all so protective, I truly do, but I’m looking to handle this in a way that doesn’t involve blood and bullet wounds.” I tossed the ball far again, and the dogs immediately pursued it.
“Then you’d better hope that Camila does the smart thing for a change,” said Cat, bracing an elbow on her work desk. “Because I can’t otherwise promise not to make a few calls to certain people.”
“I’ve heard that a bullet to the kneecap is hellishly painful,” Briar piped up. “Just wanted to put that out there.”
Cat gave a thumbs up. “I’ll note that.”
“It’ll be less than Camila deserves if she follows through on her threat,” Izzy claimed. “Not that I think the story of Patton’s suicide would taint your career if it came to the surface, Inaya. No one can truly blame you for his actions, you’re not responsible for what he did. But the media will sensationalizethe fuckout of the incident just because your name is attached to it, and that’s cruel to all involved.”
“Which is why my publicist lost her shit,” I said as the dogs again raced across the grass toward me. It was Chubs who had the ball this time, and the little shit refused to drop it.
“You warned her about this?” asked Izzy.
“Yes. She’s a force of nature, so I trust her to deal with this.” I pried the ball out of Chubs’ teeth and then threw it far again, wincing as it bounced off the small bridge and plopped into the shallow stream. “She’s going to coordinate with Kaiser’s publicist.”
“I agree with Izzy,” began Briar, drawing my gaze to her. “I don’t think that people will believe you’re at fault for what Patton did, Inaya—though, no, that isn’t the point. I’m just saying that, in fact, I think that if the media pounces on any aspect of this story it will be about how harsh the judges of the competition can be.”
Possibly, but … “For me, it’s not about how it will affect my career. It’s about how it will affect the people closest to Patton.” I swatted at the fly that flew near my face. “His family blamed me, yes, but they’re not bad people. And no one should have to have the memory of their deceased son mowed over like that.”
“I have faith in yours and Kaiser’s publicists; I reckon they’ll ensure that Camila keeps her bloody mouth shut.” Izzy leaned back against her kitchen counter and cupped the side of her neck. “She’ll be more concerned about her own image than yours.”
I crossed to the nearby bench and sat. The heat from the sun-warmed wood seeped through my jeans. “My guts says the same. Fingers crossed we’re both right.”
A slight breeze whispered over my skin and ruffled my hair. I curled the wayward strands behind my ear and then tipped my head back to enjoy the kiss of the sun on my face.
