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I open up the email and in it is a video and two still pictures.
“Son of a bitch.” I stare at the message, grit my teeth and ball my hand into a fist. Someone is fucking blackmailing me. I play the video and I can see that it’s cropped, but I also see fairly clearly the little meeting Ian, his drug dealer bookie, and myself had last night. In the video I watch myself pull out money and hand it over to him. This looks really bad. Sure there’s no drugs changing hands, but just the swapping of that money is enough for the gossip rags to say I’m involved in nefarious undertakings.
I’ve never had a scandal come up against me that had any proof, but this video here is more than enough for any tabloid to run with.
Along with the video there is a brief message saying that they want to meet up with me in person to discuss what it would take to keep this video out of the blogs and newsreels.
I have only one thing that I can do, exactly what this bastard wants.
I hit reply on the email and shoot off a message. “Give me a time and a place.”
* * *
“Bro, I haven’t said anything to anyone. I swear it. I know what kind of backlash that would put on you guys. I wouldn’t do anything like that.” Ian says as he leans against the door frame of his condo.
“Then how the hell did this happen? I don’t have people following me. So it had to be someone you either told you were going to be there or someone else that you owe money too?” I cross my arms over my chest and stare at him.
“Percy, I swear it.”
Did he just fucking slur? No, not already. “Ian, are you fucking drunk right now?”
His eyes go wide and I feel myself getting more pissed off by the second. He had promised me last night that he was going to get clean.
“I only had one drink.” He admits.
“Bullshit!” I roar at him. I can’t even say I’m mad at him. Now I’m mad at myself for actually believing once again that he might actually be getting clean. “Why the hell do you keep doing this to yourself Ian? I don’t fucking get it.”
“Hey, it’s not that big of a deal. I’m going to get better, I just need a little more time.” He shrugs and tries to smile, but It doesn’t reach his eyes.
“More time? Ian, it’s been years with this back and forth. Years of you telling us that you’re going to get your shit together. Why isn’t your fucking life more important then those fucking drugs you shove up your nose or the booze you gulp down by the gallon?” I just want to grab hold of him and shake some sense into him. This is going to kill him. He may think he has a hold on it right now, but if he doesn’t get clean soon I’m going to be burying my brother.
“Don’t be so dramatic. It’s going to be fine. I didn’t tell whoever sent you that video where we were going to be and I know for sure Duck didn’t either, the last thing he needs right now is more heat on him. You want me to come with you in case whoever it is you’re going to meet gets out of hand?” He tries to stand up straight, but he wobbles slightly.
“No, I’ll have my security close by. I don’t need you getting into any fights and going to jail tonight. Go inside and sober up. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I shake my head and walk back to the elevator bank. I need to get myself ready to meet up with the owner of this video tonight.
The blackmailer had responded only with the location and place, Keg Gardens at nine tonight. They didn’t leave any identifying information. I’m walking in tonight blind. I don’t want to give this bastard the time of day, but I can’t let this story hit the press no matter how false it is. I refuse to be the weak link in my family's empire.
6
ella
“Oh crap!”The glow from the phone hurts my eyes.
Carrie and I haven’t left my apartment all day. I did a little bit of sleuthing in order to find Percy Snow’s email address. It's a shame how easy it is to find out information online. I found the address within ten minutes. I’d sent him a message while I was up this morning not really expecting to get a reply from him.
“Why are you making so much noise?” Carrie asks, as she rolls over next to me in the bed.
“He responded. I didn’t think he would” It’s almost three in the afternoon when I open up my email and see that he replied.
“Of course he did, you’re threatening him. Why would you think he’d ignore you?” She sits up in the bed, and pulls her knees up to her chest. “What did he say?”
“He wants to know where to meet me.” I bite the corner of my lip and look up to Carrie. She’s always been braver than me.
“Meet him somewhere public. Keg Gardens? It’s close to home and if he tries to act like an idiot there’s always a lot of people there.” She shrugs before she starts picking her nails with her thumb.
“Yeah, I like that. That’s a good plan. Are you going to come with me?”
“So not only are you asking me to get out of this bed tonight, but you want me to get kidnapped too?” She screws up her face before she starts laughing.
