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“Shut up,” Josh said. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“It’s okay, Anthony.” I moved toward him and took his hand, trying to calm him. “Why don’t you take a break? I’m sure Grace would like to see you.”
“Do you think she’ll let me have a cookie?” Anthony smiled. “I like those.”
“I’m sure she will.” I squeezed his hand. “You can go and ask her.”
“Come with me,” he said.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” I assured him.
“Okay.” He glared at Josh. “Give her back her drawings.”
When Josh didn’t acknowledge him, he took off toward the house.
“You seem to have everyone around here fooled, don’t you?” Josh walked around me in a slow circle before coming face-to-face with me. “But I know who you are.”
I doubt that.
“You are no better than me,” he said. “We come from the same place.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“We’re poor trash compared to these people,” he said. “But if we stick together, we could get a bigger slice of the pie.”
“What are you talking about? You’re using Cassie?”
“I didn’t say that.” When he stepped closer to me, I backed away, causing the horses to stir. “I’m not doing anything you’re not doing, so don’t act like you’re better than me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I held out my hand. “Give me my drawings back. Jude is waiting for me.”
“You found yourself a rich mark, and now you’re living a life of luxury. Jude has more money than you can imagine, but I’m sure you knew that before you ever spoke to him.”
“I’m not here for his money. I didn’t even know who he was when I met him.”
“Oh, come on. You happened to take refuge in the stables of one of the most powerful men in the city? You knew what you were doing, and it paid off. I think it’s brilliant. The only difference between you and me is you’re sleeping in the main house, and I’m sneaking around with his daughter because she’s too afraid to tell him she’s fucking me.”
“I think you should reconsider your plan.”
“I think you should mind your business, because if you screw this up for me, I’m going to take you down with me.” He pointed in my face. “Cassie thinks she can trust you, but after looking at these drawings, I can see you’re obsessed with the old man. Because of what happened in the kitchen with that stupid spider, she won’t even consider telling her dad we’re seeing one another.”
“It’s not my fault you’re a jerk.”
“Just mind your business when it comes to me and Cassie.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jude was already on to him. I didn’t have to screw anything up. “But whatever you think you’re doing here, I would reconsider before you get into something you can’t handle.”
“Don’t worry about me. Do you think my plan is to shovel horse shit much longer?” He laughed. “I want a job in that club. Maybe you could put in a good word for me. I’m sure Jude will give you anything you ask for after a round between the sheets.”
“You’re disgusting.”
“How much longer do you think he’s going to keep you here? Cassie told me he never brings anyone home. You must have something really special, but a man like Jude gets bored fast. He can have any woman he wants, and probably does.”
“You don’t know anything about me and Jude.”
“I know enough.” He opened the sketch pad and flipped through a few more pages. “Take my advice, keep your mouth shut about me and Cassie, because if you don’t, I’ll make sure Jude knows that you’re here for his money. Once I plant that seed in Cassie’s head, it won’t take her long to convince her daddy.”
“I don’t care what you and Cassie do. Leave me out of it.” I snagged my sketch pad from him. “Let me offer you some advice, whatever you’re planning isn’t going to work. If I were you, I would quit while I was ahead.”
