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Not that it hadn’t crossed Matt’s mind, but Ethan strained his already stretched temper. He lunged at the prick. Pierce caught him by the shoulder and yanked him back.
Jack came to the rescue, glaring at Ethan. “This situation is too serious for you to flap your jaws for the fuck of it. You want to run with the big boys? Act like a man.”
One-Mile nodded. “You’re supposed to be an asset to the situation. If you don’t knock it off, I’m going to help Matt close your mouth for good.”
“I can speak for myself.” Madison sounded irritated. “Thank you for your help at the motel, Ethan, but I’m not interested.”
“Fine. Whatever,” the bastard grumbled and rolled his eyes, but he blessedly plopped in a chair and fell silent.
Madison closed in, approaching Deke. Despite being surrounded by an overload of testosterone, she didn’t look intimidated, and she didn’t back down. “Is the deal done?”
Everyone turned to Deke. He sighed.
Matt didn’t like the way that sounded.
“If you agree to Pershing’s terms, yeah. But you won’t like them.”
Madison pressed a fist to her stomach. She looked seconds from breaking apart but raised her chin. “Tell me.”
“You can have a divorce. Todd will file the day after Thanksgiving.” Deke’s stare slid Matt’s way. “Citing infidelity. Once it’s final, you’ll get continued medical care for your father for the duration of his cancer treatments and five million dollars in exchange for three things: First, every copy of the video of Brent Westbrook’s murder, including the original. Second, a full social calendar of events with the family during the two weeks before the election. And…”
Matt stood beside Madison, steadying her as she held her breath.
“And?” she prompted.
Deke looked like he’d rather swallow glass than say what came next. “The senator’s people will float the story that you’ve been visiting your dad in the hospital these last couple of weeks. But now you and Todd have decided to start a family. They’ll announce your pregnancy in September. You’ll lose the baby right before the election.”
“So Pershing gets sympathy votes?” One-Mile growled, disgusted.
Deke nodded. “Especially from women, who are one of his weakest voting blocks.”
Pierce grimaced. “What a piece of shit.”
Matt couldn’t agree more. “That story isn’t going to fly. If she’s visiting her sick father and not returning home until just before the midterms, how could she get pregnant by a guy she hasn’t seen in months?”
Madison paled. “Oh, my god. Todd wants me back now.”
“That’s right, wife.” Todd suddenly appeared in the doorway, wearing a blue-checkered shirt and khaki shorts, as if he was about to hit the golf course, not torment her in the middle of the swamp. As she gasped, his smirk deepened. “Or should I say whore? I do want you back now. You’ll live with me, day and night, between now and the midterms. I’ll make sure you get ‘pregnant.’”
Matt shoved Madison behind him, then whirled on Jack and Deke with a glower. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
“He showed up last night and insisted on delivering the counter in person,” Deke explained, his face full of apology. “If I gave you advance warning, the deal was off.”
“That’s right, Romeo.” Todd looked him up and down. “One of my terms and conditions.”
“You’re doing this to torment me,” Madison accused.
Todd nodded. “Because I can. Because you want to be rid of me more than I care whether I keep you.”
“We’ll release the video,” Madison threatened.
Matt nodded. “We have multiple copies.”
Jack sent him a regretful stare. “Yours are gone. Someone broke into your house day before yesterday, ransacked the place, and took most of your electronics.”
Matt fumed at having his space violated by this prick. Todd’s smug expression told him exactly where to lay the blame. Still, Jack had a copy—not that the crafty Cajun was advertising for obvious reasons. And Madison still had the original in her backpack.
“I can take any others, too,” Todd assured. “Besides, if you think Grandad can’t buy off the press and strong-arm social media companies into suppressing this story, spinning it as the vengeful ex-wife vomiting BS and the like, you haven’t been paying attention these last couple of years.”
