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“It could always be worse.”
I voice my thoughts out loud, and almost in answer, the sky rumbles overhead. Shaking my head, I set to work, packing my things into the Corolla, trying not to let the events of the day overwhelm me.
And failing miserably when I realize my tears have intermingled with the rain I didn’t even notice was falling.
It could always be worse. It could always be worse. It could always be worse.
CHAPTER2
ALEX
“And you’re absolutelypositivethat this is the real deal, Burton?”
My palms bead with sweat as I pray for my friend, Vaughn, to tell me this is all one cosmic joke. Or even a fucking prank.
I’ll take a good, old-fashioned punking over this shit any time!
“When it comes to this, you know I don’t dick about, DeMarco. My guy is good. Trustworthy. You can believe me when I say there’s a shitstorm headed straight for you!”
I huff a dark laugh. “Christ, sugarcoat it for me, why don’t you!”
My friend snorts but doesn’t elaborate because there’s little he can say to make this any better.
“How the fuck did one of them even get a device into the goddamn hotel suite? It’s never happened before.”
“Doesn’t matterhow, Alex. What matters is how you handle it. You know that better than most.” I find myself nodding along with his voice over the receiver. “Get ahead of it.Call him.”
My stomach churns at the thought of calling who I need to call. Of facing his wrath, but even worse, his disappointment.
Of showcasing my failures to the head of our company, my older brother, Henry, and his wife—my best friend—Olivia. I don’t want them to look at me like I’m less than the man they see me to be.
Like I’m less than the man I present to the world every fucking day.
It’s tiring, and sometimes I need to blow off some steam. If that happens to be with a beautiful woman or two, no harm, no foul.
We’re all consenting adults, after all. I’m not doing anything he didn’t do when he was single, for Christ’s sake.
Quit making excuses, you damn coward.
“I’ll call him now. Pour me a drink. I’m going to need it after I face the firing squad.”
Vaughn murmurs his assent before the line goes dead, and I wait a moment to gather myself—and my waning courage—before dialing Henry’s UK cell number.
I realize on the third ring that, in my idiocy, I’ve forgotten the five-hour time difference, with him being in London. I’m on the cusp of hanging up, when his voice calls down the line.
“It better be a matter of life or death, Al, 'cause I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
Liv’s inimitable giggle comes down the line, putting a wistful smile on my face as I long for simpler times when it was the two of us against the world.
“Henry!” Her chastising tone elicits a huff of annoyance from my easily irritated older brother.
“Cut to the chase, Alex. What’s got your panties in a bunch that it couldn’t wait until business hours?”
My mouth opens, but the words stick in my throat. I clear it harshly and swallow before slowly and succinctly spilling the proverbial tea.
“I’ve just been made aware that someone made a sex tape last year.” Silence follows, and I rush to fill it without registering my words.
“Of me—without my knowledge,obviously—and the maker is in talks to sell it to a media outlet. A friend is working on making a deal before it gets out. IswearI didn’t mean for this to happen. I’ve always been exceptionally discreet.”
