Page 81 of Tempting Devil
James had been unraveling all week. Not just because he worried the police may soon learn he hired Brian McGuire to dispose of a body years ago. But also because he feared Liam would find out he never did dispose of that body, even after he’d assured him it was all taken care of.
As if Brian McGuire’s disappearance wasn’t stressful enough for poor James, an anonymous tip to the Atlanta police linked him directly to the funeral home on the day Brian was last seen.
James claimed he was simply planning Alton Sinclair’s memorial, but the detective assigned to the case didn’t seem so convinced, regardless of James’ insistence he had nothing to do with Brian’s disappearance.
For once, he was telling the truth.
It wouldn’t do him any good, though.
“Of course I’m sure,” I responded, adjusting my bowtie.
I hated wearing these damn things, but it was necessary for the part I needed to play as a billionaire business owner and philanthropist.
“Like I told you from the beginning…” I met Henry’s gaze in the mirror. “These bastards deserve to know what it’s like to have everything they love taken from them.” I turned to face him. “By the end of tonight, James Turner will know exactly what that feels like.”
“I’m just making sure you haven’t had any second thoughts.”
He didn’t come right out and say it, but I knew he wasn’t merely referring to how I planned to go about disposing of James.
Instead, he was asking if I’d had any second thoughts about Imogene.
The reminder of her made my heart ache, a sharp pain that threatened to consume me. But after everything I put her through, the least I could do was let her hold on to her good memories of Samuel.
And over the past week, that was precisely what I did.
I stopped going to The Daily Grind in the morning. Stopped driving by her house. Stopped sneaking into the owner’s box at the soccer stadium to check on her during practice or games.
After watching her every day for the better part of the past year, it had been difficult to quit her cold turkey.
But I wasn’t willing to give up my plan for revenge.
So I gave up Imogene instead.
I kept waiting for my house to be swarmed with law enforcement, considering everything she knew. But that never happened.
Even though I broke her heart, she still kept my secret. She was still loyal.
And how did I return that loyalty?
By continuing down the same destructive path I set out on months ago.
“An eye for an eye, Henry,” I reminded him, my tone hard and determined. “We agreed. Once that first domino fell, there was no going back. I already have too much blood on my hands. May as well make it count. Make sure it hasn’t all been for nothing.”
He closed his eyes, blowing out a long breath, his disagreement clear. But he’d never abandon me.After all the shit we went through in that foster home, we swore to always have each other’s back, no matter what.
“Brothers in blood,” he said with a sigh, reciting the same oath we often did during our worst moments.
I hooked my pinky finger with his. “Brothers in blood,” I repeated, holding his gaze.
“You should get going,” Henry said, stepping away. “We’re on a schedule tonight.”
“Right. Of course.” I did one last check of my appearance, then headed toward the door.
“Just a reminder, you may be flying blind in there.” Henry followed me into the living room, his faded Nirvana t-shirt and cargo shorts at odds with the tuxedo I wore.
I’d give anything to trade places with him, but this was the choice I’d made. In order to destroy these men, I had to become one of them.
“With the president being in attendance, secret service will be swarming the place. As much as I love you, I’d rather not go to prison for hacking into their security system.”