Page 114 of Merciless Heir
“I thought you said she’s nothing to you.” I hold my pen, just above the blank check. “Make up your mind.”
“Thing is, this keeps me happy, and her from prison.”
“I don’t give a shit about her.” I go to close the book.
“Pay me, and I go away.”
“That sounds like a deal,” I say. “Spell your name. I’d like to get it right.”
And the idiot does so. Even says it. All for my recording I’m making on my phone. I tear the check from the book and hand it to him. He studies it, more alive than I’ve seen him.
My stomach turns. The man sickens me and I want this done. “Don’t come here again. I just want to get rid of your fucking no good family from my life.”
“You—”
“Go or I’ll cancel your sweet ass check.”
He snaps his mouth shut and pockets the check.
I walk the man out, staying a little too close the entire time. I don’t trust him not to take something, and yeah, I’m not above a little intimidation. It’s that or beat the shit out of him and I’ve been told actual violence is not the way.
Besides, my plan is better than instant gratification.
And Sadie…
My chest lurches, aching. Damn her. Damn her to hell and back. She doesn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth, she runs. She lies. I fucking hate lies. She tests my patience, and she drives me insane.
And maybe, just maybe, she really doesn’t care. Maybe this is just sex on her part, like it was on mine. Was, right up until it wasn’t.
I don’t know when that started to change. All I know is it’s been creeping up on me. Feelings. That’s what. Fucking feelings have crept up and they’re all shaped like Sadie.
The elevator dings in my private foyer outside and I move through the apartment and sit in my living room, and call the cops.
It takes a bit, but names and influence talks. I call my lawyer, too. They’ll all be here soon enough. Sadie’s father is going to be back in prison, and fast. I really don’t take kindly to blackmail. Or extortion. Or any of the things he tried.
And Sadie? I’m fucking furious with her and her betrayal, but yeah, I’m doing this to protect her, too.
Her father will come for her. Try and get what he can and I don’t want that. She probably won’t appreciate my interference, but that’s just too fucking bad.
I close my eyes and lean back against the sofa. What she said plays over in my head. The whole thing about my mother… I keep thinking about it. And suddenly I know I can’t leave it alone. Sadie said a lot of shit that I think might be right. So I make another call.
She answers after the second ring.
“Mother,” I say. “I think you and I need a long talk.”
My mother looks at me where I’m sitting, making inroads into my Laphroaig. The police and my lawyer have been and gone and finally the woman who birthed me has decided to make a showing. I take another swallow.
“A little early for that.”
“Save your bullshit, mother. I’m not in the fucking mood. I’m pretty fucking sure you have the tiara. Or are you changing up the rules? Again?”
She purses her lips. “What did you do, Kingston?”
Interesting. She doesn’t ask what do I mean, or what did Sadie say. Just that. And I’m getting more and more pissed off by the second.
“I got her father arrested.”
She inhales sharply. “I wasn’t… Do you think that’s wise?”