Page 76 of A Dangerous Game

“I think it can just be the two of us, then.” Vasco sighs. “I did hope to use your whore - I heard you share him from time to time. You got rid of him so quickly.”

“He’d be like fucking a corpse right now,” Nathan says with a wave of his hand, hiding his relief. “I would be more than happy to get you one of my household slaves, though. Do you enjoy a good boy, or a naughty one you can punish?”

Vasco rubs his stubbled jaw before deciding, “I’ll take a good boy. I’d rather focus on you than play around.”

“Fair enough. I have just the slave for you, then.” Nathan nods his head toward the front entrance of the mansion, not willing to bring him through the private entrance. “Let me bring you to my office. Benny, can you have 3 delivered to us?”

“Absolutely.”

Nathan turns to Vasco. “Shall we?”

“Lead the way.”

Eyes follow their every move as they make the way to the main entrance of the mansion. People not so nonchalantly whisper to each other, clearly wondering what’s going on between Nathan Roarke and Enrique Vasco.

It’s a long, awkward walk, made only more tense by Nathan’s knowledge that the case hinges on tonight so fucking much. Nathan has plenty of practice pulling himself together though - and this is a lot easier than some of the times he’s had to do it with Carter. By the time they’re in his office, the door closed behind them to secure privacy, he feels completely calm and in control.

“Would you like a drink?" Nathan asks, gesturing towards the cart full of bottles and a very expensive crystal decanter. "I have scotch, brandy, gin-"

“What’s your brandy?" he asks, his eyes just as bright as they were when he hit Carter earlier. "It's hard to find a good brandy back home."

“I have a Louis XIII legacy cognac that will make you very happy," Nathan promises, already reaching for the cask.

“Excellent.” Vasco sits back in the leather chair, eyes scanning the room. He doesn't seem suspicious, but he's not exactly at ease either.

Nathan decides to do him a courtesy and cut to the chase. He places Vasco's drink in front of him and takes a seat in his chair with a glass of his own, then says, "I would like to build an alliance with you."

Vasco nods. "I figured as much. But you know who I'm aligned with. Coming to this party has rattled him enough."

“Then let him be rattled. You don’t need him like he needs you.”

“Miller provides me with 60 percent of my business.”

“And when I take his region over, I’ll be more than happy to continue that partnership.”

Vasco smirks, lifting his glass to his lips. He hums in appreciation at the taste of the cognac. Then he sighs. "I have no reason to rock the boat. Things are going too well for me. If you manage to overtake Miller, I agree to peacefully transition to a partnership with you, but I cannothelpyou do so. It just doesn't make good business sense. I'm sure a man like yourself can respect that."

“Absolutely.” Nathan opens the top drawer of his desk, knowing Benny set the file he needs inside of it earlier today. It's unassuming - just a pale yellow folder, the name Vasco scrawled across it. It's thin. The evidence isn't a lot, but it's damning. Nathan pulls the file out and slides it across the desk as he asks Vasco, "But what if this is more than business? What if it's personal?"

After a second sip of his drink, Vasco sits up and opens the file. His jaw clenches when he sees the first photograph. Slowly, every muscle rigid, he turns to the next one.

“The 4thisn't something you'll want to see, as the boy's own father," Nathan warns, not wanting to offend the man during such a delicate moment. He's well aware Vasco could retaliate right now - againsthim, since Miller is too far away for immediate satisfaction. "It's the only inappropriate one you'll find. I wanted proof that things had gone… far. But I did not allow my guy to linger once proof was found. Out of respect to you and your son."

Vasco fingers the edge of the 4th photo, possibly contemplating pulling it out despite the warning. He doesn't, resting his hand in his lap instead. "Do you know how long?"

“Todd Henley, who you saw tonight has changed sides, says it's been going on for 18 months. Miller first crossed the line at you and your wife's anniversary party."

A growl emanates from Vasco’s chest. “He was barely 15 then.”

“Yes, I noticed that…”

“And Henley knows this for sure? If I went and asked him, he'd tell me he's seen it for himself? Pictures can be doctored."

“He’s seen them together in non-sexual moments. There have been times he showed up to Miller's and found your son there for reasons neither of them could convincingly explain. He also walked in on them at a party 2 months ago - the one at Miller's house in Tenancingo. He says - well, things seemed to be headed in an inappropriate direction, sexually."

“That fucker." Vasco shoves at the photos, forcing the 4th one into the open. He only looks at it for a second - his 16 year old son on his hands and knees in the center of a bed, a collar on his throat, clamps hanging from his nipples, as Miller fucks into him from behind - before snatching it up and tearing it into shreds. "That - I'm going to fuckingkillhim."

“I’ll help in any way I can.”