The Charmer’s Gambit

by Lexi C. Foss

  “Precisely.” Admiration underlined that single word. “And he’ll become truly dangerous when you don’t, which is why we need to take action, and soon.”

  “What do you suggest?” Will asked, his voice low.

  “Political suicide,” he replied simply. “The tabloids love a good sex scandal. It seems to be the only way to destroy a career these days, and once that happens, Albertson will have a number of more pertinent issues to tend to than his errant ex-fiancée. Not the least of which being his more questionable connections, ones that are relying on him to become the next senator of Illinois.”

  “He’s been making promises he can’t keep,” Will inferred before I could say the same. “But all this hinges on the child being his.”

  Mark shrugged, his expression bored. “Whether or not it’s his is irrelevant. Senator Jenkins is not going to be happy to hear his young wife cheated on him with his protégé. He’ll destroy Albertson in retaliation for harming his precious manhood, while we can sit back and enjoy the fireworks. I’m sure Senator Albertson won’t be too pleased, either, not that he’s an exemplary role model himself.”

  I snorted. That was an understatement. Ryan’s father treated all women like objects, including me when Ryan and I were dating. He kept saying how sweet it was that I wanted a law degree, like it was a hobby and not a career. “So you’re suggesting we release the affair to the media,” I said after both men looked at me.

  “No, I suggest we post some of the footage online anonymously and let the tabloids run with it. I have a few trusted sources we can leak it to directly to make sure it’s found, and the rest will take care of itself. Also, we need to do it next weekend.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Because that’s when he’s announcing his candidacy,” he replied. “If we time it right, which we will, the news story will start to flash while he’s making his speech. No way he can recover from that, especially when Senator Jenkins will be sitting right next to him with his lovely wife to the left.”

  It sounded perfect except for one thing. “We’ll be ruining her life as well.”

  Mark grinned, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. It never did. “I knew you would say that, which is why I did more digging into her background while I researched some of Albertson’s more questionable relations.” He pulled out his phone and started thumbing through the screen. “Mrs. Bianca Jenkins is a debutante who married for money and status. Not necessarily something to destroy her for, but she has a history of ruining the reputations of others purely for fun or selfish means. Let’s just say she more than deserves a little public humiliation.”

  “The media will crucify her because she’s the woman,” I argued.

  “Something she likely knew when she sent her best friend’s sex tape to the entertainment industry in retribution for trying to seduce her former lover. That would be the man she was fucking before Ryan, while she was still married to Senator Jenkins.” His flat tone suggested he wasn’t impressed at all. “I won’t lose any sleep over it.”

  I bit my lip, uncertain. This was supposed to be about taking down my controlling ex, not anyone else. But even I could admit extreme measures would be needed here. It would take a hell of a lot to force him to leave me alone, and hurting his political aspirations would accomplish it. Ryan cared far more about his career than he did me.

  “Is there any risk this will make him more desperate for her?” Will asked. “I mean, taking everything away from him could have the opposite impact, yes?”

  Mark fiddled with his beard, gaze thoughtful. “It’s entirely possible, but I suspect he’ll be too busy worrying about his political fallout to think about anything else. He’s in bed with some dangerous people who have entrusted him with certain secrets in expectation that he would be useful in the future. Removing that makes him more of a liability than an ally, which will force him to find other ways to appease his various benefactors.”

  “So he’s received funds from them for his election run,” Will murmured.

  “In a backward kind of way that can’t be tracked, but yes, essentially his family has received financial incentives for decades. These are old relationships, ones I’m sure you’re more than familiar with, Mister Mershano.” The implication was obvious. Ryan and Will both came from old, wealthy families. From what I’d seen over the last few years, those backgrounds came with a certain prestige, and within that social circle were a myriad of affluent individuals who acquired their assets in a variety of ways.

  Will gave a single nod with his chin to acknowledge the truth. “Albertson doesn’t seem to grasp that as well as you do.”

  “That’s because he’s under the misconception that you’re not as deeply tied to the Mershano empire as your cousin is, which we both know isn’t true at all. You might own your own company, but your last name affords you the same contacts and resources, not to mention your bank account rivals Evan himself. Albertson doesn’t acknowledge any of that, and that’s his downfall.” Mark pushed off the chair and stretched his lanky arms over his head. “It’s been a long two days, and I need bourbon.”

  “There’s cognac in the kitchen,” Will replied as he brushed his hand up and down my arm.

  “Not my preference, but it’ll do,” he grumbled back.

  “He’s charming,” Will muttered sarcastically after Mark disappeared.

  I smiled. “He’s always been like that. Rough and to the point.” It was something I enjoyed about him and my brother. I never had to worry about them judging me in private; they were too blunt for it. “So, French, huh?” I asked as the man in question strolled back around the corner with a tumbler of amber liquid.

  “It’s a simple language, Rach. You should try Farsi or Arabic.” He grimaced. “So many grammar rules, and you break all of them. Really fucked-up shit.”

  I eyed him speculatively. “Right. All part of your FBI job? Because all the agents have to learn Middle Eastern languages and travel to Dubai regularly?”

  This time his grin did meet his eyes. “Absolutely.”

  “Uh-huh. Are you ever going to tell me what it is you do?”

  That sobered him a little. “I have a knack for helping people out of difficult situations, like the one you’re in.” He set the glass down on the table and braced his elbows on his knees. “I knew that asshole was trouble, but I didn’t realize how bad he was until you called me. Now I’m going to do what I should have done three years ago when you left him. He will never touch you again.”

  “You can’t promise that.” I didn’t mean it as a taunt or a warning, just a fact. No one could promise something like that, not where Ryan was concerned.

  “Oh, but I can, Rachel. When I’m done with him, you’ll be the last thing on his mind. He’s about to face a whole new enemy, one he’ll never see coming.” He smirked. “Outing his affair will feel like a honeymoon when I’m through with him.”

  “What else can you do?” I asked, curious.

  “It’s better if he doesn’t tell us,” Will murmured. “The less we know, the less we can be implicated, which lessens the chance for revenge.”

  “Exactly.” Mark lifted his glass again in salute. “I like him, Rach. This one you can marry.”

  My eyes bugged at that. “Excuse me? As if you have a say in something like that.”

  Mark chuckled. “As Caleb sent me here to assess the situation, I beg to differ.” He looked to Will with amusement. “It’s not Rachel’s father you need to be worried about; it’s her brother.”

  “Yes, I’ve gathered that. I look forward to meeting him.”

  “Oh, and you will. Soon, I imagine.”

  “Good,” Will replied.

  I frowned at the exchange. This bonding thing wasn’t working for me. I preferred when the two men were having their alpha standoff. “I decide whom I want to marry, thank you.”

  “Of course,” Mark agreed. “But Caleb could make things awfully difficult if he didn’t approve.”

  “By what
? Not showing up or calling me for months on end?” Because that was my brother’s role in my life. Until today when he randomly tried to warn me about Ryan. And that comment about always being there. “He’s not a government desk jockey, is he.” Not a question, but a statement. I groaned and shook my head. “You two are unbelievable. Running off to join the military at eighteen, then doing God knows what for the last few years, you supposedly living in Chicago—”

  “Oh, that part is true,” he cut in. “The place you stayed after living with Ryan was real, and mine. I just don’t see it often.”

  I shook my head again. “Right. And Caleb?”

  “He’s in Virginia, most of the time.”

  “Uh-huh.” I looked at Will, who had stayed quiet through the whole exchange. “Welcome to the insanity of my life.”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” he replied with a kiss against my cheek. “Okay, Kincaid, tell me what you want us to do next. Because I’m guessing you don’t want us anywhere near Chicago when he makes the announcement next weekend.”

  “Right, the farther away the better. You’re done with meetings, right?”

  I didn’t bother to ask how he knew that. “Yes.”

  “Then I recommend you go somewhere remote and stay at a private villa of sorts, not a Mershano Suites. Which reminds me, you need to have a serious discussion with your cousin about his computer system, as it’s been compromised.” He left that hanging and cocked a dark brow.

  “He’s aware of the breach and would also love to know how Caleb accessed his security cameras of the hotel,” Will drawled. “Not that I suppose you’ll tell us.”

  “What would be the fun in that?” Mark asked, taunting. “But I can recommend someone to do a thorough risk assessment.”

  “I’ll pass it along to Evan,” Will replied before returning to the subject at hand. “So you want me to whisk her away somewhere while you handle the Albertson issue?” He sounded amused. “Why do I feel like I’ve been given the easy job?”

  “Your job will never be easy, Mershano. I expect you to keep her safe, and if you don’t, if you ever hurt her, it won’t be just me you’ll need to worry about.”

  “Because I’ll kick his ass,” I put in, irritated. “You both do realize I’m in the room still, right?”

  “I’m more than aware,” Will murmured, his lips against my ear. “I’m always aware, darlin’. And do tell me more about this ass-kicking. I’m intrigued.”

  “Cocky,” I returned with a snort. “But seriously, you can’t just handle Ryan for me. I want to be part of this.”

  “And you are,” Mark replied. “I’m only here because you called me, and Will is here because you trusted him. You decided it’s time to fight back, and we’re your army. Mershano has the means to keep you safe, while I have other skills useful to your situation. The call at the end of the day, however, is yours, and that makes you the queen on the chessboard. We’re just the knights moving to do your bidding as requested.”

  I gave him a doubtful look. “You’ve never done anything I’ve requested, and neither have you,” I added with a glance at Will.

  “But in this case, we will do whatever you want.” He cupped my cheek and let me see the sincerity deep in his eyes. “If you don’t want Kincaid to use the intel he’s gathered, he won’t. And we’ll go about it a different way. The decision is yours, Rachel.” So serious. So unlike my Will. But in this, he was giving me the ultimate power. As was Mark, something that couldn’t be easy for him either.

  I cleared my throat. “There’s no other option, right?”

  “There’s always another option,” my non-FBI friend replied. “But this is by far the best one, especially considering his recent escalation. I suspect he’ll be back tomorrow or Sunday, if you’re still in Nice.”

  “And he’ll do what? Grab me again?”

  “No, he’ll do something much worse, and he’ll do it to Mershano to get him out of the way. Albertson might be a trust fund kid, but he’s an intelligent one. He knows how to maneuver his way around a chessboard better than most politicians.”

  Will pressed a kiss to my temple and hugged me close. “Don’t worry, darlin’. I can handle whatever he throws at me. The decision is still yours.”

  My denial was immediate. “No, it’s not. There’s no choice in the matter if you’re in jeopardy. You say you’re not afraid of him, but I am, and he knows it. He’ll use you to extort that fear. And I can’t let that happen.” I closed my eyes and braced myself for the inevitable. For three years, none of my attempts to thwart Ryan had worked. Not long term, anyway. If Mark thought this idea had a chance, then I owed it to myself, to Will, and to our future together to try it. I said earlier we had to do whatever it took to bring him down, and if this was what it took, then we would do it. “Okay. We try to sabotage his career, then, and pray like hell that it works.”

  “No prayers needed,” Mark replied. “It’ll work. His focus will be off you in two weeks, tops. But you two need to go on a little trip in the interim because Ryan is going to try to force Rachel to come home for his candidacy announcement dinner.”

  “I’ll handle that part,” Will murmured. “We’ll borrow one of Evan’s jets so we can’t be tracked as easily.”

  Jets. As in plural? “How many does your cousin own?”

  “Oh, darlin’, you have so much to learn.” He kissed me gently. “I might not live in extravagance, but Evan sure does. Sarah now too.”

  “That bitch has been holding out on me,” I accused half-heartedly.

  He chuckled. “We both know you wouldn’t care. Now I should go make the arrangements—”

  “Nope. Food first,” Mark interrupted. He hopped up seconds before someone tapped at the door. “Thank fuck. I’m starving.”

  “How did he do that?” I asked, startled.

  He held up a phone over his head on his way to the foyer. “I told the guy to text me from the elevator.” When he returned, it was with three separate bags that he promptly divided between us. “This is my favorite place in Nice. Trust me, you’re both in for a treat.”

  “Favorite place in Nice,” I repeated. “Right. Because you come here all the time.”

  “Sure. Didn’t you know the FBI loves France?” He didn’t even crack a smile as he ripped open the bags. And if I didn’t know he was completely full of shit, I’d say he was serious.

  “One of these days, you’re going to tell me the truth about what you do.”

  “Honestly, it’s Caleb you should talk to. He has more fun than I do.” He waggled his brows. “Now eat, Dawson. Something tells me you’ll need your energy over the next few weeks.”

  30

  From My Family to Yours

  Four Weeks Later

  “So the baby is his,” I said after reading the article Kincaid handed me. Senator Jenkins required a paternity test, and someone leaked it to the press. I had no doubt it was the man sitting across from me in Will’s living room.

  “Oh, it gets better,” he mused. “Albertson was more prepared than I expected and had a contingency plan in place. The media received a handful of incriminating photos that painted Senator Jenkins as an abusive husband, which is actually true. So now Albertson’s campaign managers are busy assigning their lead candidate with the role of white knight.”

  “How is that better?” Will asked before I could. He stood leaning against the wall beside the couch, swirling a glass of wine. Those sinful jeans were in place, making me want to lick him. Too bad we had company.

  “Because,” Mark drawled, “Bianca will divorce with sole custody of the kid and immediately marry the baby’s father.”

  My stomach twisted. “That’s not better; that’s worse.” Ryan would destroy her, and all because . . . I couldn’t even finish the thought. It hurt too much. I’d sent another woman to serve my sentence. How was that fair?

  Will, sensing my discomfort, asked the question I couldn’t articulate. “You’re not concerned for Bianca?”

&
nbsp; Mark scoffed. “Please, that woman was groomed for this. She’s over the moon at winning the hand of a future senator. He comes from good breeding stock, he has money, and he has a long future in front of him. And it probably helps that he’s prettier than her soon-to-be ex-husband.” He flipped out his phone to show us a photo that was taken from a distance, likely by him. “Does that look like an unhappy woman?”

  “I used to look like that,” I whispered, taking in her doting smile and doe eyes. “Give it a year.”

  He shook his head sharply. “No, you fail to realize what drives a man like Albertson. You challenge him in a way that this woman never will. Honestly, he’ll get bored with her before he ever lays a hand on her. I’m more concerned that he’s going to come after you again at some point to fill the void, but he’ll be busy maintaining the perfect husband facade for at least the next two years.”

  “And if you’re wrong?” Will asked.

  “I’m not, but on the very small chance I am, we both know you already took care of it.” Respect colored his features as he added, “The wine was brilliant.”

  “I’m certain I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he replied.

  “Wine?” I repeated, taking in Mark’s obvious amusement and Will’s emotionless expression. “What are you two going on about?”

  “Your betrothed sent Albertson a clever message and let him know in no uncertain terms that the Mershanos are an equal, if not superior, competitor in this game.” He sounded impressed, which said a lot about whatever Will had done.

  “What was the message?” I asked, ignoring the betrothed comment. “What did you do, Will?”

  He rubbed a thumb over his bottom lip as if debating how much to say. I narrowed my gaze, silently demanding him to tell me everything, or there would be hell to pay later. Ryan was my ex, and my problem.

  “Mmm,” he murmured, sensing my unspoken challenge. His expression said he liked it, perhaps too much. “Let’s just say I returned the favor by playing with the water in his office, and when he woke up, a bottle of Mershano Vineyards’s finest wine was waiting for him.”