by Nana Malone
Dragging in steadying breaths, she slid down against her door. She needed off this client, but talking to Jake wouldn’t help. There had to be another way. She scrolled her contacts and called the one person who she knew she could count on. Willow answered with her characteristic sass. “’Sup, girlie? You done with your Lost Girl marathon and want to join the land of the living?”
“No, I need all the dirt you can pull on Michael Ross. That asshole just showed up on my doorstep.” It was time to get some leverage.
“Shit, I’m in Connecticut right now. I can’t get back there for at least another couple of hours.”
Delilah hated the fact that she didn’t want to be alone. It made her feel weak. “No, sorry, I should have remembered. You need the days off as much as I do.”
“Stop being an asshat. My girl calls with an asshole problem, and I’m supposed to ride to the rescue.”
A smile tugged at Delilah’s lips. “I appreciate the sentiment, but right now you need the downtime. The dirt-pulling can wait until Monday.”
Willow was silent for a beat. “Actually, it might not have to. Look, I’m good, but you have a real live reformed hacker on your speed dial. He’d be able to pull a lot more shit than I would, despite my awesome status. And with muscles like those, he can give you a little protection. I don’t like the idea of you being there alone. Maybe you should call your brother.”
“No!” She was not dragging Dylan into this. She was in no mood for a lecture. “Dylan will put a protective detail on me, and that wouldn’t be fun for anyone. But you’re right. I can call Nate to look into Michael.”
“Why don’t you do one better and go see him? Then maybe you can stop pretending that you don’t want to jump his bones.”
She scoffed. “Yeah, right.” Jumping his bones was the least of what she wanted to do to Nate.
###
Lach glared at Nate. “If you're going to do this, then you have to let me make the drop.”
Nate scowled at his friend as he grabbed his helmet. “You're insane. You don’t know my brother like I do. He's a mean little shit. At least I'm guaranteed he won't hurt me.”
Lach rolled his eyes. “You mean, the guy who threatened Delilah—you think he won’t hurt you? And you seem to forget he has all kinds of ways of hurting you right now. The current CEO of Synth Games can’t be seen paying off some lowlife. What if he's called the media for a photo-op? Or worse, what if he's managed to get a member of the board down there? You don’t know what you’re facing. It's better to send me.”
Nate hesitated. What the hell was he supposed to do here? It wasn't in his nature to stand by and let someone else do the hard shit. But Lach had a point. “Look, you don't know Trent. He's a thug and mean as an alley cat. I’m not giving him all the money. Just enough to get a car and get started. He’s not going to be too happy about it. Don’t turn your back on him.”
Lach met his gaze. “I'm not an idiot, you know. I've got two older brothers who've been duking it out for my father's fortune since I was a teenager. I know how to deal with mean. Besides, you might be the genius, but I'm smarter than you are.”
Nate cocked a brow.
“Unlike you, golden boy, I wasn't going to go into the dark alley alone. I'm taking back up.”
“And what if Trent has back up?”
“Then your big brother won’t get his money. Would you relax? This is not the first negotiation I've had to deal with.” He shrugged. “Though, I think it's a mistake to pay him.”
“I don't really have any choice. I’ve tried to think of every scenario. Twenty grand will buy silence for a little while.”
Lach’s voice pitched low. “I know you’re freaked out about your past coming out, but maybe it wouldn’t be the catastrophe you’re thinking. And honestly, I think it’s a bluff. He breaks the news, and he has nothing to hold over you ever again for more money.”
Nate scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m not going to risk this. Chase is counting on me.” And for the first time in years, he felt like he could live a life where he didn’t hide himself from everyone. He’d pay to protect that. Even if it was only for a little while.
“Fine. It’s your call, but at least tell your fixer. She needs to know to cover your ass. She's not going to like being blindsided if this does blow up.”
“It’s not going to blow up. You pay him, he walks away, at least temporarily. By the time he comes back for more, Chase will be back in his rightful seat.” Nate frowned. “I thought you said you had this under control?”
Lach sighed. “And I do. But you said it yourself—your brother's got an ax to grind. As far as he's concerned, this is just the first payment of many. Delilah will want to get in front of something like this.”
Nate set his jaw. Delilah wasn’t going anywhere near this steaming pile of shit. “She doesn’t have to be involved. I have this under control.”
Lach crossed his arms, and the firm set of his lips spoke volumes about his real feelings, but he said, “Fine. Now give me the money. It's time for me to go and play clandestine operative.” He paused at the door. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”
Nate hesitated before handing over the briefcase. It's only money. And it meant his brother's silence. He handed the briefcase to his friend. “Be careful.”
Lach smirked. “If I didn’t know better, I'd say you cared about me. You wanna hug this out before I go?”
Nate scowled at him. “What do you think?”
Lach chuckled. “You know, we're going to have to work on you expressing your emotions more.”
Ten minutes after Lach left, there was a knock at his door. Nate called out, “Let me guess, you've changed your mind and want me to go to the meeting?” But when he opened the door, it wasn't Lach waiting on the other side, it was Delilah. An exhausted looking Delilah.
“Sorry to just turn up.”
Every word out of her mouth was like she stroked him. He should be used to his body’s automated response, but he wasn’t. His pulse thrummed, and his cock lengthened and pushed against the fly of his jeans. Mind scrambled worse than an omelet. Just like always, his body gravitated toward hers. And just like always, the moment he tried to fight the feeling, it felt like someone carved his heart out with a dull instrument. Danger.
“Are you kidding? This is my favorite kind of surprise. Come in. I thought I wasn’t seeing you until tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I had this whole plan for date night, where I got waxed and polished to perfection, but alas, I’ve got to deal with something that won’t wait.”
He stepped back to give her some room, but it was no use, her cinnamon and vanilla shampoo still wrapped around him and hit him hard. He cleared his throat. “So what’s up?”
“I hate to ask, but I need your help with something.”
His mind immediately conjured up a dozen images of her in various states of undress as he helped her come over and over and over again. He shook his head to clear the imagery. Easy. That's not why she’d come here. Right. He prayed he was wrong.
“What kind of help?”
“Michael showed up on my doorstep today.”
“Shit. Are you okay?” Fury roared through him as his gaze swept over her for any indication she was hurt.
“Yeah. I’m fine. I know Jake’s not going to listen. Every time I talk to him, he treats me like I’m a whiney child who doesn’t want to keep a friend or something. But I’ve got to find a way to make this guy back off. My hands are tied too because he’s a client of mine. I guess, I’m asking for your help finding a little bit of leverage.”
The corners of his lips tugged into a grin. “You want me to dig up dirt on Ross?”
She smirked. “I need the stuff Willow can’t find. Nothing criminal; I just want enough to make him back off.”
He chuckled. “Just call me your friendly neighborhood hacker.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it. You're sure you don't mind doing this? Feels like I’m crossing a line.”
<
br /> Nate grinned as he shrugged. “There is some legal ambiguity, but you’re not crossing a moral line.”
On an exhale, her shoulders slumped. “I’m starting to think making partner isn’t worth all of this.”
“So quit.”
Her laugh held twinges of hysterics. “I can’t. They paid for my last year of graduate school, contingent on me working for them for four years. If I quit now, I owe them twenty-five grand, which I don’t have.”
“Holy shit.”
“Tell me about it.”
“But if Jake isn’t doing something to keep you safe, then this is on them. Lila, I don’t want Ross having access to you.”
“That asshole isn’t supposed to have access to me. Jake arranged for a very large man to act as my big stick. But it’s not around the clock, nor do I want it to be. What I want is for him to not turn up unannounced.”
Ice settled in his veins. “Lila, Jake isn’t going to do anything about him.”
“What do you want me to do? I can’t quit.”
“Yes, you can. I’ll pay the balance of the debt.”
Delilah was silent for a moment. Then she blinked. Blinked again. “Are you kidding?”
“No. It keeps you safe and gets you out of Ross’s crosshairs.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“You just offered to pay off my debt of twenty-five thousand dollars. You don’t see the problem with that?”
Why was she being so difficult? “I don’t. You need the money. I have it. I want to give it to you. Take it.”
“Nate, thank you, but no. I wouldn’t feel right. Besides, you’re offering because you think you owe me. And you don’t.”
“Now that’s where you’re wrong.” If she wasn’t taking his money, then he’d figure another way to help her out from under Ross’s thumb.
Chapter 22
The following morning, armed with her sass and really big bodyguard, Delilah glared at her client and inhaled deeply. She could do this. Thanks to Nate. After another night with him, she felt nearly invincible. “Thanks for taking the time to meet with me, Michael.”
His usual arrogant, meets surly, meets creeptastic expression was in place. He always made her feel like he was picturing her naked and he expected her to be happy about it. “Of course. I’m glad you’ve finally come to your senses. Chasing you around and you pretending you didn’t like it was getting to be a bit of a bore.”
Delilah’s temper flared, but she quickly checked it. He was trying to get a rise out of her. It was his M.O., and she wasn’t going to give him what he wanted. “Well, I’m not here about your attempts at starting a relationship with me. In fact, let me make it definitively clear. You’re going to stay away from me. I don’t want you at my house. I don’t want you stopping by my office without an appointment. I don’t want you anywhere in my life. Am I clear?”
He leaned forward. From her standing position, she could see the bruises on his knuckles, and she had to fight back a shiver. “And you seem to forget that I own you. My production company runs this place. You have to work with me, and I can pretty much do whatever I like, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”
Her palm itched to smack that smug expression off his face. But instead, she inhaled another steadying breath. “Actually, that’s where you’re wrong. You see, things are going to change from now on. You’re going to stop harassing me. You’re going to stop turning up at my house. You’re going to go to anger management classes. And I want a blanket public apology for everyone you’ve ever hurt and used. Including Reesa Daniel.”
His mildly indolent pose turned more aggressive as he leaned farther forward. “I didn’t touch that bitch. She’s fucking lying.”
Delilah might have the upper hand, but she was no fool. She put her chair between the two of them as well as her desk. “You can relax; Reesa refuses to press charges. She’s holed up somewhere while her face heals. But Reesa’s not the first person you’ve done this to. There are women from your past. You’ve got quite the temper control problem. Does the name Skyler Adams ring a bell?”
He blanched and sat back in his seat. “I don’t know her.”
Delilah bit back a smile of triumph. “Oh, really? Because my reports show that you two go way back to high school.”
He shook his head vehemently. “I don’t know her.”
“That’s funny, because I think her father bank rolls one of the biggest Hollywood studios. You have to have heard of her. Especially since you two used to go out.”
He clenched and unclenched his fists.
“Does her daddy know you’re the one who beat Skylar so badly she needed plastic surgery?”
“I never laid a hand on her!” His booming voice reverberated off the glass walls of her office.
“That’s what she said then, but apparently Skylar isn’t willing to stay quiet anymore. In light of what’s happened to Reesa. Now wait, I want to say that maybe her daddy, Jameson Adams, might be behind that big comeback movie of yours. Is that true? I wonder what would happen if he found out.”
His voice was flat when he spoke again. “What do you want?”
Delilah blinked. “Me? Oh, nothing. In exchange for me letting you keep your comeback job, you’ll do exactly as I say. Jameson Adams is a very powerful man. You think your little threats scare me? Sure, you can be a nuisance. You can even fire me. But that is nothing compared to what that man will do to you if he finds out you hurt his daughter.”
“Why haven’t you told him already? I can see you’re itching to.”
“Because you’re still my client. I might not like you, but I am obligated to work with you. And this is a win-win. With a normal reasonable client, I’d suggest these things. A press conference and apology, anger management. But you’re a first class asshole. So I’ve found myself some leverage.”
“And what does Skylar get out of this?”
“Well, Skylar just wants you to stop. She doesn’t want her life in the spotlight. She doesn’t want any of it. She’s happy living a quiet life. But if you can’t behave, she’s willing to bring the spotlight on herself to stop your bullshit and keep you from hurting anyone else. Now, my partner Willow was able to convince her that you’re on the path to the straight and narrow. Is that true?”
His eyes were stormy. When he stood, she involuntarily took a step back.
“Do I really have a choice?”
She tipped her chin up. “No. You don’t.”
He nodded as he glared at her. “You think you’re pretty smart dredging up my past. I’ll play along.” He nodded. “But this isn’t over. Me and you—we’re not done.”
She met his gaze. “Yes. We are. From now on, you’ll do as you’re told and let me and the rest of the team get on with our work. If you don’t, I will happily end you.”
Chapter 23
After another hellish day of dealing with more worm attacks, lengthy finance meetings, and reviewing every last testing detail of the latest game’s release, Nate was starting to feel the strain. Not to mention looking over his shoulder every other minute for his brother. But then, Delilah had brought dinner over for a working meeting, and he’d forgotten about everything. She still wasn’t budging on the tuition money, but he’d figure out a solution soon. He had to.
He rolled over and pulled her closer to him. He loved having her in his bed. In a matter of weeks, this had become the favorite part of his day—waking up with her sprawled on top of him. But for everything they shared, she still kept herself guarded.
Just as she started to wiggle her hips, his front door buzzed. Nate bit back a curse.
“You expecting someone?”
With a groan, he checked the time. It was barely seven, who the hell was that? “No. Damn it.” He sucked in a steadying breath then peeled her hands off his cock. He was going to murder whoever was at the door. “Stay here.”
She groaned. “I might as well get in the shower. If I don’t hurry, I’m going
to be late for work.”
“You should call in sick. I have plans for you.” He dragged on his workout pants and jogged to the door. When he yanked it open, he froze. “Jake, what are you doing here?” Surreptitiously, he searched the living room for any identifying articles of Lila’s.
“Hey, man, I’m sorry to come knocking so early. I tried calling Delilah so she could tell you too, since she worked so hard to get you this placement. But I wasn’t able to get hold of her.”
Nate frowned. Yeah, it so wouldn’t work to tell Jake that Delilah was just in the shower, likely slick and soapy after he’d kept her up half the night. “Oh, yeah, what placement?” It was only then that he noticed her red coat on the back of his couch. Shit. He stepped back to let Jake in. As easily as he dared, he stalked through the living room and casually pulled the throw over her coat. “Can I grab you a coffee?”
Jake came in, but he mostly hovered around the door as if realizing that he might have caught Nate in the middle of something. “No thanks on the coffee. I’m trying to cut back. That shit makes me hyper as hell.” He glanced around. “Hell of a place you have here. I figured as CEO you’d have some insane Upper West Side apartment.”
“No, I like midtown. It suits me. Besides, I wasn’t always a CEO. And it’s only temporary.”
“Well, you have another few weeks in the chair at least, and if Delilah and I have our way, you’ll be there until Manning returns. But yeah, anyway, I—” He paused mid sentence, and his gaze focused on Delilah’s purse sitting on the ottoman. “Shit. Sorry man. I didn’t realize you had company.”
Nate’s eyes darted to the purse, and he bit back a curse. “I—uh—yeah.”
Jake grinned. “Sorry. I guess I could have texted.” His stance took on a suddenly conspiratorial bro element as he quirked an eyebrow. “At east you’re not in the stairwell of a benefit. I have to tell you that picture gave me a sleepless night or two.”
Nate’s skin flushed. His ears strained to hear the shower. The water was still running. He prayed it stayed that way. The last thing Delilah needed was to get caught here. Especially after he’d promised her that he was going to take care of her. “So what’s the media placement?”
