Page 77 of The Reluctant Hero

Jesus, all the fucking questions this bitch has. She never shuts up.

“Yeah. I told him she’s the cheat and covering it up by blaming me so she can scam money.”

“And then you start sending her flowers to prove your love? Have you always been this dumb?”

My jaw clenches. “I have him convinced I love her too much to give her up, no matter her faults.”

“The fact that he knows who she is puts us in a bind. You do understand that, right? It’s awfully convenient that he bought the complex she’s living in.”

“Who the fuck cares if he knows her?” I shout back, my patience gone. “A man like that wouldn’t wipe his feet on Amanda. She’s nothing. He’ll probably kick her out so he can make the building up to code and flip it.”

“You said he seemed interested in her. Maybe she gave him the photos, and this is a setup.”

“I doubt it,” I scoff. “If she had them, she’d be screaming it from the rooftops by now. She’s a fucking prude. Any type of pornography is an instant turn-off for her. Besides, I’m looking at a photo of her molesting one of his bodyguards at work like a sloppy pig in heat.”

“All of the pictures become a problem if she recognizes you or catches someone watching her,” Gloria says in an exasperated tone. “Stop looking at her and start looking forthem.”

I will when I’m damn well ready. First, I need to make sure that Amanda knows she can’t slip through my fingers so easily. Her attitude has my need to smack her back into place revved up. I’m enjoying this little game too much to stop now. I want her broken into pieces. I’ll mold her into a shape that I can control again within weeks. Maybe a little torture wouldn’t go wrong. I know a good place to go for it.

“How many times do I have to tell you that my face isn’t in any of them?” I can’t handle her stupidity!

“If Matthias is paying attention to her, she’ll give up on your money and go after his. Matthias is in a whole other bracket.”

“Fuck you,” my voice drops threateningly. He may have money, but he’s a fucking moron if he goes near Amanda. What am I thinking? Let him use her up and spit her back in my lap. He’s the type. She’d crawl back begging after that.

“She’s fucking the guard. That’s the only reason he knows her. I’m sure it’s a step to get to Matthias, but it’s not going to work. The man is a damn icicle. He probably hasn’t used his dick on anyone but his guards.”

“Wait,” she mutters as if she’s talking to herself.

After a few seconds, I bark, “Spit it out!”

Her sigh is filled with angry frustration, but she doesn’t let it loose.

“If she wants Matthias’ money, she should take some. We have people who can do that.”

I settle back with a frown.

“Don’t implicate the guard. Let him be surprised, too. That way, it’s more believable.”

“I’m listening,” I pour another glass of scotch and take a sip.

“As soon as his money is touched, he’ll retaliate.”

“She’s no good to me dead, Gloria,” I scoff.

“I doubt he’ll kill her. You haven’t bothered paying attention. He goes after the people who want turf, not idiot women who want to scam his money. He’ll be pissed, but not that pissed. We can set it up as a theft and put it back before he can go that far.”

“I can drop a few hints about her penchant for stealing,” I mutter.

“Which will give you an in to talk about a few properties with him,” she points out.

“I don’t know,” I disagree, feeling uneasy. “I’m not sure having him on the inside of this is the best idea anymore.”

“That’s why you don’t make those decisions, Justin,” she tells me in a mocking tone. “Do not fuck one more thing up.”

I hang up and fling the phone across the room.

This is all Amanda’s fault. If she had just kept her head down and been a good wife, this wouldn’t have happened.

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