Page 47 of Dirty Deeds

Elliot steps around me and motions to the trio.

“This is Brent’s ex-wife, Danica. She’s been playing a pivotal role in the campaign until this unfortunate incident.” He glances over his shoulder, his lips twisting slightly. “This is Brent’s new PR team.”

My gaze flits from Elliot to the trio of suits and back to Brent.

“I need to talk to you.” I pause, clearing my throat. “Alone.”

One of the men steps forward.

“We’re pressed for time since Mr. Matthews is scheduled for surgery in a half hour. We still have a lot to cover. Maybe you can come back after he’s out of recovery.”

I raise an eyebrow at the man. Before I can tell him to fuck off, Brent speaks up. “It’s fine, Bradley. I need a moment with my wife.”

“Ex,” I snap.

“I have to advise against it, sir. She’s the reason we’re in this mess in the first place,” Bradley sneers.

Something raw and ugly snaps inside of me. I glare at the man. “Don’t get it twisted, the reason Brent is in the mess he’s in is all his own doing. But you shouldn’t be complaining. The messier the situation, the more you leeches get paid.” I turn for the door and pull it open. “Get out! All of you. Get the fuck out.”

None of them are quick to move and that only infuriates me more. I’m about to pull a Teresa Guidice but instead of flipping a table, an I.V. pole will have to do. Hell, I’m not above flipping the hospital bed. Either I’ve been spending too much time with Ro, or I’ve truly reached my limit.

“You heard her,” Brent says.

A sigh of relief escapes my lips as the four assholes march out of the room. Once they’re out of sight, I close the door and turn to face Brent.

“You looked like you were ready to lose your composure.”

“You mean like you did the other night?” I retort, closing the distance between me and the bed.

He stares at me for a beat, then sighs.

“Danica—”

“Don’t you dare Danica me. You put your hands on me and had the audacity to cry victim when someone else defended me.”

He narrows his eyes. “What do you got yourself a new fuck boy?”

I laugh bitterly.

“That’s rich coming from you.”

Make no mistake about it, I want nothing more than to tell him about me and Enzo, but that would only cause more harm. I need to stick to the plan. The only reason I’m here is to get information from him.

My day will come.

“The press knows about Larissa and it’s only a matter of time before they find out about the money you’ve been embezzling from Frankie’s House.”

“More importantly, how do you know about the money?”

I decide to stick with what I was originally going to say when I tried to confront him after the fundraiser.

“I dropped by Frankie’s House to see about volunteering. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do since I told you about the organization.” The part about me dropping by is a lie, but the rest isn’t. I’ve been wanting to be more involved and for no other reason than I wanted to help. “Anyway,” I continue. “When I got there, Wolf told me I was no longer welcome. I thought it was odd because he’s always been so nice.”

“He’s a fucking criminal.”

“The same can be said for you. He thinks I helped you take that money. That I set this whole fucking thing in motion.”

“Is that where his son came in?”