Page 154 of Sugar

I’d blame my silence on exhaustion but since I was awake before five and not in his bed where I belonged, I doubted he’d buy the excuse again.

“If I tell you something, are you bound by ethics or the law or whatever to report it?” I asked.

His body tightened, but his answer was automatic. “Depends on what, but it’s you, so no.”

“But—”

“You come first, Madeline.”

I took a shuddering breath before admitting, “I saw something at Tripp’s.”

“You’ve got to narrow it down a little. Knowing him, that could be a secret camera that I promise wouldn’t actually be a secret, a stash of Viagra-laced uppers, or a crystal dick.”

There was a lot I could’ve delved into there, but I wasn’t in the mood. “A group was snorting lines upstairs.”

“That happens.”

“The provider of said drugs was Greer’s ex.”

“Oh fuck, Maddie.” He spun me in his hold and cupped my cheeks. “I mean, he’s her ex for a reason. Does it even matter?”

“Yes, because according to him, her dad is supplying the drugs.”

I expected him to stagger back like I had. To be shocked. Stunned. Aghast.

But he didn’t look fazed.

Not in the slightest.

The last tendril of hope I’d been clinging to that Josh was a liar disappeared at Easton’s lack of reaction.

Still, I pushed, “Why aren’t you freaking out with me?”

“Because there’s not a lot that surprises me anymore. Especially when it comes to men like Doug.”

“What’s that mean?”

“I know he’s your friend’s dad, but he’s also greedy and image obsessed. It’s a dangerous combination, and a guaranteed headache. Hence why I didn’t take him as a client.” His lips quirked. “Well, that and I wanted to fuck his daughter’s friend without it being a conflict of interest.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that when I asked?” I waved a hand. “About why you turned him down as a client.”

“Why does it matter? I’m sure Greer knows her?—”

“Because of my dad.”

His head tilted. “Maybe it’s the fact we just crawled into bed a couple of hours ago so I’m running on fumes, but I’m not following you.”

“Doug and my dad own their practice together.”

That got the shocked reaction I’d been expecting earlier.

“Did you not know?” I asked. I told him basically every other tiny detail of my life, but I guessed that never came up.

“Doug only mentioned a partner briefly, but he wasn’t looking for a malpractice attorney, so we didn’t dive into those specifics. Is your dad involved?”

I shook my head.

He didn’t question whether I was sure. “What can I do? How can I help?”

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