Page 1 of A Temptation Too Great

Prologue

Sir

The car pulls up to the curb, and I study the terraced house. There’s no privacy from your neighbors. The doors are too close together, just like zero-lot houses or New York brownstones, only without the ornate architecture. I hate traveling, but now I have to be extra careful because of Securities International and their damn computer technicians. They should still be busy chasing their tails, thanks to the nice little plant I left in their office. Soon, I’ll know all their secrets, and when I do, I’ll dismantle them from the inside out.

But now I’m here to do what my father never could. I’m going to unite every major criminal organization in the world under one name—the Hierarchy. And I will rule them all. Tiernan International declined my generous offer. So now I’m here to destroy them.

Going after Aidan’s wife was the first step. If Patrick hadn’t screwed that up, it would have been perfect. Now, I’ll go at them this way.

I lift the manila folder off the seat beside me, steadying my hand so it doesn’t tremble and reveal the secret I hide from everyone every day.

“Okay, Trent, take this to him. All he needs to do is open it, then tell him to come see me.”

After the Rusty debacle, I’m not taking any chances. Trent is expendable, more so than Rusty ever was. I won’t allow another assistant to hold so much power that their death leaves me scrambling. I’ll do it all myself and handhold them if necessary.

That was one of my father’s downfalls too. He trusted too many people. I don’t.

That’s why my plan to get my fiancée back on my own will go into effect soon. It’ll be easy. You just have to use the right motivation. That’s how I’m going to get this man to work for me. He’s already been helping, but now he’ll tear Tiernan apart.

Trent slips out of the car and walks to the address. He knocks, and the patsy I’m going to use answers. Trent hands over the folder, and even from this distance, I can see shock and then anger cross his face. His body tenses as he turns toward the car when Trent points it out.

He marches over, opens the door, and leans in.

“Who are you? And where did you get this? How dare you.” He acts all affronted, but he’s the one with the sick perversion I’m going to use against him.

“Get in and show me some respect. I’m Sir.”

He pauses, looks around, then slips into the back of the limousine with me.

“I didn’t know it was you.” His voice holds a slight tremble. He fears me.

“Of course you didn’t, idiot. I’ve only talked to you over email and phone. How would you know what I look like?” I take pride in myself, unlike this nobody. I’m wearing a three-piece suit. My dark hair is trimmed close, and I’m clean-shaven. He’s scruffy, with hair too long and greasy.

“I apologize,” he says, tipping his head. He knows what I can do and what I will do. He’s seen the handiwork of my threats.

“That image will go no further if you do as I tell you. You work for me now.” I pause thoughtfully. “How about you continue your extracurricular activities, but we start leaving clues that it’s someone in the Tiernan organization. Sound good?”

“How did you know about that? Or this?” He holds up the folder.

He’s sicker than most people I’ve worked with. His perversions are truly heinous. But he’ll be perfect for my plan.

“I have my ways. Now, here.” I slip him a burner phone. “You’ll answer when I call, no matter what. Start by keeping a closer eye on that one.” I point at the file. “Here’s more information.”

I hand him the second folder from the seat, and he opens it. His face tightens in anger, and his chest puffs out. I knew that would set him off.

I’ve basically just cocked the pistol and aimed it at Brody Tiernan. He’ll rue the day he refused to give up his club or his brother and follow me.

“I’ll kill him,” he says through clenched teeth.

I just watch, realizing how much control I have over him now. He’ll do whatever I say.

I pick up the final folder. “Use this.”

He opens it, and the Cheshire grin on his face makes me smile too.

“Just so you know, if you defy me or tell anyone about this, I will kill you. You won’t even know how, but it will happen.”

“Yes, Sir,” he says, then gets out of the car.

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