Page 75 of The Charmer's Gambit
It sounded perfect except for one thing. “We’ll be ruining her life as well.”
Mark grinned, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. It never did. “I knew you would say that, which is why I did more digging into her background while I researched some of Albertson’s more questionable relations.” He pulled out his phone and started thumbing through the screen. “Mrs. Bianca Jenkins is a debutante who married for money and status. Not necessarily something to destroy her for, but she has a history of ruining the reputations of others purely for fun or selfish means. Let’s just say she more than deserves a little public humiliation.”
“The media will crucify her because she’s the woman,” I argued.
“Something she likely knew when she sent her best friend’s sex tape to the entertainment industry in retribution for tryingto seduce her former lover. That would be the man she was fucking before Ryan, while she was still married to Senator Jenkins.” His flat tone suggested he wasn’t impressed at all. “I won’t lose any sleep over it.”
I bit my lip, uncertain. This was supposed to be about taking down my controlling ex, not anyone else. But even I could admit extreme measures would be needed here. It would take a hell of a lot to force him to leave me alone, and hurting his political aspirations would accomplish it. Ryan cared far more about his career than he did me.
“Is there any risk this will make him more desperate for her?” Will asked. “I mean, taking everything away from him could have the opposite impact, yes?”
Mark fiddled with his beard, gaze thoughtful. “It’s entirely possible, but I suspect he’ll be too busy worrying about his political fallout to think about anything else. He’s in bed with some dangerous people who have entrusted him with certain secrets in expectation that he would be useful in the future. Removing that makes him more of a liability than an ally, which will force him to find other ways to appease his various benefactors.”
“So he’s received funds from them for his election run,” Will murmured.
“In a backward kind of way that can’t be tracked, but yes, essentially his family has received financial incentives for decades. These are old relationships, ones I’m sure you’re more than familiar with, Mister Mershano.” The implication was obvious. Ryan and Will both came from old, wealthy families. From what I’d seen over the last few years, those backgrounds came with a certain prestige, and within that social circle were a myriad of affluent individuals who acquired their assets in a variety of ways.
Will gave a single nod with his chin to acknowledge the truth. “Albertson doesn’t seem to grasp that as well as you do.”
“That’s because he’s under the misconception that you’re not as deeply tied to the Mershano empire as your cousin is, which we both know isn’t true at all. You might own your own company, but your last name affords you the same contacts and resources, not to mention your bank account rivals Evan himself. Albertson doesn’t acknowledge any of that, and that’s his downfall.” Mark pushed off the chair and stretched his lanky arms over his head. “It’s been a long two days, and I need bourbon.”
“There’s cognac in the kitchen,” Will replied as he brushed his hand up and down my arm.
“Not my preference, but it’ll do,” he grumbled back.
“He’s charming,” Will muttered sarcastically after Mark disappeared.
I smiled. “He’s always been like that. Rough and to the point.” It was something I enjoyed about him and my brother. I never had to worry about them judging me in private; they were too blunt for it. “So, French, huh?” I asked as the man in question strolled back around the corner with a tumbler of amber liquid.
“It’s a simple language, Rach. You should try Farsi or Arabic.” He grimaced. “So many grammar rules, and you break all of them. Really fucked-up shit.”
I eyed him speculatively. “Right. All part of your FBI job? Because all the agents have to learn Middle Eastern languages and travel to Dubai regularly?”
This time his grin did meet his eyes. “Absolutely.”
“Uh-huh. Are you ever going to tell me what it is you do?”
That sobered him a little. “I have a knack for helping people out of difficult situations, like the one you’re in.” He set the glass down on the table and braced his elbows on his knees. “I knewthat asshole was trouble, but I didn’t realize how bad he was until you called me. Now I’m going to do what I should have done three years ago when you left him. He will never touch you again.”
“You can’t promise that.” I didn’t mean it as a taunt or a warning, just a fact. No one could promise something like that, not where Ryan was concerned.
“Oh, but I can, Rachel. When I’m done with him, you’ll be the last thing on his mind. He’s about to face a whole new enemy, one he’ll never see coming.” He smirked. “Outing his affair will feel like a honeymoon when I’m through with him.”
“What else can you do?” I asked, curious.
“It’s better if he doesn’t tell us,” Will murmured. “The less we know, the less we can be implicated, which lessens the chance for revenge.”
“Exactly.” Mark lifted his glass again in salute. “I like him, Rach. This one you can marry.”
My eyes bugged at that. “Excuse me? As if you have a say in something like that.”
Mark chuckled. “As Caleb sent me here to assess the situation, I beg to differ.” He looked to Will with amusement. “It’s not Rachel’s father you need to be worried about; it’s her brother.”
“Yes, I’ve gathered that. I look forward to meeting him.”
“Oh, and you will. Soon, I imagine.”
“Good,” Will replied.
