Page 41 of The Billionaire and His Forever

I smile. “Perfect timing, my friend.”

“Bowen told me to call you. She said you might have another job for me.”

Daniel is my private investigator, the same PI who dug up all the evidence that revealedQuinnwas the rat who sold the story of my alleged affair with Abbie to the tabloids. The very evidence that enabled Bow to put together a very intimidating lawsuit against Quinn for libel. Now, I trust Daniel with my life.

I didn’t have a need for these kinds of things, once upon a time. I used to be able to handle my own business and not worry about someone sneaking around in the dark to get answers. Natasha changed all of that. She and her little boy toy standing here in front of me.

“Yes. As it happens, I do have need of your services again.” I square off my shoulders and keep a stern eye on Quinn, who looks around so casually he may as well be modeling checkered shirts. He’s even whistling.

It disturbs me how quickly and easily he gets under my skin, when I’ve taken on more powerful people than a goddamn stable boy, but he’s managed to make himself a pawn in a very dangerous game.A game that I apparently can’t stop losing. At least, not yet.

But Quinn has no idea how deep this goes. How his involvement has already doomed him to a very unhappy fate. He still imagines he’s going to drive off into the sunset with my ex-wife when all the legal dust settles between me and her. Quinn Dempsey is in for a very rude awakening. Because if there’s one thing I know about Natasha, it’s that she devours men once she’s through squeezing them dry, and she spits their bones out afterward. The damage wrought by my legal team will be nothing compared to what Natasha has in store for this boy.

On the other end of the line, I hear Daniel flipping through some pages.

“I’ve got my notes here from Bowen—as I understand, this concerns Abigail Montgomery and the attempted murder charge?”

“That’s correct. I need you to help build a case in support of her innocence.”

The evil nurse has finally departed, and now Quinn makes like he’s going to try stepping around me as well, but I stop him with a fierce look. He shrugs and puts his hands back in his pockets. The urge to destroy him grows.

“I’m on it, Mr. Ratliff.”

“Excellent. Clearing her name is paramount. I’m prepared to beverygenerous if you can help my team accomplish that quickly,” I tell him, hoping the offer of a monetary bonus will grease his wheels even more.

“Understood, sir.”

I hang up and tuck the phone away, giving the weasel another death glare as I turn my attention back to him. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s a free country, last time I checked. I should ask you the same thing, though. As far as I know, you aren’t exactly welcome here. That whole attempted murder charge and all.”

As I stare at the shit-eating grin on his face, I can’t help but wonder what Natasha has on him, or what she’s offered him, that makes him so cavalier. The boy could barely look me in the eye when he worked in my stables, yet he somehow managed to screw me six ways to Sunday at my ex-wife’s bidding and now acts as though we are on the same level.

“I suppose someone needs to explain the judiciary system to you? They had nothing on me. They have nothing on anyone. Natasha overdosed,” I remind him.

“Did she?” Quinn cocks his head to the side. “She’s been very sick for someone who ‘just’ overdosed. It’s no wonder people suspect foul play.”

“Yes, it’s very curious, isn’t it? Natasha begins to lose control over the press and our child and then all of a sudden, tragedy strikes…” I trail off, watching a nurse scurry down the hall, giving me the side-eye. I’m sure Natasha has the entire floor hanging on her every word.

Sometimes I forget her charms, because I’ve become immune to them. I was susceptible for a long time before I learned my lesson. Quinn will have his moment in the sun, just like I did, and then one day he’ll be forced to realize what he’s gotten himself into. How truly fucked he is.

Unless I can get to him first.

Natasha isn’t the only person in this hospital with resources at their disposal.

“We need to talk.” I clear my throat and offer the little shit my most serious expression. “I am willing to offer you a bargain.”

“Oh, really.” Quinn pulls himself up to his full height, wearing what I like to think of as his “collective bargaining” face, which is laughable at best. “Go on. I’m listening.”

“I need you to tell the press the truth. Tell them what really happened to Natasha.” Quinn opens his mouth to protest, but I hold up my hand to stop him. “You’ve made quite a stir telling lies for her, and I’m sure you didn’t mind your minor celebrity status while you were at it. But if you do this, then in return, I’ll drop the lawsuit against you. You can walk away from this free and clear. No court appearances, no hundreds of thousands of dollars in lawyer fees, no jail time or criminal record. It’ll be like none of this ever happened. You’ll be free to live your life. I just need you to come forward with the real story.”

A beat passes, and I can see that he’s thinking it over. I’m so tense I can feel it in my gut.

But finally, Quinn just shakes his head, smirking. “Well, well, well. How low you’ve sunk after all.”

“Pardon?”

“Look at you standing there, trying to coerce a former employee in the middle of a hospital. You think I’d do anything to help cover your ass? You’re really desperate, aren’t you? I bet your little lawsuit won’t amount to shit, either. In fact, if this does go to court, I’m gonna make sureyouhave to pay my lawyer fees.”

---