Page 18 of Forbidden Desire

“Boss’ll do that later,” came a masculine voice before a snicker that spread to the guys on the couch.

Niall couldn’t think she wouldn’t know he’d been the speaker. Not with an accent like that. Still, at least she didn’t have to wonder whether her interlude with Ire was a secret. Apparently, he told his right-hand man, and their goons, everything.

Then she heard it.

That whimper.

That moan.

Like a woman lost in ecstasy… Like her…

Whirling around, she fixated on the sound. The laptop. Yes, she could feel every man’s eyes on hers, but it was his, Ire’s, that captured her focus.

“You asshole.”

Was it just audio? Please, God, if she had any wish chips to cash—

Niall turned the laptop and there it was. Her. Them. In the bed upstairs, her on top, of course, his hands full with her breasts. Though that modesty didn’t last.

Her eyes fixed on the screen. Ire hit the spacebar, pausing the image of her, head thrown back, sheer bliss on her face.

“Out,” Ire said.

Daly retreated from behind her to open the door as the couch guys and Niall stood to head that way.

Her eyes met Ire’s. Had this been his plan all along? Why hadn’t she seen it coming? Had she believed a guy like him could be honest? Decent? Honorable?

The door closed, shutting them in. What did he expect her to do? Scream? Curse? Cry?

“This is simple,” he said, opening a desk drawer to retrieve something. An envelope, that he tossed to the corner of the desk closest to her. “You’re gonna take that to Babcock tomorrow.”

Is that what he thought?

“Go screw yourself.”

“Round two?”

“What kind of asshole films a woman without her consent?”

“Would you remember if I asked? You were sunk, baby.” His hand hovered over the keyboard. “Need a reminder?”

Her feet moved before she thought. “It’s illegal—”

“And?” That wasn’t a deal-breaker in his house. He rose when she paused in front of the envelope. “All you have to do is go to his office and hand it over.”

“You’re insane,” she spat, shaking with the anger that burned inside her. “If you think I’d ever do anything for—no. Forget it. I’m out of here.”

Spinning around to stalk toward the door, she was done. God help any of the goons who might try to get in her way.

“That how your daddy feels?” he asked. She stopped. “Video like that gets out, your brother’s career is over. Your grandfather, your father, both made it to superintendent. Be a shame to dash Lachlan’s hopes, so early…” She loathed turning, and from the look on his face, he knew it. “You told me not to threaten his life. How about his career? His reputation? His dignity? You? The perfect McLeod princess, in my bed, screaming for a McDade. How will that go across with the superiors?”

Nausea sapped some of her anger. “You’re a real asshole. The lowest kind of scum.”

“There would be investigations into their past convictions,” he said, enjoying each second of her torture. “Every decision. A few choice leaks would confirm just how intimate I’ve been with their cases.”

“You haven’t been intimate with—”

“People love a sex scandal.”

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