Page 52 of Tiebreaker

“Fresh pussy always leads young idiots astray.” My whole body goes hot when eh says that, shame and… anger blowing up inside me

My lungs expand, but no air enters. It’s like I’ve been punched in solar plexus.

“He signed it without looking to deep, but we got him on a clause of conduct unbecoming,” he drawls. “Hooking up with a prostitute, having that kind of scandal blow open, that’s enough to yank his deal. Kai’s a fucking idiot, and he’s run his use to me. Hell, I’d have him dealt with if I wanted to bother spending the five grand.”

The way he says it. Dealt with.Dealt with.

I know exactly what he means, and the image in my mind of Kai, bullet hole between his eyes, head tilted to the side, sprawled in the backseat of a limo, makes me sick. My stomach turns and my head fills with liquid, a space, dizzy-feeling crawling through my body. Am I going to be sick, or will my knees give in?

“I’m sure Vincent would do it for free, if I gave him the right nudge-” He groans, and I hear his weight shifting, the leather of his chair squeaking. “Fuck, my sciatica. But that’s what I’m thinking. She’s the match, they’re the kindling, and that would neatly take care of my Vince problem. And if I have to, I’ll handle Everett like I did his mother.”

Acid bubbles in my throat, and I swallow it down. What is he talking about? He can’t mean what he’s saying. He can’t.

“Look, I’ve got to get going. Got a massage in thirty-” He breaks off into a laughter. “No, no happy ending. I’m waiting until I’ve got them all where I want them. It’s almost time. I’ll talk to you later.”

Chair wheels drag across the carpet, and I freeze as his door opens, and he sees me there.

His face goes from lazy, private smile to startled, then… it melts into anger.

“What’re you doing here?” He demands.

Oh. God.

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