Page 85 of Hate Me

“Why?” I demanded. “To what end?”

“I had to, King.”

“Had to?”

“Yeah, after she found out that Jett wasn’t only alive and had recently woken up from a long coma, but that he wasn’t even secure and off the board in your custody because of Elijah’s underhanded extraction operation, she was livid and desperate. She did her research and found out about my connection to him. I owed her, King. For what I did to her in that ring and with that sex tape bullshit. This was the only way I could make amends, so I took it.” He shifted his weight. “But with you knowing that much, you’ll also recognize that the intel I provided her was lagged. I made sure she was always just behind Jett, hitting a place that he’d already left a couple of days beforehand. She needed to feel like she was doing something and on the right track, but I wouldn’t let her actually get to him, because that would ruin my agreement with you.”

“All right.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Really? Just like that?”

“Yes. Continue doing what you’re doing there. Don’t change anything, don’t acknowledge that we’ve had this conversation.”

“She’s back in the city, yeah?” When all he got was a blank look from me, he went on, “I’ve seen a change in Seb. He’s had that same look in his eyes that he’s only ever had with her in his life. That bright, happy look that breaks up all the rest—that muted demeanor and then the struggle I can see all over him some days too.” He held up his hand when I moved to speak, adding quickly. “Nobody is gonna hear about it from me. I know you don’t believe it, but I am on Seb’s side now. I’m not gonna do anything to fuck with that. My goal is to make amends.”

“You’re right, I don’t believe it. But seeing as though I’m monitoring your every move, I’m not concerned about you revealing confidential information.”

“Because you’ve set it up where I actually can’t?”

“Absolutely.”

He blew out a breath. “You don’t need to go to these lengths, King. I’m not your enemy.”

“That remains to be seen.”

“Come on.”

I moved to open the door to climb out, but stilled and turned back to him. “Keep your distance from Caleb. I can assure you he’ll be doing the same.”

“Seriously? You’ve ordered him to stay away from me? He’s not exactly one for following orders. He’s way too free for that. And defiant.”

“You’ll never have a sexual relationship with him, so erase that notion entirely.”

“What if you’re there too?”

“Excuse me?”

“In a supervisory capacity. I’m sure Cal wouldn’t mind you watching. In fact, that’s right up his alley, isn’t it? And I certainly won’t mind either. As for you, I’m sure you’ve imagined such a thing over the years.”

I stilled for a moment at his brazen offer that brought some very vivid imagery to mind.

He smirked. “Think about it.”

“The answer is no,” I ground out. “As for your apparent loneliness that Caleb has reported, you own a nightclub now, you’re surrounded by people. Cultivate some friendships there.”

“King, I just want—”

“I know what you want. Continue in this same vein, this path toward the redemption you claim you desire so badly.”

“And then you’ll let me back into Seb’s life, let me become friends again with Cal?”

“One step at a time.”

The last thing I saw from him was a smile before I climbed out of the car and shut the door.

Hope was a powerful thing.

And, in Damien Thorn’s case, a prime motivator.

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