Page 87 of Tell Me Lies

Dalton had fucked up.

He’d revealed too much, let his emotions get the better of him. All these years he’d prided himself on his cold exterior. He was known for being a heartless bastard. Not caring about anything or anyone. It’s how he’d made his way to the top. But just having a piece of his past back in front of him, tore down his guards and made him feel like that helpless teen again.

But he wasn’t a scrawny, discarded child now. He was a man. He’d made something of himself. Maybe it was all to prove a point, to show everyone from his past that he wasn’t nothing. To show his so-called family he was better than them.

Now he had Emily Sutton in his office.

It was surreal, like the past eleven years were only a blur.

He’d used her mother to get her here because her loyalty to the old bitch overrode any logical thought. His own mother was worse, but he’d learned the hard way that some women were incapable of love or compassion.

Emily was right about two things. She was nothing like her mother, and that’s why he had to have her. And he couldn’t buy love.

“I don’t care what you do, but you’re predictable. You’re ready to sell your soul for a woman who wouldn’t give you the time of day,” Dalton said.

“Okay, so what if I am? You won’t even let me help her. No matter what I say, you’ll still get what you want.”

He smiled. “Now you understand.”

“And you want me? To use me?”

No, he wanted everything. To own her. Claim her. This was the only way he could get her to come to his home. Otherwise, she’d have told him to fuck off. He’d been an asshole during high school, but every insult had been a lie. He thought she was gorgeous, sexy, perfect—and out of his grasp. His mind wasn’t right back then, but now he could see clearly.

“I’ve already told you the deal. And the fact I don’t negotiate.”

“What exactly do you expect me to do? Have sex with you? I’ll be no better than a prostitute.”

“At least your mother will be free. Apparently, that’s the most important thing to you.”

“But—”

“Do we have a deal or not? I’m a busy man, Emily.”

“But I’ve never … I mean, I’m a virgin.” Her face turned a new shade of red and he knew she was telling the truth. And ashamed of it for some absurd reason.

He had no record of her dating, but this was more than he could have hoped for. It seemed virgins were a rare commodity these days especially at twenty-nine years old.

“Are you sure about that?”

“I think I’d remember having sex with a man. It’s not something I’m proud of but it should concern you. You’re better off blackmailing another woman if you’re looking for a good time, one with more experience.”

“The only woman I want is standing in front of me.”

“For one night?”

Forever. He’d never let her go.

“We’ll see,” he said.

“You had my mother’s phone. Where is she now?”

“In custody by my private security team.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Is that even legal?”

He chuckled. “Do you think I’m running a soup kitchen? You have no idea the kind of shit I’m capable of, who I control, or how much power I have.”

“Okay.”

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