Page 55 of Winning Bid

Is he fucking kidding with this shit? What in the fuck? But I have to think. This is Dad. He thinks the worst about everyone. No matter how much I want to run in there and pummel his face into a pulp for saying that, I have to be careful. For one, he’s paying for my lawyer and it’s his connection that got me Otto in the first place. And two, if I beat the shit out of the old man now, all my careful planning to destroy him will go out the window.

I have to keep a lid on my rage. For now. Most importantly, I need to find out what the fuck Otto meant about pinning this on June. If he can still do that, then how would he account for a video of me in the fight?

He laughs bitterly. “I told you. After she got kidnapped, you should have installed cameras in your place. You were the target. They took her to get to you.”

“I’m not living on camera, Pym. Even closed circuit systems can be tampered with, and I’m not giving anyone that kind of access. No one is invading my privacy.”

Someone shifts in their seat. “Maybe not, but you could put cameras in strategic places—your den, for instance. Or just over the doors. Not enough to tell anything, but enough to know where someone went.”

“That’s not a terrible idea.” Dad pauses for a beat. “How are you going to put this on June?”

“You’d be surprised how many juries don’t like women. It’s easier than you think. Especially when she’s been cheating … ” He laughs. “That’s enough for most people to convict her of whatever’s in front of them. Give me a cheating woman, and I’ll give you a free man.”

Oh, hell no.

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29

ANDERSON

Ithrow the door open. “What the fuck are you two doing?”

It’s nice to see them both so startled for once. They both act like captains of their own industries, so it's good to see them taken off guard. Dad is the first to speak. “Anderson, a classy entrance as always. Come in, We were just discussing things.”

Otto's voice is even gruffer in person. Though that might be because I scared the shit out of him. “Anderson, good to see you.”

“Is it? Because from where I'm standing, you shouldn't be happy to see me at all. If you were happy to see me, you would have been taking my calls.”

“You understand as well as anybody that we all have meetings to attend.”

Something inside of me snaps. “And this meeting? Why wasn't I invited? Since it's about me, I mean.”

“Close the door,” my father orders.

“And why should I do that? Seems you're happy to discuss my business with anybody.”

“Now, Anderson.” The tone in his voice brokers no debate.

I slam it shut, largely because I don’t want this getting around. “Happy?”

“I've been happier. Sit.”

Otto says, “Perhaps I should leave this to the two of you. This seems to be a family discussion.”

I point directly at him. “You're not going anywhere. This is on you as much as it’s on him. I heard what the both of you were saying. You're both just as wrong.”

“About?” Dad asks.

“Every single fucking thing that came out of both of your mouths.”

Dad flicks his hand dismissively at Otto. “You can go. I'd like to handle this personally.”

I glare at Dad, but Otto leaves. Interesting that The Blade is more afraid of my father than my father is of him. I've never learned the depths of my father's foothold in the underworld of Boston, but seeing Otto Pym flee from him like that is enough to tell the story.

But right now, that means fuckall to me. “You're not pinning this on June. Period. And keep the filth in your mind off of her. If I ever hear you call her those words again, I'm going to cut you off at the knees.”

It's never very comforting when a threat like that is met with a smile. “My boy, you act as if you've heard things that you haven't been thinking.”

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