Page 36 of Under the Lies

Rochester blanches as Reeve sits back, chuckling.

“Tell you what, Charlie,” I draw the good doc’s attention back to me. “You pay us in full tonight, and we won’t add the late charges. But if you don’t.” I pull out my phone, scrolling through my camera roll. “Remember that video of your daughter you don’t want getting out?” The one we purposely help hide for him when he found what his daughter did in Cabo during her spring break.

I find what I’m looking for and flip my phone around for him to see just as the sound kicks on to noises no father wants to hear from his daughter.

If possible, his pale skin goes even paler as a man’s voice orders, “Suck it harder, baby” on the video.

“For every day you don’t pay us, I’ll email it to a few reporters I know around the city.” I turn the video off.

Sayer’s already tense body stiffens further and I can feel her horrified gaze on me. I’m not doing anything she already doesn’t know.

I’m a cruel bastard.

I see the doc’s throat constrict as he swallows. Leaning back in the booth, I know I’ve made my point abundantly clear.

“I’ll pay tonight,” he rasps.

I nod, knuckles knocking on the table as I get out of the booth. “Knew you’d see reason, Charlie.”

I extend my hand to Sayer, who doesn’t take it. She angles her body away from me as she marches in the direction of the exit.

Reeve nods, silently telling me he can handle the rest.

“Gentlemen.” I dip my chin toward the table before setting off after Sayer.

It takes me less than three strides to catch up. My hand is reaching for her elbow when she whirls around. “Don’t touch me.”

Her voice is loud enough to earn a few looks from a few curious patrons. Ignoring her request, my fingers curl around her elbow and I pull her out of the room.

Wisely, she doesn’t fight me.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” I growl when we’re alone.

She yanks her elbow out of my grip, fire in her features. “I’ll do whatever I like, Noah.”

The way she says my name, always with a little frustration behind it, makes my dick twitch. So does her defiant tendency.

More and more I’m liking the new Sayer Brooks.

She can push back all she wants, I’ll still be on top in the end.

“Not out there you don’t.” My tone is harsher than I intend. I don’t change it. “Hate me in private, Sayer, but when we’re out there, you better act like you’re head over fucking heels for me.”

Her lips flatten.

“You agreed to this,” I remind her. “You signed that contract.”

She glares at the reminder.

“Let’s go.” I turn her in the direction of the exit.

“Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you home. You’re done for the night.”

She sags in relief.

My driver Jenkins is waiting for us outside The Underground and as we’re approaching the vehicle, he gets out. I shake his hand before getting in the driver seat and he walks around to open the door for Sayer.

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