Page 175 of The Penalty

Silence.

They stared one another down before Jordan’s laughter filled the library.

“You’re just as arrogant as him,” he said. “I didn’t underestimate you. I assumed you’d have more bite.” Shaking his head, his body vibrated with another laugh. “All those photos are nothing.” He glared at me. “But the videos of you assaulting me at a club and chasing me down an alley will certainly make a bigger splash. I’ll make sure your career ends in disgrace.”

Victoria smiled, not rattled by Jordan’s threat. I stepped toward him, ready to break every bone in his body.

“See? He can’t wait to start a fight. It’s too fucking easy.” Jordan’s chest puffed with overconfidence.

“More bite?” Victoria crossed her legs, her posture flawless and elegant.

We shared a glance.

Do you want to continue?

Green.

“You should really work on your methods of coercion,” Victoria said. “Especially when you don’t have that cushy title to shield you from any consequences. How’s that for bite?”

Color leached from Jordan’s face. The pompous self-satisfaction drained from his eyes. “My family and my title will—”

“Your family and your title are nonexistent. You are not of noble birth. You’re just as common as we are.” Her words detonated a silent explosion. Jordan recoiled from the impact, shrinking into the couch. This damage was much more satisfying to see than any bloody nose or broken jaw I could give him.

“Lies,” he hissed.

“Does the name Daniel Southgate ring a bell?” I asked.

I didn’t think a person’s face could turn this shade of white or a body could cave in on itself in defeat. I swear if Jordan could have buried himself under the cushion, he would have.

“Looks like you know exactly who I’m talking about.” I stood in front of him, relishing the obvious flinch when he moved away. “I told you, you can’t hide behind your family name and your money forever.”

Sitting next to Victoria, I watched him struggle with the realization that he had no move to make. No counterstrike.

A muscle flexed in his jaw. “Nobody will believe you.”

“They will.” Victoria’s steady, calming tone accentuated her words. “Controlling the narrative is my job. I might be a jersey chaser but I know the media. I know what they salivate over. Imagine having all those reporters and all those cameras trained on you; the bitter, desperate man dragging a woman through the mud to save his ass and cover up the fact that he’s nothing more than a rapist.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t underestimate me, Victoria.”

My hands flexed into fists. “Threaten her again, McKennie. I fucking dare you.”

The most dangerous people are the ones with nothing left to lose. Jordan scowled, shooting daggers at me. “Is the sex really that good?”

I flew off the couch, slamming my fist into his face before anyone could react. Blood poured from his nose. I was wrong. That was rather satisfying.

Grabbing him by the shirt, I snarled, “Say something about her again and what’s left of you leaves here in a bag.”

Shoving him into the couch, I returned to Victoria. Concern seeped from her but she remained poised and in control. Feeling her hand on my thigh helped quiet the urge to dismantle him. I exhaled a harsh breath, forcing myself to relax.

“Fuck,” Jordan muttered, using his tie to wipe away the blood. “I had all the proof destroyed after my parents died. You have nothing.”

Victoria felt the muscles in my thigh tighten. She slid her hand higher, her touch warm and reassuring.

“Xavier?”

“Yes, love.”

“Did you bring it?”

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