Page 18 of The Amendment

I don’t remember if I said anything then…

Maybe I just stared at him. Maybe I nodded.

All I remember is the way he stared at me. The way he smelled—of blood and sweat and sex.

The way I knew everything was going to change.

From that night on, I didn’t ask any questions. I did everything he told me to because I was terrified, but eventually, because it became fun, just like he said it would.

I liked the power that came with it. Liked knowing I was in control of everything.

Finally, I understood the confidence Jim had. Maybesome of it had even rubbed off on me, too.

Meeting Jim Slater was the best and worst thing that had ever happened to me and, even now, I wasn’t sure I could honestly say I would change a thing. I wanted to be the kind of person who would take it all back, given the chance, but I wasn’t. Try as I might, I couldn’t lie to myself about that.

My phone buzzed in my palm, bringing me back to the present. I glanced down at the screen, reading over the short text, and sliding from the bed.

I eased out of the room carefully, down the hall, then down the stairs and toward the garage. I snuck out the side door, cautious not to let it slam as I jogged toward the driveway where I could see the gray truck coming to a stop.

“Sup?” he said, when the door opened. As usual, he was casual and carefree. As if we weren’t meeting up in the middle of the night to stashgod knows whatin my secret murder room.

“Did you bring it?”

“Yep.” He slammed the driver’s door shut and moved around to the back, rubbing his hands together as if he were cold.

“Shh,” I warned. “Keep it down. Please. I don’t want my wife or kids to hear us.”

He looked up at me, a sly grin on his lips. “They’ve got you on a tight leash, don’t they, Greenburg?”

“It’s not like that.”

He chuckled, but didn’t look convinced. “If you say so. Seems like someone needs to be put in their place.” His wink caused my stomach to churn.

At the back of the truck, he tossed back a black tarp.

“What is it you’re wanting me to keep for you anyway?”

“Like I told you, it’s better if you don’t know.” He may as well have patted me on the head. With a sharp tug, he pulled out a large duffel bag, tossing it over one shoulder and walking toward the garage without needing directions.

It had probably been a mistake to let Jim build the room in the first place, truth be told. I knew that when I’d done it. But there was no one else I’d trust to build it. I needed someone who wouldn’t ask too many questions, who’d make sure not to mention it to Ainsley or anyone else. Jim was the guy for the job, as much as I’d hated it. I had to make sure my family was protected from my secrets, even if it meant relying on a man I wasn’t sure I could rely on at all.

When Beckman and I started the firm—Beckman providing the capital and my expertise providing the framework—it had been a no-brainer to bring Jim on. He ran one of the biggest contracting firms in the city, and I knew he’d be a great partner. Despite his flaws, Jim knew how to get things done. He made friends with everyone and could always get a discount or adjust a timeline without issue. I worried I’d made a deal with the devil back then, but truth be told, our partnership had been completely cordial.

When Ainsley and I’d gotten married and I stepped out of all the habits Jim had taught me, he’d accepted it without qualms. He trusted me by then, as much as he’d ever trusted anyone. Though I still had reservations aboutbeing involved with him, even professionally, I’d thought it was better to keep him close.

Now, I had to wonder how long he’d been waiting to hold what he knew about my past over my head. Maybe that was all he was ever trying to do—gather as much dirt on everyone around him as he could. To control them. To control everything.

Was this all happening because he needed a place to store something? Or was this the perfect opportunity to draw me back into his world?

Honestly, I was scared to find out.

He pushed open the door and we walked toward the wall. When we’d reached it, he stepped back, allowing me to shove the shelf down a smidge and press the bricks that would open the hidden door.

When it opened, I smelled the familiar, musty scent. It had been too long since I’d been in the room. Something about it set my skin on fire, my body tingling with excitement.

When Jim walked into it, the excitement disappeared.

It felt wrong to have him there.

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