Page 126 of Brutal Kingdom

I don’t know how to answer that question. I would have come sooner if Jordy would’ve invited me, but I can’t put this all off on her. The nature of our relationship kept her from doing it. Jordanna saves me from answering.

“I didn’t bring him home sooner, because I wasn’t sure where we stood. The first time we dated, it was casual. On his end. The second time I was the one not all in.”

“Third times the charm?” Ivy asks, an eyebrow raised.

I’m quick to answer, “Absolutely.”

Jordy says, “We’ll see.”

I give her a look that says, wrong answer. I hope she doesn’t think being in her mother’s house is gonna save her from me.

Her mother takes a call from one of her clients. I get to my feet, grabbing Jordy by the hand. “Why don’t you show me the rest of the house?” I drag her up the stairs behind me. “Starting with your bedroom.”

She hisses, “Don’t even think about it, Logan. You are not about to fuck me in my mother’s home.”

Tugging her along, I say, “We’ll see.”

Bella’s dad and mine are standing in the foyer when I walk into the house. My father’s standing stiffly, listening to whatever Johnathan’s saying. They look up when they hear me approaching. Something’s not right. Johnathan walks past me with a terse hello. I barely respond, my focus is on my father who’s sporting his disappointed face. Whatever the problem is, it has to do with me.

“Come into the study, son.”

“If this is about another clause that I’ve pushed too hard on.”

He slides his tablet to me. I press play and nearly lose the dinner I just had at Jordy’s. “Where did you get this?”

“The security tapes at the office. What were you thinking, son?”

I wasn’t thinking. I was going on pure emotion and instinct. The camera is facing the foreman desk in the middle of the room, so the sculpture by the windows is out of frame. Dad’s not mad I proposed to Jordanna. It’s what I’m doing to make her say yes, that’s the problem. Or rather that it’s on film.

“It’s a grainy video. What makes you think it’s me?”

“Your access badge swiped the doors, and grainy or not, I know my own son. I wiped your ass as a baby, and watched you learn to walk, and talk. You might be older, and cockier, but you’re my kid. I don’t say shit about how you live your life and let off steam, but I’m not a fool.” He stabs the tablet with his finger. “This is you. The girl, her, I don’t know.” He gives me a pointed look. “And when I say I don’t know, I mean, I know exactly who she is.”

Shit. “You didn’t show this to Johnathan, did you?”

“I didn’t have to. He received a copy just like I did.”

My head snaps up. “Somebody sent this?”

“Yes.”

“We need to do a complete sweep of the building to see what other spaces are bugged.” I take out my phone. “I’ll call…”

“McKay Media wasn’t bugged. I have security cameras set up in the building.”

My jaw hits the floor. “When did you do that?”

“Last year.”

That means the security guards have access to the recordings, and someone working there sent this to them. “Well, I hope you fired who ever sent this to you.”

“I’m looking into it. But the file originated from an offsite email.”

My dad doesn’t say it, but I know what he’s thinking. I screwed up. “How bad is it with Johnathan?”

“He’s fine. A little disappointed.”

“That I’m not a virgin? His daughter should’ve warned him about that.”

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