Page 109 of Reckless King

At the sound of his name, my hands clench at my sides, and anger floods me. For a moment, I don’t move. I could tell security to escort him out of the building. In fact, I should. But I want to know what he’s after. If he showed up here, then he isn’t giving up easily like Violet expected. If I refuse to see him today, he’ll probably come back tomorrow or track me down another way.

Regardless of that, I need to face the asshole who abused Violet’s trust and tried to manipulate her. I need to look him in the eye and make sure he knows exactly who’s standing next to her now. Let him know that he’ll never get a chance to hurther again. “Send him up,” I say. “But tell security to remain on standby.”

Her brows rise, but she nods and presses the button to call down to security in the foyer.

I stride into my office and close the door a little harder than necessary. My mind races as I round my desk, sit down and log onto my computer. I reread the email my PI sent me last night. It’s only an initial assessment of Eric, which means it gives me little insight into who I’m dealing with. He has a bachelor’s degree in public administration, has been working for his uncle since he graduated and is still working as Senator Rawlins’ fundraising manager. So he hasn’t earned the promotion Violet said he was after since they were together. His relationship with his uncle doesn’t seem particularly close, although, according to the investigator, Eric is more than happy to play things up to make it look that way.

I don’t have time to review more before there’s a knock on the door. Sophie sticks her head in. “Eric Evans here to see you.”

“Send him in, please.”

I make sure to look as though I’m working on my computer when he enters, only glancing up to say “Take a seat,” before turning back to the screen. As Eric sits in one of the chairs in front of my desk, I type out an email to the investigator with instructions to step up his digging on the asshole, ignoring the man himself the whole time. This power play is one of the oldest in the book, and I’m sure Eric knows exactly what I’m doing. But how he reacts will still give me insight into his character.

He’s silent for a few minutes, but then he shifts in his seat. Another minute later, and he’s clearing his throat. That’s all it takes to know he’s not patient enough to play the long game. He wants instant gratification, and I have no doubt he’s prone to acting rashly to get what he wants. Only once I’ve listed specificinstructions and hit send on the email do I lean back in my seat and take him in.

His expression is cool, but irritation simmers in his eyes. “Mr. King,” he begins, trying to sound casual. “I happen to be in town for some meetings on behalf of Senator Rawlins and thought we should meet.”

I nod, giving nothing away. “And why is that, Mr. Evans? As far as I know, the King Group doesn’t have any ties with the senator.”

He’s donned a confident demeanor, but his eyes shift around, never staying in place for more than a few moments. He’s nervous. “You don’t. But you have a tie to me, and I have a business proposition for you.”

I ignore the tension building at the base of my neck as best I can. Keeping my cool and figuring out what his angle is so I can get him out of my office and out of Violet’s life is my priority. “I’m listening.”

He drums his fingers on the arm of the chair. “Let’s just say I’m in a situation. A tight spot that requires a bit of… financial lubrication.”

I raise an eyebrow. “And you think I can provide you some… lubrication?”

His mouth twists. “I need a substantial amount of money, and I need it fast. I believe we can help each other out.”

Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my desk. My hackles rise, and everything inside me is screaming that I need to be wary. “You want me to give you a substantial amount of money? And in return, what do I get? Because believe it or not, I’m not known for doling out cash to complete strangers, ties or not.”

“What you get is the chance to maintain the reputation of your lovely fiancée.”

The muscles along the length of my spine draw tight with tension. This fucker came here to threaten Violet? My instinctsshout at me to make very sure he regrets it, but until I know what’s at risk, I’ll continue with the façade of calm, giving nothing away.

Eric pulls his phone out of his pocket, unlocks it and slides it across the desk.

My gut lodges itself in my throat as I smoothly pick up the device. But as the picture on the screen registers, fury unlike I’ve ever known roars through me. I clamp down on the urge to reach across my desk, grab him by the tie and smash my fist into his nose. I’m only able to restrain myself by calling on every second of practice I’ve had hiding how I really feel from the world.

The photo is a little out of focus, but it’s clear enough: Violet, naked on a bed, eyes closed, head angled toward the camera, while a man, his face obscured, hovers over her. Her breasts are visible and her legs are spread. The man, who I assume is Eric, rests between them. Rage twists and turns inside my chest, struggling to escape. I grapple to control it as I flash through every possibility of where to go from here, every scenario and its consequences. If there’s ever been a time to act as if I don’t care, now is it. And the thought makes me feel sick to my stomach.

“Okay,” I say, stripping every ounce of feeling from my voice.

Eric frowns and glances at the phone, then focuses on me again. “Feel free to scroll.”

Dread churns through me as I swipe to the next photo. Fuck. This one is taken from behind while she’s on all fours. Nausea hits then. I swallow it back and continue to flip through the images just for show, unwilling to focus on them. I want to kill him. I want to launch myself across the desk, wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze.

The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life is slide the phone back over to him, raise a brow and say “And?”

Shock flashes across his face for a second before he schools his expression. “I assume you don’t want these photos of Violet uploaded to the internet.”

A pulse throbs in my temple. I can only hope it’s not visible. I would take him down right now, but the implications of his actions are clear. He didn’t hesitate to give me his phone. He’s not worried about me deleting them, so he has copies.

Even if I were to call security right now and have him detained, even if I accused him of attempted extortion, I have no evidence to back it up. He and Violet used to date, so on the surface, he has a reason to have those photos on his phone. Even though, from the images I saw, it doesn’t look like Violet was aware the slimy motherfucker was taking them, which is a crime in itself. Regardless of my actions, he has access to copies, and the shiftiness of his gaze tells me he’s desperate. And desperation makes people do stupid things, like uploading these photos to the internet as an act of revenge if I don’t give him what he wants.

Or something even worse.

Whatever situation Eric’s gotten himself into, he thinks my money is the way out of it. And Violet is his leverage to get it. There’s no way I’ll allow these photos to be put up online or let Eric get away with threatening Violet in any capacity. No fucking way.

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