Page 96 of Damaged

“I’m not falling for that, Cody.”

“You think this blackmail scheme by me was random? It was a test and one that you failed miserably. I told you, they wanted to see if you would play by the rules.”

“Oh, come on. Spare me. That’s bullshit.”

“I can show you the memo, if you’d like. They liked your lack of family. Your commitment to your business. Without much to lose, you would be hard to be manipulated by foreign governments.”

“You’re telling those crusty fuckers all had a hand in this heist? That I just made them a combined hundred million?”

“One of those crusty fuckers is my father.”

“Yeah. He’s one of the crustier ones.” I’m trying to hide the fact that I’m fuming. I hate The Society. It’s boys club energy. But I would be lying to say a position on the board wouldn’t be one of the best things to ever happen to me professionally.

I would have power beyond what I’ve ever imagined. I could expand the company five-fold in just as many years with the military and political connections I’d garner. Now that was gone. And how close was I to having it?

If it wasn’t for Sophia, I still would’ve been pissed at being duped, but I would not have driven my Mercedes through a set of glass doors. I would not have shot one of the robbers in the face.

I would’ve been elected to the board, I realize. My face must betray me and show my emotions, because Cody smiles with his many tiny teeth.

“You were close, James. An inch away, really. I thought you were starting to like your new employee. To be honest, our burglary team is so elite and equipped, they didn’t need the door code. They could’ve arc-welded their way through. We wanted to see how you’d react with the girl. Funny you should find yourself with a liability so close to the finish line, but that’s how it works sometimes.”

“You roughed her up on purpose, didn’t you?”

Cody smiles. What I wouldn’t give to make him fucking toothless. “To gauge your reaction, yes, we did. It goes without saying that I think you got an F, James. Unstable. Dangerous.”

My hand tightens on my mug. I left the gun in the car, but it would be far more satisfying to use his sweater, anyway.

“And who made that decision to hurt her?”

“I did,” Cody says brightly. Like he’s not ashamed.

There it is. All I need to know.

“You see why we do these tests, right? To think you were almost in the inner circle of one of the most powerful decision-making organizations in the world.” Cody tsks. “We take vetting very seriously.”

“You’re going to pay for that. You’re going to pay for using her as a prop.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I’m telling you.”

Cody stands stick straight and shows me his nostrils in offense. “I understand you had a rough night, so I’m going to forget you said anything. You’re going to have a rough time of it anyway. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re banned from The Society after they meet. At least until there’s a hearing and a decision on your behavior.”

“Like I fucking care, Cody.”

“I have a hard time believing you don’t. But enjoy your girlfriend. I hope she’s worth it.” He goes behind his desk and sits. Then he opens his laptop.

Another power move, this time as a dismissal. I could make a scene. I could one up him or search for a scathing last word. But I do none of the above.

I walk from the room silently, content knowing that if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll kill him for what he did to Sophia.

I walk out the house in a haze. My thoughts are running too fast to catch. As much as my heart burns for Sophia my mind is telling me something else—I let her ruin everything.

I let my feelings for her control my life. My decisions. If I had simply fucking thought harder, I probably could’ve deduced that the entire setup with her at the auction house was a test.

But I realize I wouldn’t have let that stop me from failing. I was always going to rescue her. At least when I had these feelings for her puppeteering me.

Who am I?

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