Page 143 of Ever With Me

“Funny. Real funny.” Mike held up his phone. “What about video footage of you crashing into a storefront? What happened, Brooks? Have a bit too much to drink that night?”

Brooks froze, his unwilling eyes darting to the screen of Mike’s phone.

Fuck.

How the hell had he gotten hold of the video from Fred Strickland’s store?

“How much do you think the tabloids are offering for this one?”

A few tense beats of silence passed, and Brooks struggled for calm. He’d just gotten the case dismissed for punching this asshole in the face—he wasn’t about to get arrested again today for the same damn thing.

Brooks straightened, his eyes narrowing. Sure, maybe he didn’t want the video to get out. But the press already said whatever it wanted about him. Now that the case was dropped, he had less to worry about with public perception.

He held his hands under the automatic faucet. “Fuck off, Mike. I don’t give a shit who sees that video. If they look closely, they’ll be able to tell that I was dodging a deer. And I worked out arrangements with the owner of the shop to pay for the damages. She’ll back me up.”

“Yeah? How many more fucks do you owe her until your debt is paid off?”

Now Mike’s words truly sent a chill down his spine. Brooks held his breath, his pulse pounding.Calm the fuck down.

But how the hell did Mike know so much about this?

He could see himself grabbing Mike by the throat, slamming that spineless, brainless moron’s body into the wall and beating him to a pulp.

Because he’s clearly been digging.

The thought of him even knowing about Maddie was excruciating.

But he couldn’t let Mike know he’d gotten to him. That was even more dangerous.

“I said fuck off.” Brooks grabbed a sheet of paper towel and headed toward the exit.

“You’ll change your mind about cooperating with me, Brooks. I have more videos. Better ones.”

Brooks slammed the bathroom door open and walked out, never more relieved to see the bodyguard waiting for him. He was going to have to ask them to follow him into the bathroom at this point. He’d had to do that before and hated it, but this was getting out of control.

More videos. Better ones.

What the fuck had Mike been referring to?

He didn’t want to know.

But he had a feeling Mike would show his face again soon enough.

And even though he’d only just beaten the son of a bitch, he had a feeling that had only made Mike more dangerous.And I have no idea how to fight that.

39

MADDIE

The soundof a car in the driveway came, and Maddie was at the door of the lake house, barefoot despite the cold. The SUV parked, and Brooks climbed out, wearing a finely tailored suit and tie.

Damn.

When she’d left for work in the morning, he’d still been sleeping.

She didn’t even know where he’d gotten the suit from. He hadn’t had one in the closet, so likely someone had met him with it—but he looked freaking incredible in a suit.

As though he needs the help.

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