Page 11 of His Dark Hunger

“Of course, I would.” Kyle shook his head at his naivete. “It’s all there in black and white. You agreed to pay me the additional rent, and you’ve been defaulting on those paymentsfor months. That’s easily grounds for not only eviction. I’m reclaiming what I’m owed.”

“Oh.” Kendal’s stunned voice suggested he was finally starting to see things Kyle’s way.

They always did in the end.

“So, when can you help me?” Kyle leaned back in his chair, waiting for the man on the end of the line to finally fold.

“I…” Kendal sighed. “I can meet with you this weekend.”

“Hmmm.” Kyle glanced at his diary. “That’s four days away. I need an answer sooner than that. How about Thursday night?”

That gave Kyle time to see Sarah on Wednesday and still have his tax issues resolved by Friday.

“I can’t do Thursday,” Kendal protested, but Kyle wasn’t sure why he was still bleating. He was already beaten. They both knew he’d ultimately do as he was told.

“Are you sure?” Kyle was enjoying himself. “Why don’t you check again? I think Thursday’s good with you.”

“Okay!” Exasperation broke in Kendal’s voice, and Kyle heard the moment his will crumbled. “Okay, I’ll do Thursday.”

“Good man.” Kyle repressed his chuckle.

Thatwas the benefit of compromise. He could have cast the Kendal family out of the house they could no longer afford to lease and could have had another tenant in there within a month, but instead, he’d chosen to bide his time. He’d offered Kendal an olive branch, which meant the man belonged to him. Kendal had no choice but to bend to Kyle’s will.

He could have paid for a tax specialist to resolve the matter, but where was the fun in that when playing with people was so much more entertaining?

“I’ll send you my address and see you at seven o’clock on Thursday night.”

“Okay.” Kendal sighed. “See you on Thursday.”

“Oh, and Graham.” Kyle ran his tongue over his teeth as he imagined the pitiful man’s reaction to his deeper timbre. He didn’t despise his tenant. Kendal had just been outplayed by a brighter, better guy.

“Yes, Mr. Kyle?”

“Don’t even think about fucking me over. Your kids will be cold, hungry, and homeless before your feet can even touch the ground. Have you got it?”

Kendal pulled in a shaky breath. “I’ve got it.”

***

“Great job, Graham.” Two days after that initial demand, Kyle patted Kendal on the shoulder. The glorified accountant had been bent over a printed copy of Kyle’s numbers for hours. “That finally looks like a number I can live with.”

“I’m glad I could help.” Kendal sounded anything but glad. In fact, he looked close to tears.

“And these tax-avoidance schemes are all legal, is that right?”

Not that Kyle cared. He’d break more than a law or two to ensure he got what he wanted, but if there was a lawful route, he’d opt to take it. It made sense not to create powerful enemies.

“Yes, they’re legal.” Kendal straightened, flinching as though the deed was painful. “Unorthodox, perhaps, but—”

“Perfect.” Kyle cut him off. He was fine with being a nonconformist, particularly where not paying taxes to the morons in charge of the government was concerned. “Then I’m happy.” He thrust his palm out in front of the guy. “Put it there, Graham.”

Kendal took his outstretched hand and offered it a limp shake. “Does this mean we’re square now, Mr. Kyle?”

His voice was so hopeful that fleetingly, Kyle considered duplicity. He could lie to Kendal and tell him his debts were paid. He could give the guy that solace and help him have a few decent nights of sleep, but when it came down to it, Kyle had no desire to reassure.

“For now.” Kyle watched as the tension crept back into Kendal’s shoulders, his brow furrowing as he glanced at his landlord. “I’ll call you when I need you again.”

“And when will that be?” Kendal swallowed.

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