Page 129 of The Liar's Reckoning

“Shit.” He sighs as if resigned to my horrific fate. “Who’s the man?”

There’s no point lying to him. If I want his help, he needs to know everything. “The doorman in my building. His name is Silas. I don’t want him involved.”

“Is he recognizable?”

The question makes me frown. “What do you mean?”

“Tattoos? Pink hair? Anything obvious?”

“No,” I say. “Nothing like that.”

“And have you seen the video?”

I nod.

“Areyourecognizable?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“How?”

“My mole. My pin.”

“You were wearing your congressionalpin?”

“I’d just come from the train station.” Jesus, he doesn’t need to know all this. If I have any luck left, he’ll never see that video.

“I need to know everything you can tell me about what’s on that tape.”

His levelheadedness and calm are a surprise, and I’m not sure how to take it. As acceptance? Or the calm before the storm.

I hazard a glance at him and he’s sitting back in his armchair, his eyes narrowed in thought or calculation.

“I’m not sure he showed me the whole thing. It was zoomed in. At the apartment in Chelsea.”

My father sighs heavily. “I assume there’s blackmail involved.”

I nod again.

“And what’s the demand?”

“I give Avery whatever she wants and be very generous.” I skip the political demands. Those are mine to try and figure out, and I can’t have my father thinking I would do anything to undermine his family’s values. I’ll get to that particular landmine when I get to it.

“Did they mention a number?”

“No, but I assume her attorney will be in touch.”

“Her attorney.” He scoffs. “You mean that bitch Marianne’s. We’re lucky Holden got in touch with Simpson. He’ll be able to negotiate down if she doesn’t want her past plastered all over Page Six. As to the video… If it comes out, you deny it.”

This causes me to look up at him. “How?”

“You say ‘that wasn’t me.’ You categorically deny it. You shift the focus back to your whore of a wife.”

“Dad—Jesus.”

“No onehurts you,” he growls. “If those people think they can come at me through you, they better think again. You are too important. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

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