Page 26 of Ashes of Sin

“Offense taken. My daughterissmart enough—we restricted her education so she was prepped to marry into the right family.” Derek props his hands on his hips.

I tug open my top drawer and pull out a cigarette. I rarely smoke these days, but having my reputation challenged is certainly a good enough reason to suck some nicotine into my aging lungs.

“Well, she’s not marrying anyone if she doesn’t get her ass back here now.” I blow out the smoke and glare at him. “And if you let that happen, we both know it won’t be good for you.”

If he’s right and someone has taken her, why would they? Kyra doesn’t work at Fox & Co., and while she’s the sole heir to their fortune—soon to be mine—he hasn’t mentioned a ransom note.

Yet.

“Listen, Sterling. We both have enemies. It could be anyone. Who would want to stop you marrying my daughter?”

Nice try, Derek. Deflecting blame is so boring.

But he’s not wrong.

“I’m sure there are at least over a hundred young men who’d love to”—fuck her hot pussy—“become your son-in-law, Fox. Who has been sniffing around?” I demand.

He crosses his arms defensively.

“Have you had a ransom call yet?” I continue.

“No.”

“Then, clearly, she’s done a runner. Get her back here and make sure she’s at the church to say her vows.” I draw in another lungful of poison. “I want your PR team to fix this. Fast.”

Derek curses. “And say what? Sally rang the police when she couldn’t find her—she’s certain Kyra had been kidnapped. Something about her clothes still being there.”

“Jesus, Fox. Sort your women out. Are you a man or a pussy?”

He should have been on it and controlling his wife immediately. He knows the impact to business when things like this happen. We are both listed on the stock market.

Idiot.

“Fuck you, Sterling!” He points a finger in my direction. “You blackmailed me into this, and now my daughter is missing. If she is dead, I will fucking gut you.”

Like he really cares about Kyra.

I wriggle my jaw, then smile. “Try it. I will release the compromising photo of you and young Maria. Or was it Mark? I forget.”

His dark glare meets mine.

I know this wasn’t his plan. He wanted to marry Kyra off to someone influential and more her age who would contribute to Fox & Co. then take over the business. That’s not my problem. Derek shouldn’t have attended my private event and sucked some underage pussy.

I could swear it was a delicate little cock.

Whatever, I’ll dig out the photos later.

If those photos got out, he’d be destroyed. His stock prices would plummet, his wife would leave him, and his daughter would never be able to look him in the eye.

Instead, Kyra gets to spend her life with her legs apart and my cock inside her.

Lucky her.

I feel said appendage awaken at the thought, reminding me how impatient I am to fuck her.

Derek’s glare continues, but we both know I have him over the barrel. He’s fucked no matter what he does.

I glance over at the black screen.

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