Page 76 of Resisting Temptation

“No, but we were all in that car because of you. If you hadn’t got shit-faced and gone and destroyed dear daddy’s office, we wouldn’t have had to rescue you before you got arrested, and we wouldn’t have been driving along that road when Alexander’s ma took us out. My injuries were on your hands as much as the Alexanders. And you got to skip happily off to steal my scholarship right from under me, while I was left at the hands of my father, with no way of defending myself.” He stares me down, and an icy chill runs over me because I know he’s right. I was partly to blame for what happened to him. They all came to save me, and all of their lives changed because of it. I can feel his anger. It’s all aimed at me. “I guess karma caughtup with you in the end. Because I sit here with all the power and your life is falling apart around your ankles.”

“You came back for me that night because we were all friends. I would have done the same for you, and you know it.”

He gives a subtle nod, agreeing. “You’re lucky I hate my father more than I do you. And when this came over my desk this afternoon, I knew it was time to intervene in this pathetic game of power and control he’s been playing for far too long.”

He hands the article to Beckett, and he reads it over, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head, and I know exactly what story it is. The one Margo said she wouldn’t send.

“Looks like I’m going to save your ass again tonight. This kind of information in the wrong hands could be deadly, couldn’t it?”

“Why don’t you tell us why you were waiting for me tonight?” Beckett says, catching my attention.

I motion to the article. “Looks like you’re one step ahead of me. Margo has me backed into a corner, I can’t see a way out, but this article will destroy Paisley. I can’t let that happen.”

Beckett looks at Hamilton. “She’s blackmailing you. Sounds like her.”

“Margo is dangerous, Beckett. I’m worried about what she’s going to do next. You know she’s got your father to agree to marry her.”

Beckett nods, and Hamilton throws his head back, laughing. “That’s new information to me, but I’m not surprised. That manipulative bitch would do anything to get her way and so would he. When he cut a deal withme and Beckett about us taking over Prescott media, he did it with conditions.”

“I thought they would resort to shit like this. As soon as I heard about the car accident, I knew our time was running out. Paisley’s in danger if you don’t listen to us and do exactly what we say. She’s in danger because she’s helping me and I won’t agree to his stipulations,” Beckett says more seriously.

Neither of them looks at all surprised about Margo and their father. “So, you did know about Margo and your father seeing each other?”

“As disturbing as it is, yes.” Beckett brushes off his suit. “I’ve had her followed for a while. Unlike you, I didn’t trust her. I also knew the old coot was up to something sinister, he always is. And when I refused to be the mayor he wanted me to be, controlled by the underworld shit he’s into, I knew it was only a matter of time until he turned on me and Hamilton. He destroyed your father, Noah, and he will do the same to you, all in the name of money and power. It’s time we both stopped him, but we can’t do it alone.”

They want to take their father down? “You’re not working for him?”

“You have a choice to make, Noah. Save your girl and walk away from the campaign or live your life in constant fear that something will happen to her. Because I can tell you, if you’re working under him and Margo, she will be under persistent threat. You think her car getting run off the road was bad? He’s ordered much worse. You know as well as I do that this town is corrupt as fuck. One new mayor won’t change generations of crime and bribery. Just ask Mayor Michaels what he has had to do to keep his position.”

“I could try and fight them.”

Beckett’s eyes meet mine. “At what cost? Haven’t you and Paisley both suffered enough at the hands of our fathers?” The way he says it affects me to my core. I’m not sure what Paisley’s told him, but I see why she trusted him. There is a pain within him, and I know he understands the severity of both our situations.

“Did you hear Doctor Whittaker has been released, all charges dropped?” Hamilton adds.

I can feel my eyes widen and my fists ball. If that is true, there will be hell to fucking pay. “Bullshit. I talked to Detective McAllister yesterday. They have all the evidence they need to lay charges. Enough of ‘em to lock him up for the rest of his life.”

“The doc didn’t say a word, just like he’d been shown, and sure enough, the Rebel Raiders’ lawyer did what they pay him to, and he was out of there, lack of evidence. Apparently, a fire in the evidence room.”

“Why wouldn’t they have it backed up?” I slap my palm down on the table, rage coursing through me. “The evidence they collected was so recent that they could easily gather it again if needed. My father’s journals contain more than enough evidence to convict him of aiding a criminal organization; the details are damning. What you’re saying doesn’t make any sense.”

Hamilton watches me, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction, the motherfucker getting a kick out of my pain. “This isn’t the first time something like this has happened with our father, and it won’t be the last. Evidence disappears, so do people if they get in his way. The more money you have, the easier it is to slip through the system untouched.”

I feel like I’m losing control. My plan was tight, they were all going to pay, but now it’s slipping through my fingers. I pull out my phone, checking again that Paisley is still at the shop, where she was when I checked before meeting with Beckett. What they’re saying is scaring the shit out of me. I thought doing what Margo said and breaking it off with her would be good enough until I worked out what to do, but now I’m not so sure. “Paisley’s still at the shop.”

Beckett raises a brow in my direction, I’m sure not impressed for his friend that I’m tracking her, but I don’t give a flying fuck what he thinks. She’s safe, and that’s all that matters. “She’s safe. For now. I have a guard watching over her like you suggested. But we don’t have much time since Margo has already sent the article through with every intention of having it published. I don’t think your breakup was convincing enough for her. You need to listen to what the two of us have to say and make your choice or your dirty laundry is about to be aired for the town to see.”

I stand and move toward Beckett, and Hamilton comes between us. “Are you fucking threatening me? Safe for now, what the fuck do you mean? If you touch her… I swear to God.” My fists clench at my sides, and I shove against Hamilton.

Beckett smirks cruelly. “Calm down, I would never do anything to hurt Paisley. No need to take me out like you did Lucas.”

I glare back at him, anger radiating off every pore. I’m not admitting to anything. “You’ve seen the article?” I spit back.

He nods. “It’s what I would have done if I found out that motherfucker laid a finger on my girl. Would havemessed him up a little first, made him suffer for the pain he inflicted on her. Then I would have made sure the fucker didn’t live to see the light of day. That’s what I would have done if Paisley was my girl.”

The way he says it makes it seem as if he’s more invested in her than he should be. “But she’s not your fucking girl, she’s mine,” I growl. Coming here was a fucking mistake.

Hamilton shoves me back, trying to get some distance between me and Beckett. “We both know it’s what you did for her. Your secret is safe with us. We won’t tell a soul, not even Paisley. I will personally see to it that the article Margo thinks is going to run has magically disappeared. As long as you do a little favor for my brother.”

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