Page 40 of Tempted

“Good. Hey, buddy. I was also calling to bring you up to speed on something.”

That’s when I close my eyes and fall asleep so fast, like I don’t care what else is going on around me. But it only lasts a minute, and then I overhear the most interesting conversation.

Malcolm

“What’s that.” I inquire.

“Rush squealed a bit about this little affair he had with Clare once upon a time.” His tone is facetious, like my brother is a filthy liar.

“What’s up.”

He laughs quickly without a trace of mirth. “Evidently it wasn’t just an affair.”

“How’s that.”

“Rory got him all tanked on my da’s scotch and he confessed that he’s been fucking her for the last three years. Since you two broke up. It’s been on and off.”

I’m not sure if I’m pissed or if I want to laugh. What an idiot. First, for dicking her all this time and lying about it, and second, for getting drunk and spilling his guts to everyone about it. Even though I already knew, I play along. “How does this affect her contract?”

Steph is lying next to me again, half listening, half dozing. I’m sure that if she was feeling better and if it wasn’t such an ungodly hour, she would be more interested. “I’ll get there in a minute.” Ethan states. “It gets worse.”

“What do you mean?”

He pauses for emphasis.

...“She’s pregnant.”

My eyes widen as my jaw hits the floor. “You’re fucking kidding me.”

“Wish I was.”

“Did Rush tell you this, too? Are you sure it’s true?”

“Like he’s going to lie about that? Why would he do that?”

My tone is facetious. “Well, in case you don’t know, my brother says some pretty stupid shit when he’s drunk. He could have been just fucking around.”

“Believe what you want to believe, Malcolm. We need a game plan.”

“And you figure calling me up at this hour is a good time to do that?”

He guffaws. “You and I have done much worse in the past. Half the ideas we’ve come up with have been at the witching hour. The only reason why you’re pushing back is because you’ve got company.”

Steph is asleep. Her eyes are closed, and her lips are parted. She has no idea what we’re talking about.

“The lass is out cold, mate. What did you have in mind?”

“I’m thinking that she’s going to play her cards strategically here, man. She’s pregnant with Rush’s bairn and we want her business? The ball is in her court. Plus, she’s going to seek retribution for your past wrongdoings if you ask me.”

I lick my lips and rise out of bed. “First, we need to confirm that the bitch is knocked up.” I tell him, walking out the door, down the hall, to try and keep quiet, although I don’t know how much good it’ll do, as the wind is roaring all over the house, like it’s going to come right through and suck us in. I have to raise my voice so I can talk over it. “Then, we need to get her to sign the contract, since she hasn’t yet. We keep quiet and play stupid, like we don’t know a fucking thing. If she’s planning on taking her vengeance, we walk. I’m not up for that shit and I don’t think that Dougall will be, either.”

“Have youmetmy da?” He asks facetiously. “He was the one that wanted to hire her because he’s impressed by her shrewdness.”

“Hiring her and conducting big financial business are two very different things, my friend.”

“So, why walk if she’s pregnant, hm?”

“Are you saying that it’s better to butter the bitch up? She’s going to take us for everything she can, Ethan. The woman is cunning and not trustworthy. The fact that she tried to go behind Rush’s back and try to do business with me should tell you how twisted the psycho is.”

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