Page 106 of Undeniable Temptation

“Are you going to let me finish, or do you insist on growling at everything I say?”

Honestly? She wasn’t sure. She wanted to know the damage. Knowledge was power and all that. But knowing also meant pain. It meant harsh reality and punishing truths.

“Go on,” she whispered, slumping against the wall. “I won’t interrupt you again.”

He quirked a brow. “I find that hard to believe.”

She kept her mouth shut, belying him.

His responding chuckle was short and breathy, flittering away as quick as it settled. “Plan B involved Scott.”

Fear of the unknown morphed into terror and she shook her head to fight it away. “No.”

“You promised.” He settled further against her, his fingers raking down her arms, stopping at her wrists. He gripped her gently and raised her hands to the wall, demanding surrender in a tender and Ryan-esque way.

“As I said,” he murmured, his lips brushing her cheek, “Plan B had a different strategy. With most of your boss’s clients with Grander, it gives Scott a lot of power. And we asked him to do us a favor.” His mouth painted a distracting trail as he spoke, from her cheek to her neck, up to her ear. Each new breath tempting her to fall victim.

“Don’t stop.” She wasn’t sure what she was referring to, the affection or the admission. Either way, she needed more.

“We asked him to play hardball and tell your boss all the upcoming releases from his Grander client list would be placed on hold if he didn’t comply.”

“What?” She yanked her wrists from his grip. “Are you serious?”

“Do I look like I’m kidding?”

No. Unfortunately, he appeared entirely sincere. Each stroke of her gaze back and forth between his eyes didn’t clear the idiocy.

“So it wasn’t just my life you decided to mess with? It was innumerable artists who are meant to be your allies.” She scoffed. “No wonder Mason suggested this avenue. It reeks of his taint.”

“We were willing to do whatever necessary.”

“Then undo it.”

“Can’t.” His fingers stroked her cheek, his gaze lazily raking her face. “It’s already done. I was in Scott’s home office when the early-morning call was made.”

“And why would he make that call, Ryan?” She implored him with her eyes, hoping for a different answer to delete the horrific one already running through her mind. “What did you give him in return?”

He didn’t react, didn’t give her any inclination of remorse.

“Let me guess, you offered him something he couldn’t refuse.”

“We did what needed to be done.” He gripped her chin with his thumb and spoke against her lips. “And we would’ve done more if necessary.”

She wanted to hate every word coming out of his mouth. She wanted to detest them with the same ferocity as her frown. But how could she? How could she despise her men making a deal with the devil in an attempt to save her?

She closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the wall. “After all we’ve been through with this tour, you still signed another contract.” She couldn’t believe it. They’d worked too hard to escape Grander’s clutches to give up right before the finishing line. “How many albums?”

“One.”

She opened her eyes, still not seeing the remorse that must be hidden somewhere.

“A greatest hits collection,” he continued. “We only need to provide three new tracks.”

“And you agreed?” Her eyes began to burn. “Even though it means going back to Grander and extending the hold they have on Reckless? Those songs will be wasted.”

“We see it as a good investment.”

“We?” she murmured.

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