Page 61 of Playing with Temptation

He forced out a slow breath, then dialed the phone.

There was a smirk in her voice when Stephanie answered. “I wondered how long it would take for you to reconsider my offer.”

Nate clenched his teeth and breathed, saying the vile things he thought of Stephanie Weiss in his head, rather than aloud.

“Look, Stephanie, I’m sorry about how things worked out between us and about what happened with your career. I discredited your story, not because I wanted to hurt you, but because you put me in a position where I had to protect my friend. But what you’re doing in retaliation is ruthless and unethical. The Stephanie Weiss I knew was ambitious, but a generally decent human being. What happened to you?”

“I got blackballed from legitimate sports networks, thanks to you.” Her tone was icy. “You made me look like a fool in front of the entire world. Don’t like it so much when the shoe is on the other foot, do you?”

“I don’t care what you say about me, but bringing my family into it… That’s low, even for you.” Nate tried to keep his voice level.

She clucked her tongue three times. “Not a smart way to talk to the person whose help I assume you’re about to request.”

He clenched his fist and willed himself to calm down. “Actually, I’m calling to help you. You want people to view you as a legitimate reporter? Start by reporting honestly. Stop creeping around taking pictures of my kid and his mother. She’s a genuinely good person and a hell of a mom. She doesn’t deserve this.”

“And I did?” Stephanie’s voice reached a high pitch. “I was sleeping in your bed three nights a week, but you chose your teammate’s reputation over mine. Now I’m supposed to feel bad for some baby mama of yours?”

He cringed at the term baby mama. “She’s my son’s mother, and yes, I expect you to behave as if you have a shred of decency.” Nate massaged his temple. “Maybe I’m not entitled to privacy, but my kid and his mom, they are.”

“You know how this works. Anyone associated with a public personality is fair game. Now, are you calling just for old times’ sake, or have you reconsidered my offer?”

Nate was silent. Appealing to her sense of decency had been a bust—though he’d put little faith in that possibility. Now he scrolled through his remaining options. Give in to her demands or beat her at her own game.

He chose the latter.

“Actually, I’m calling to make you an offer.”

“Oh?”

“Lay off me and my family or I swear to you, one day soon, you’ll be lucky to get a job at the daily gazette in Bumfuck Nowhere.”

She laughed incredulously. “You of all people, Nate, should know I don’t respond well to threats.”

“You of all people, Stephanie, should know I’m willing to protect my family by any means necessary.”

“Then I guess there’s nothing more for us to say.” Despite Stephanie’s bravado, her voice was tentative. “One day you’ll look back and wish you’d taken me up on my offer.”

“I won’t,” he said, “but I assure you that you’ll wish you’d taken me up on mine.” Nate ended the call, then dialed another number.

“This is Edge. What can I do for you, Nate?” Edgerton Mathis, a private investigator often employed by members of the Marauders, always sounded laid-back, like he was drinking a beer and smoking a blunt.

“Remember that dossier I asked you to put together on that reporter a while back?”

“The one you told me to burn because you were afraid of causing irreparable damage to her career?”

Nate swallowed. “Yeah, that’s the one. Any chance you can re-create that?”

“Maybe,” Edge said. “This have anything to do with that piece running today, implying your ex is a bad mom?”

Nate didn’t acknowledge the question. “How long will it take you to put it together?”

“Two hours.”

Nate had always suspected that a guy like Edge held on to files like this. He didn’t comment on exactly what he thought of that. “Good. You think it’s enough to discredit her?”

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