Page 75 of Required Surrender

“Not long enough. You were lucky I was there.”

“I’m well aware of that. That doesn’t give you the right to interfere with my life now. I am curious, Davidson. Why are you so interested in Lark?”

He managed to grin as he returned to his desk. “Let’s just say I was given a promise.”

The plan mentioned by her father. “A promise. Let me guess, by Marshall Winston.”

The bastard seemed pleased I’d figured it out. “Yes. She is to be mine.”

“Excuse me?” When he didn’t answer, I took a deep breath. “You’re friends with Marshall Winston.”

“Very good friends.”

“Let me venture another guess. In exchange for not only your backing of his upcoming campaign but also some of your powerful friends.”

“That is the way of the world,” he said, obviously pleased with himself.

I could tell by the flash in his eyes there was more to the reason why he’d been provided with such a gift.

Was it possible her own father had sold her off to a man like Davidson? Laughing, I gave him a nod. “I should have known. I’m certain Lark will have a say in whether or not she will abide by whatever unholy agreement was made.”

“She doesn’t have a choice. I’d had hopes of allowing her to get to know me better. Then this ridiculous charge dropped in my lap. However, it’s only a matter of time until she becomes my wife.”

“I thought you still had one.”

“You thought wrong. Shelly and I are getting a divorce.”

The smug look on his face told me more than I cared to know. He’d hired the escort to push his wife into the divorce. I was certain of it. I’d heard rumors their marriage had been in trouble months before. “What a shame, Davidson.”

He laughed. “You wouldn’t understand, Lachlan. You believe your power to be unequaled, but you fail to understand the rules of this town. Family means everything. Connections are more important than almost anything, except for children.”

During my upbringing, my father had told stories of our ancestors and those of other crime syndicates especially in Europe. Arranged marriages were expected, girls brought up to realize they had no say in choosing who they would wed. He’d laughed, calling the practice barbaric. I was no fool. The archaic system existed in the United States as well; however, his admission of being embroiled in a powerplay turned my stomach.

It also meant he’d have been an absolute fool to kill Ms. Kenwright.

Unless he’d done so to prevent someone else from gaining the coveted position that he so obviously craved.

“Stay away from Lark or you will learn very quickly the kind of man lurking beneath the surface.”

“Is that a threat, Lachlan?”

“No, Ernest. That’s a promise. No one fucks with the people I care about.” As I took long strides out of his office, I had no doubt there was an even darker underbelly of Washington that had been a well-kept secret. And whatever their plans, they were far more dangerous than any black book I could keep.

However, they’d underestimated me.

I would make it my business to become their worst nightmare.

* * *

As soon as I walked into Anastasia’s office, she jumped, swinging around in her chair.

“Jesus Christ. Don’t you ever knock?” she barked, narrowing her eyes and glaring at me. Music was blaring since the club wasn’t open, her choice in metal music as amusing as her wild attire. Wearing black and white checkered jeans, a chartreuse shirt, and red Converse tennis shoes, her eclectic look reminded me how young she was.

Just like Lark.

I chuckled, although I wasn’t in a joking mood. “You wouldn’t have heard my knock if I’d bothered.”

She rolled her eyes, leaning across her desk and lowering the volume on her speakers. “Aren’t you supposed to be flogging your sub or something?”

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