Page 151 of Fakers with Benefits

“This is the uncensored file. It says exactly what that company was set up for.”

I took the file and flipped it open. A quick scan of the first page told me everything I needed to know. “Human organs?”

“Excuse me, what?” Emily gaped.

“Your man is using Grant’s company to start his own organ trafficking ring,” Vlado told her.

“Are you sure it’s just Mal?” She looked nauseated. I’d never seen panic like that in her eyes as she swung them toward me. “Dad’s not in on it, is he?”

“Doesn’t look like it,” I said, “unless Dad is using Malcolm as his Patsy.” I snapped the file closed, desperately trying to tamp down my building rage. “Thisis why he’s been in Dad’s ear about changing the terms of his retirement. He’s planning on using the company to branch into the black market and he knows he can’t do it unless he’s in full control of everything.”

“I’d guess this is only a small part of what he’s doing.” Vlado took the file from me and replaced it in the safe. “You don’t go from law-abiding businessman to trafficking human organs in one step. He’s got to already be into some shady shit, possibly drugs and arms dealings.”

“I… I can’t even.” Emily put a hand to her stomach. “To think I’ve been sleeping next to him. That I was going to marry him! All because my goddamn parents wouldn’t shut up about how perfect he is and how it’s time I settle down and do my duty to the family. He was supposed to be a safe choice!”

Vlado’s arm went around her in comfort.

“I went along with all this bullshit because he’s exactly like our father and I know how to handle men like him. But this?” She waved the journal. “He’s a monster. I knew something was off about him, but I ignored my instincts because everyone gaslighted me into thinkingIwas the crazy one. That there was something wrong withmebecause I dared to question him or his motivations.”

Vlado hugged her against his body.

She leaned against him and shoved the journal at me. “This has all the proof you need about the threats. The fucker is so arrogant he chronicled everything. His reasons, methods. Even his contacts and the randoms he hired. It’s all in here.”

Ping.

I checked my phone.

Nick: where are u??? its an emergency

“Where’s Malcolm?” I barked.

“He’s with Imogen. At least he was twenty minutes ago. Why?”

“We need to find Nick.” Shoving the phone in my pocket, I took off at a run.

“Ev?” Vlado caught up as I flung the door open.

“He’s in trouble.” I took off down the hall.

“We’ll find him.” Vlado kept pace with me, his features hard and determined.

I glanced over my shoulder. Emily had kicked off her shoes and was only a few paces behind us. “Where was the last place you saw him?”

“He’ll either be in the sitting room, or my bedroom.”

The three of us raced across her house, cutting down hallways and taking corners at breakneck speed.

My mind raced with all the worst-case scenarios. What if Malcolm wasn’t working alone and someone else had gotten a hold of Nick? What if Malcolm wasn’t the prissy little prick I’d assumed he was and he’d hurt Nick?

An image of Nick on the floor, broken and beaten, flashed in my mind’s eye. Bile rose in my throat as terror and rage swirled through me in equal measure.

“We don’t have any facts.” Vlado pulled ahead of me. “Just focus on finding him. He’s going to be okay.”

I nodded and picked up the pace, my lungs burning from a tightness that had nothing to do with overexertion.

We skid to a stop in front of the sitting room. Vlado went in first, but I was right on his heels. Our protocol was that he cleared a room before I entered, but fuck that. Nick was in trouble, and I’d happily take a bullet if it meant he didn’t.

“What the hell?” Imogen jumped up from the sofa as we spilled into the room.

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