Page 13 of A Shade of Evil

Ilove how nervous she is. She should be. In fact, if she saw inside my mind right now, she would be jumping overboard, a fight with the fishes more attractive than the one she has coming with me.

I love this. The anticipation of the attack. The moment when my prey realizes its game over—for them, anyway.

Allegra Powell is my revenge on her real father. The man who dared to think he could push our family out of the very organization they created. He’s a fool who will suffer the consequences.

I smirk. “Hand me your phone.”

“Why would I do that?”

I grin. “No big deal. The occasion calls for a memento. Raise your glass and smile for the camera, Allegra.”

She slides it nervously toward me and her hand reaches for the glass on autopilot.

I do the same and take the selfie and waste no time in posting it on her social. If Judge Stevenson doesn’t follow her, he will soon be told because this photograph will be the first of many.

She stares at me in confusion. “Why are you doing this?”

“I told you.” I shrug. “I own you. A life for a life. Isn’t that how it goes?”

“No, it doesn’t.” She slams her glass down and says with fire in her eyes. “I’m not some dimwit who thinks the sun shines out of your ass, you know. Newsflash, I didn’t ask for this. I was perfectly happy enjoying a night out with my friend who will probably be calling the cops on you. Kidnap carries a jail term, so you should be pissing your pants right now.”

I can’t help it and burst out laughing and she stands and faces me with pure anger shining from her eyes.

“Take me back. Now!”

“And ruin the party I arranged. You were brought up better than that, princess.”

“You know nothing about me.” She snarls and I shake my head and lean back, switching my mood from hero to bastard in a nanosecond.

“Sit down.”

My voice offers no disagreement, and she pales and drops into the seat she vacated with a worried frown.

“Firstly, you are my guest, and nobody has kidnapped anyone.”

I lean forward, loving, watching the blood drain from her face as I scowl. “Secondly, you are in a shitload of trouble, and I am the only man who can help you and your brother.”

“Rafferty!” She gasps and I nod.

“Your brother is in deep shit, and you had better tell me everything you know if you want to save him from spending his life behind bars.”

“He’s innocent.” Her voice cracks and I smirk.

“That’s what they all say.”

“He is.” She says louder, the tears gathering behind her eyes.

“He may be innocent, but if somebody wants to prove otherwise, he has no chance.”

“Who?” she says with urgency.

“That’s what I’m going to find out, with your help.”

“But why would you help us?” she says with suspicion.

“I have my reasons.”

I sit back and drag the glass to my lips and say, “Now, shall we continue?”

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