Page 8 of Owned By a Billionaire

“Yes, tell me about it. He’s never gotten over his stepsister.”

My brow creased so intensely it hurt. “Oh?”

“He’s never told you about Meghan?”

“No. He never speaks of his life growing up.”

“Well, then, all I can tell you…” He paused and gave me a penetrating stare. “This stays here, yes? He is not to know that I told you.”

I licked my finger and held it up.

“They got together when she was fourteen and were at it until she disappeared at sixteen. I don’t think he’s ever gotten over her.”

My dinner attempted to rush back up into my throat. I had to take a breath. I knew Rey had a sick alter ego, but as a victim of non-blood-related incest, I nearly choked with a rush of explosive queries.

“Disappeared? You know this how?”

“A close buddy of Rey’s. A detective he’s thick with who loves a drink or fifty.” He chuckled. “And one night, while Rey was flirting with a girl not even old enough to legally drink, the cop leaned in and told me. He swore me to secrecy as he slurred all over me.”

All kinds of questions swam around in my head. “She’s never been found?”

Helmut shook his head. “I was curious myself after that and went on a bit of a hunt.” He shrugged with a sheepish half smirk. “It doesn’t harm to have a bit of juice up one’s sleeve in this scene.”

I acknowledged that advice with a slow nod, well aware of how identifying an influential player’s weakness had its uses. It was something I discovered early on, after resorting to blackmail to get a job.

“I even dug up articles relating to her disappearance,” he added.

“Was she a Crisp also?”

“No. He’s changed his name.”

There was so much I didn’t know about Rey, and it bothered me.

“What was his parental name?” I persisted.

Helmut poured himself another vodka. “No idea.”

Something told me he knew. “So, if I come with you tonight, will you tell me?”

“Mm… Nothing like a bit of stimulating smut to recharge the hippocampus.” A shame-faced smile grew. “That governs memory in the brain.”

I rolled my eyes as though I already knew that. I didn’t, but I preferred pretense over admitting to ignorance. “Then it’s a deal. I’ll go with you.” I held up my finger. “But I won’t do anything I don’t wish to.”

“Of course. We’re all gentlemen around here.”

“Mm… More like reprobates.”

He laughed.

Having diverged from what had piqued my interest in the first place, I returned to the subject of Harry Lovechilde. “So, what makes you think that Harry’s gay?”

“Apart from spying him in a dark corner whispering into some pretty boy’s ear, I can’t say.”

I smirked at his sarcasm.

Helmut pursed his lips. “He had a public-school education. You know, boys in close confines. Raging teenage hormones will make one park one’s penis where he can.” He grimaced. “Sorry if that’s a little coarse.”

“It takes more than a person’s sexual orientation to make me blush.” Still, I frowned. “Harry’s bisexual, then?”

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