Chapter 27

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SEVEN

Cillian locked the door and leaned against it for several seconds, unable to move even though he needed to put on something other than a towel and finish getting ready for work.

He thought he’d done a pretty good job of holding back that he was ridiculously tripping over himself to touch and kiss Anthony every time he came around.

Experimenting. He snorted.

He wanted to date him, even though the list was as long as Busoni’s piano concerto in C major as to why it was a bad idea. Most of those reasons were related to Anthony’s recent incarceration and his brother. But he’d started this ride, and he was enjoying it. He didn’t want to get off… or more correctly, he wanted to get off all the time, with Anthony.

He needed to pull his head together.

He was the rebound sex guy for Anthony, that’s all. Anthony came from a wealthy family, with fancy houses and cars, and expectations.

His parents’ only expectations were that he supported himself, was happy, found love, and came home at least once a year. Three out of the four he managed on a regular basis—though not always the same three.

His phone buzzed on the kitchen counter where he’d abandoned it. He picked it up, expecting it to be Anthony calling to say he’d forgotten the butt plug, but it wasn’t him. Hayden’s name filled the screen. His stomach dropped and the elation flowing through his veins cooled.

He did not want to deal with Hayden’s bullshit. He wanted to bask in the afterglow of messing up his bed and then getting head in the shower. It was a miracle that his legs worked well enough to see Anthony out the door.

He hit ignore, hoping that would be the end of it, though from experience, it never was. And if he ignored Hayden for too long, it only became worse. Could he not enjoy a few minutes of blissful peace?

Apparently not, as his phone rang again.

He walked to the bedroom to dress as he listened—he wasn’t expected to talk only obey.

Cillian accepted the call and tried to sound chipper. “Hello.”

“Cillian, did I catch you at a bad time? I’ve been calling.”

“I was showering before work.” He put the phone on speaker and finished drying off.

“Yes… Although it will take more than a shower to wash away the evidence.”

“I’m sorry? What?” His heart made several heavy pulses that made it hard to breathe.

“Well, if you hang out with criminals, the stain will rub off. That might damage your career. How many corporations will hire you if they know?”

Cillian shook his head and pulled underwear and socks out of his drawer. “They are hiring me, not whomever I am sleeping with at the time. Not that it is any of your business unless you’re looking for some dick? Do you want me to hook you up?” He was pushing buttons he shouldn’t be but couldn’t help himself.

How dare Hayden tell him who he could fuck or date or anything else?

“It’s my business when it’s my brother. I told you to stay away. You’re too much like Bianca, a total cock slut who’d?—”

“Watch the next words that come out of your mouth,” Cillian snarled. His family owned hundreds of acres of land. No one would ever find Hayden’s body…

“I’m giving you a warning. Anthony has been meeting with old associates. He’ll be back in his old habits in no time, and he’ll take you down with him.”

Cillian sat on the edge of the bed where not that long ago he’d been grinding on Anthony, his head filled with nothing but pleasure. If Anthony hadn’t told him about the meeting, he might have believed Hayden… But only enough to ask Anthony, because he knew Hayden hated his brother and loved to stir up trouble.

How did Hayden know about the meeting?

How did he know Anthony had walked out the door minutes before?

A shiver raced down his spine. He pulled on his socks and forced his voice to sound calm. “Why do you care, or do you want to be the one to destroy my career?”

A few whispered words at parties and the seeds of doubt would be spread. Questions would be asked, and eventually asked of him. Was there any proof of the affair? His mentor was dead, and it had all been hush-hush.

Unless his mentor’s wife was aware and keeping quiet about her husband’s unfaithfulness because it might damage her social standing. She’d married into money, so it had taken her a long time to be accepted in the right circles. In some ways, it was no different to a small town where it took over a decade to be accepted as a local.

“I’m helping you. Giving you connections and exposure.”

He didn’t need Hayden’s connection or exposure. It had been his friendship with Bianca that had brought him into Hayden’s circle in the first place. So many of Bianca’s friends were still there, instead of drifting away after the separation…

“I can’t help you keep your secret, if you don’t help me,” Hayden continued.

Cillian grimaced. “What do you want?”

“Stay away from Anthony, that’s all. Then no one needs to find out you slept your way to the top.”

He stood and pulled on his black suit pants, fury making his moves jerky. He paused, fly open. Hayden hadn’t talked about Bianca for months… or, at least, not to him. Had she made some demands, or more correctly, had her lawyer?

“Um… Of course.” He thought fast. “I didn’t realize he was seeing old friends.”

He needed to ask some of Bianca’s friends hard questions, and he’d try emailing her again. She’d ignored his previous ones.

“He’s a drug-using criminal. Of course he’s going to revert to type.”

And you’ll be there to grease the slope and give him a shove.

“Thank you for the warning.” He did up his pants and pulled his white shirt off the hanger.

“Oh… I almost forgot. My lawyer may contact you wanting a character reference for Bianca since you’re friends. I’m sure you are aware she had affairs throughout our marriage,” Hayden said in an offhand manner as if that wasn’t the point of the call.

Cillian knew nothing of the sort and almost said so, but he kept his lips pressed together. This was Hayden’s plan. He wanted Bianca’s old friends to lie to protect his money, and the only way to ensure that was with blackmail.

His stomach clenched and bucked. He wanted out. He wanted off this hellish ride. If he lied for Hayden, then he’d become exactly the kind of person he hated. It was better to keep his integrity and his sense of self than be forever beholden to a man like Hayden.

Because if he lied once, he’d be asked to lie again, and Hayden would have hard evidence to use against him next time.