Chapter 16

Sixteen

Rook

T he backless dress she had on was already threatening to break my willpower. The feel of her bare skin under my fingertips kept going to my head, each touch sending a shock through me. We were talking with another rich asshole of a man I had never worked with, but knew all about. It should keep my attention to listen for any new information I could dig up on these people, but my entire focus remained on her.

I leaned down to her ear, ignoring the way he eyed us. He seemed to know me, enough I could see the concern on his face, at least.

"I don't work with him for a reason," I said, biting at her earlobe. "He's disgusting. Likes them so young there is an active police case being built against him."

Her eyes went wide, still locked on him. The panic that rose on his face was so clear I almost laughed. "Well, tell your dad I said hello," he said, trying to end the conversation.

She scrunched her nose. "I'd prefer not to. Do you work with my dad?"

"Well, yes? We've done a few business deals together."

"I don't think you will be anymore," she said, her voice steady and cold. "I think we prefer working with people of age… Unlike you, apparently."

My knees almost gave out from the sheer perfection of it. The way his eyes nearly bulged out of his head, the way he shuffled off so fast.

"Did I do it right?" she asked, watching in confusion as he disappeared into the crowd.

"It was perfect, and I'm uncomfortably turned on right now."

"It seems like he got scared and ran off. What would that accomplish?"

I laughed, angling her to the side of the room. "Fear. The idea you aren't going to take their shit like how they were treating you when you got here. You want to be respected, right? It's a fast way to show them you shouldn't be messed with. Do it a few more times and word will get around. Soon people are going to wonder if you are going to work with them or ruin their lives, so they will do what they need to keep you happy."

"But he isn't backed into a corner?"

"Why not? He knows you know. If you went to him right now and asked for something, he would probably give it to you. You might have to push him more, but you could remind him how much you know and that you would keep your mouth shut for a price or a favor."

"Hmm," she said, looking around at the rest of them. "And this is what you do? You spend your days finding out this information to hold on to it until it's needed?"

"Sometimes. Other times, I sell it. If you wanted to take down your biggest competitor, wouldn't you pay for information on them to do that?"

"That's scary, and efficient."

I had planned to come tonight either way. I thought it could be a good time to see Cameron Fletcher and see if he even recognized me, but when I had gotten word she came alone, I still thought it was a good idea. What better way to get closer to her than to save her from a night of being fed to the wolves?

But now, I stood here telling her more and more information, not expecting anything in return. Each time she tried to bully one of these guys, I was mesmerized. I really shouldn't be this interested in the girl I'm using to get my revenge, but she seemed to be begging to climb to the top, and no one wanted to help her.

I spent the rest of the dinner with her next to me, asking questions and me answering every single one without hesitation.

I glanced at my phone. It was almost ten at night now. I still had plenty to do tonight, and with how easily I kept slipping her information, I figured it would be better if I stopped talking completely before I said something I couldn't take back.

For someone whose world demanded tight lips, I somehow forgot all the rules tonight.

"I have to go," I said, her face falling. "I have more work tonight."

"Okay. Are you coming back around soon?"

I smirked, shoving my phone back in my pocket. "Are you asking if I will be stalking around your house soon?"

She bit at her lip, looking at the crowd instead of me. "Maybe."

"Then my answer will also be maybe. Leaving soon?"

"Yeah, I'll text the driver to come back around and get me."

"Alright. See you later, Rebel."

She watched as I headed back out, but I fought not to look back.

I thought I would be fine to get to my bike, change, and head back out to get work done, but I got on and pulled out in the wrong direction, turning left when I should have been turning right. My hands gripped the handlebars tightly, knuckles white with tension. Every instinct told me to turn around and go back. To spend one boring night with Regan and see if I liked it as much as I thought I would. But I couldn't afford to be weak. Not now.

I knew she wouldn't be too far behind me and, with adding a stop, I needed to be quick.

Each moment I spent near her chipped away at me, and I had to remember why I was doing this. My parents, my sister, our ruined lives—Cameron Fletcher caused all of it, and Regan was only my ticket to him, nothing more.

I made my first stop at the bakery and headed back out, racing through traffic until I pulled up in front of the giant Fletcher Mansion. The sight of it brought back memories of everything I had lost and everything I kept fighting for. The contrast between my world and hers was stark, and I needed to remember it.

It took me less than five minutes to get in, set the box on her pillow, and slip back out. I stood there a second too long, looking at her peaceful room, and a pang of guilt hit me. Could she really be this innocent in all of this? Could she really have no clue how deranged her own father could be? She seemed more than shocked at what I did. Wouldn't it be less surprising if she knew her dad was worse?

As I drove away, I couldn't help but feel a mix of satisfaction and dread. I kept getting closer to her, closer to my goal, but I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep them separate enough. Technically, I wanted to be around her, and it worked perfectly for my plan, but it didn't stop the small gnawing in my gut that she would hate me soon.

I shook my head, trying to clear the confusion. This wasn't about me or her—it was about justice, about righting the wrongs done to my family. But as the mansion disappeared in my rearview mirror, I couldn't shake the thought that the line between my revenge and this obsession was blurring, and I worried I might be losing more than just my focus.