“All right. It’s not like I have anything to do today.” He laughs.
Uh-huh. All you have to do is sit tight until you squeeze money out of me or Evie.
I text Evie to let her know I’m taking some personal time off.
Now? You never take personal time off, she texts back. Is everything okay?
Nope, but I’m not telling her that. Just shopping. Even a billionaire needs to buy some things himself. I add a wink emoji, hoping she won’t ask too many questions.
Putting the phone away, I drive to the hotel and go up to the suite I reserved for Bradley. He answers quickly. He’s dressed in a faded button-down shirt and slacks, the image of a guy who’s been fighting his entire life to make something of himself but couldn’t quite do it. But I’m not as trusting and stupid as he thinks. I can finally put a name to the bright light in his eyes—greed. Pure, unadulterated greed to score some easy money.
“So. To what do I owe this pleasure?” he says, gesturing me inside.
I step into the suite. The door shuts behind me, and I move into the living room. A room service table has been left with a half-empty bottle of superb Bordeaux, and the air smells of peppercorn steak. The fucker probably cleaned out the minibar, too.
I sprawl in the couch like I own the world. Bradley follows and stands awkwardly by the armchair. The man isn’t dumb. He can probably sense something’s wrong.
“Sorry about the mess. Housekeeping hasn’t come by to clean up,” he says. “Want a glass of wine?”
“No. I’m driving,” I say, not wanting to touch anything he offers, even if I’m the one footing the bill.
He sits in the armchair. Smart. At least he knows he should have a clear head for what’s to come.
“I’m here to talk about you.” There’s no point in sugarcoating it.
“Me?”
“Yeah. You need to leave.”
“Leave?” He tilts his head, all innocence. “Am I being moved to a different hotel?”
I almost snort. I live in Los Angeles, and nothing annoys me like bad acting. Especially when somebody’s trying to fuck me and my family over. “No. You’re going to move to another state and never get in touch with Evie again.”
The faux-affable air slowly fades. “Is that a fact?” His eyes go narrow and mean, leaving a rodentlike expression. “And why would I do that?”
“Because it’ll prove to be in your best interests.”
“You can’t make me.” He braces himself physically, holding on to the arms of the chair.
Oh, for God’s sake. Does he think I’m going to have security drag him away? I could, of course, but that’s a bit too unrefined for my tastes. Besides, people like him don’t go away that easily. They’re like a cancer that keeps coming back. “Don’t force my hand. You won’t like it.”
“Don’t force mine. Evie loves her dear old dad.”
“She doesn’t know what kind of money-grubbing scum you are.”
“Did you already look into me?” he demands with a smirk. Then he slowly shakes his head. “No. That’s too fast, even for you. It must have been Mari.”
I don’t answer.
He rolls his eyes. “She’s such an idiot. Never had the guts to do what’s hard, but always had the nerve to bitch and moan when something didn’t go her way.”
“Shut up. At least she stayed and took care of her child.”
He gives me a level look. “And? I told her to get rid of it. What does she want now, a goldfish or a jellybean?”
Outrage bubbles up, ugly and toxic. What kind of monster is this? He’s talking about a world without Evie like it’s no big deal.
“Did she think I’d give up everything to be with that dumb whore? For fuck’s sake. Any woman can get pregnant like that.” He snaps his fingers. “She never had to act like a fucking saint. This is the least I deserve for having put up with h