Jacked (Trent Brothers #1)(141)

“You said ‘no’?” Adam asked.

I nodded. “I thought it was for the local news. They shoved that paper at me so fast and said I had to sign it but I refused.”

He set his hands on his hips. “You didn’t sign anything?”

“No. Why would I? I shouldn’t have even worked on those injured people but I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I didn’t know if the news could show it anyway.”

His head snapped over to Melissa. “And you knew this the whole time, didn’t you? Didn’t you?”

Melissa shrugged as though she didn’t have a care in the world.

“Unbelievable,” Adam growled.

“We can air any footage we want, with adjustments, of course. Surprisingly most people want their fifteen minutes of fame. But for those who do not consent, we can simply blur out their faces.”

I wanted to do worse to hers. “You do that and I’ll sue you.”

Melissa shifted on her pointy stilettos. “You can try, but it will be after the fact. Well, this conversation is going nowhere fast.” She shoved her purse under her armpit. “The deal still stands. The network expects our formal marketing and rebranding by next week. I’ll expect to hear from you soon, Adam.”

“Deal? You call having the rights to withhold compensation if he gets hurt doing his job a deal?”

“Erin,” Adam censured.

Reining in my anger was difficult.

“You uphold my demand and I’ll consider it,” he said, “but I want it in writing.”

This entire exchange baffled me. “What demand?”

Adam frowned, quickly dismissing my question.

“You care for her that much?”

“Yes.” His reply was instant, without pause or doubt or contemplation.

“Wow.” She sighed, nodding at me for some reason. “Wow. Okay. You have my word.”

“Wait. What are you agreeing to, Adam?”

His lips smashed into a hard line while his subtle head shake said he wasn’t going to answer.

“Adam?” I wanted an answer and I wanted it now.

Melissa glanced at me, tisking as if I were stupid and she was inconvenienced. “He doesn’t want your footage aired.”

“So you’re what? Blackmailing him to get him to do what you want? Capitalizing on the misfortunes of others?” It felt like a blow to the chest. “You’re unbelievable. Someone almost died that night.”

She glowered at me. “I’m offering to make him a star.”

Adam was a police officer. Privately he was as low key as low key could get. No, this didn’t add up. “Is that what you want?”

“No,” he said emphatically.

“So you’re doing this to what, protect me?”

Adam ignored me. “I want it in writing. Then I’ll sign.”

“No. No, screw that.” I stepped in between them. “You are not going to sign anything.” I pointed at Melissa. “And you are not going to pressure him into this. I don’t care who you are. You even think about airing that footage of me and I will sue you so you f*cking fast your head will spin. So whatever it is you hope to accomplish here, your methods leave much to be desired.”

“I don’t believe this,” she muttered to herself. “Adam, surely you can see the benefits here. The endorsement deals alone will make you a millionaire. How many years would it take you to earn that amount on your salary? Trust me; you want this opportunity.”

I could see the temptation warring with his values.

“You have no clue what I want,” he snapped. “None. You don’t know me.”

She looked indignant. “You really want to be just a cop the rest of your life?”

I grabbed the contract off the edge of the bed, shoving it at her. “That’s it. Time for you to go. And take this bullshit with you.”

“You can’t talk to me like that. Besides, I paid for this room,” she countered, unabashed.

“Well then, I’ll be sure to f*ck his brains out on that bed before we leave.”

Adam snorted.

Her jaw ticked until a hint of a smile played on her lips. “I like you. It’s a shame; we could have been friends.”

“After you just insulted my boyfriend? Not in a million years.”

Melissa righted herself. “Yes, well… boyfriends are temporary.” She eyed Adam up and down one last time while I held the door open. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks for the warning.” I shoved the door closed.

Adam rested his hands on his hips and sighed. “Well…”

I leaned on the door, guarding it. “Now I know what the antichrist looks like.”

Adam laughed. It was good to see his smile again.

“I hope I didn’t make things worse.”

Adam shrugged it off. “I don’t think things could have gotten any worse than they already were.”

“Were you really going to sign that to protect me?”

His refusal to answer was answer enough.

“Adam.” The magnitude of that knowledge settled hard on my chest. “Now I know why you were so upset earlier.”

“I don’t want that shit touching you. Any of it.”