Throne of Truth (Truth and Lies Duet #2)(46)

He bared his teeth. “It won’t stick. I’ll get a good lawyer. I’ll—”

I held up my hand. “Stop. I don’t want to hear any more of your delusions, Greg.” Before he could launch into another tirade, I said, “I’m here for one thing and one thing only.”

His eyebrow rose, his body relaxing into a flirt. “Oh, yeah?” His gaze traveled over me. “Come to finish what we started?”

I hid my shudder. He wasn’t worth my retaliation. “Withdraw your statement about Penn.”

“What?” His green eyes flashed with surprise then darkened with anger. “No way. Look what that bastard did to me.” He raised an arm, showing a few bruises. “He fucking broke me.”

“I see nothing but a spoiled brat milking a stay in the hospital before he goes to jail.”

He froze. “I’m not going to jail, Elle.”

“I say otherwise.”

The metal handcuff jingled on the bed frame as he shifted again—uncertain but still trying to dominate the situation. “He broke my ribs and bruised my throat. I’ve had a headache since—”

“Oh, spare me, Greg.” I waved a hand at his prone body. “All I see is a boy who never grew up. You’re an adult. You have to take responsibility for the things you’ve done and the people you’ve hurt.”

Moving closer toward the bed, I growled, “I won’t ask again. Revoke your statement about Penn. Drop the charges.”

“Why the fuck would I?”

“Why?” I bared my teeth. “Because you kidnapped me, tried to rape me, and attempted to steal my company. Yet here I am being civil to you, asking you politely to be the bigger man and let Penn go.”

His face turned nasty. “He’s not going anywhere.”

My skin crawled, fighting quicksand—a losing battle. Why did I think I could come here and negotiate with Greg like he was a sane, logical thinking adult?

He wasn’t. He had a screw loose or ten.

Fine, you leave me no choice.

Looking over my shoulder at the door, I moved closer. Close enough that he could touch me if he wanted but close enough to hurt him if I did. “Drop the charges.”

“Fuck off, Elle. If I can’t have you, no one can—including that asshole.”

I didn’t respond, focusing on my task. “Drop the charges or else.” My voice mimicked a general giving the orders on a firing line.

“Or else?” He laughed. “Who are you trying to be? A CEO who actually has the balls to threaten?”

“I’m being myself. And I do have the balls to threaten.” I held up my finger. “I will ruin you—”

The door cracked open, followed by David’s command, “Ms. Charlston, step back. You have two minutes remaining, according to our friend out here.”

“Close the door, David.” I didn’t look away from Greg. “I know what I’m doing.”

He knew better than to argue with me in public. The door clicked shut, leaving me alone once again.

I’d tried to do this kindly, but Greg was an asshole and left me no choice. “Drop the charges against Penn. Tell them you mistook everything that’d happened and no longer want to follow through with your statement.”

“No way. They’ll prosecute me for lying.” His mouth twisted, knowing he’d just slipped into truth. The sticky substance had a way of coming to light beneath the slickness of lies. “Besides, I’m hurt. He hurt me. Bastard will get what’s coming.”

I breathed hard through my nose, doing my best to stay calm despite the overwhelming need to wrap the IV cord around his neck and strangle him. “Don’t care. Be honest for once in your miserable life and accept whatever punishment is coming your way. Or...”

He still didn’t look afraid, merely entertained—waiting to see what I would do. “Or?”

“Or I march back to the police station, and I tell them in graphic detail how you raped me. How you took advantage of me against my will. How after multiple times of hurting me, you planned to kill me.”

He instantly froze, filling with doubt. “You wouldn’t.”

“I would.”

“They’d prosecute you for filing a false report.”

I shrugged. “If it’s the price to pay to free a man who shouldn’t be in jail, then consider it done. I would do it because he’s right and you’re wrong and I’m sick of not standing up for the truth.”

“But that’s a lie! You’re insane. Why would you fucking do that?”

I shook my head, unable to believe he had no concept of loyalty or love. Did he even love his father like a normal son? Or was his selfishness a commanding passenger, making him only think of himself?

Time was running out.

Taking the final step toward the bed, I hissed, “So help me, Greg. I’ll turn the kidnapping and Belle Elle takeover into a rape and attempted murder. I’ll hire every lawyer I can and pay them to bury you in a life sentence. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re never a free man again.” I glared with hooded eyes. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll push for the death penalty.”

He gulped. “You wouldn’t.”

“Wouldn’t I?” I raised an eyebrow. “I tried to be nice to you, Greg. If you want me to play hardball, I will.”