Reveal (Wicked Ways #2)(16)

“It’ll never hold up in court,” I lie, knowing it could damn well be used as a bargaining chip but not wanting to share it. It implicates Vaughn, even identifies her by name. What the fuck was I thinking? “Besides, he never offers to pay the escort for sex. That’s what we need.”

“Mmm.” It’s all she says, and for any guy that’s the worst sound in the world. “I’d still like to hear it.”

“No.”

“No?” She laughs the word out in disbelief. The same disbelief I have over this entire bullshit situation right now.

I think of Carter’s threat. Of how badly I want to say fuck it and his threats of outing Roxanne and me. It would make all of this so much easier. Give Bianca what she wants, file the papers for the goddamn divorce, and wash my hands of this dysfunctional couple. I couldn’t give a shit less about me, but I know he wouldn’t stop at just Rox. Hell no. He’s bound and determined to fuck with Vaughn, too, and I can’t bring any more on her than I already have.

Regardless of the fact that I’ve written her off. That I know we were a bad idea from the beginning.

See? That’s called growth, Lockhart. The selfish man is still looking out for her, nonetheless.

“No?” she repeats. “I don’t think that’s the word you were wanting to say. I believe the words should have been Yes, Bianca. Here’s the recording for you to listen to.”

I scrub a hand over my jaw. “Look, I’m digging. I’m trying to get you info, catch him in a trap, you name it. I attempted to do what you asked. To get your husband to commit to paying for sex . . . but this time around it didn’t pan out. I assure you it will.”

“How do you know it will?”

“Because I’m damn good at my job, or else you wouldn’t have come seeking my representation.” I force myself to unclench my fist on the desk. “Right?”

Tension fills the silence, followed by another one of her murmured Mmms.

“This type of thing doesn’t happen overnight, and it sure as hell doesn’t happen when you tell your husband that I’m representing you.” I rise from my desk and move about my office to abate my restlessness. “You just made my job ten times harder.”

“I thought you said you were damn good at your job, Counselor.”

Why do I feel like she’s toying with me?

“This is supposed to be a mutually beneficial relationship here. I help you, and you in turn get out of your marriage as painlessly as possible and with you being awarded a majority of your assets.”

“At least we can agree on that.” She sighs. “Has your private investigator been able to find anything else on him that we can use?”

“If he’s doing anything else shady, all I have are rumors. He’s smart. There’s no trail, no one willing to talk, nothing. Maybe it’s just dirty politics that’s sparked the gossip.”

“And maybe where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

I nod, more than agreeing with her but keeping the comment to myself. “As I told you last time we spoke and the time before that, I still need your finance and asset breakdown.”

“And as I told you, he manages the finances and bank accounts. It’s not exactly as easy as you make it out to be.”

“It’s not as if he doesn’t know you’re going to file. Would you rather him beat you to the punch?” I ask, trying to figure out where the hesitancy is coming from. Is she getting cold feet? Did she suddenly fall back in love with Carter and now is uncertain if she wants to go through with it?

“It’s the nomination, Ryker.” There’s a softness to her tone that’s unexpected. “I may not exactly like him, but I don’t want to take that off the table for him if it’s in his future.”

“If it’s in his future or if it’s in your future?”

Good ol’ Bianca. Proving to me exactly why women and their motives are always in question. Just when I was starting to go soft, she showed me why I shouldn’t be.

“That’s a shitty accusation to make.”

“Why? I need to know where your head is on this. Are we filing if he doesn’t get the nomination and holding off if he does? Are you just holding on to see if you get the title and the posh move over to Number One Observatory Circle?” I ask, referring to the vice president’s residence. “Is that why you seem to be playing a game with me?”

“I don’t play games, Mr. Lockhart.”

“Then what the hell is going on here? Am I just wasting my time?” Exasperation comes on the heels of my inability to get a good night’s sleep as of late.

“Does it matter? I’m paying you for the time.”

“Then I need your assets and finances. Without that, you’re making it hard to know what it is we’re going after unless you want to split it all fifty-fifty down the middle.”

“I’m paying for you to do better than that.”

Fuck this.

“Are we good here?” I ask, done with the conversation and whatever game it is she’s playing me with that I can’t quite put my finger on. I’m not going to force her to talk, and I sure as hell am not going to sit by and take her shit when she won’t.

“Yes.”