Reveal (Wicked Ways #2)(3)

“Are you going to answer my question?” he asks with a lift of his chin to the party beyond. “What’s she doing here?”

“Who?”

It’s his turn to respond with a laugh that tells me I know exactly who he’s talking about. “The woman who needs to know her threats are empty against my influence.” He levels me with a look that only he can. Arrogant. Privileged. Entitled.

He wants Vaughn.

Fucking Vaughn.

“Vaughn.” He fights a smile as he studies me for a reaction.

A reaction I refuse to give him.

“Vaughn?”

“Power, Ryker.” He takes the cigar cutter off the counter, lops off the end before lighting it, and takes a long draw. His eyes close as he appears to relish the taste, and when he finally exhales, he meets my eyes. “It all comes back to that, now doesn’t it?”

“And like I said, power is subjective.” Where the fuck are you going with this, Carter?

“Are you her keeper? Are you the one pulling her strings?”

“I’m not following you. Wouldn’t it be easier if you just came out and asked what you wanted to ask?”

His smile is anything but sincere when he grants it. His eyes hard, his shoulders tense. “The woman has many things I want. Many.”

“And?”

“And she should be careful.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Come on, you son of a bitch. Tell me what it is you want here. Why the threat? “Why are you telling me any of this?”

“Because it seems she’s playing you just as much as she’s playing me. Have you wondered what dirt she has on you? Have you figured out how she plans to bring you down should you cross her?”

“I’m not worried about that.” I narrow my eyes and wonder what the fuck Vaughn has on him that has him so worried.

“You should be.”

I don’t say a word but rather run my own cigar under my nose and inhale its scent to buy time and to give him the impression I’m not worried in the least. For all he knows, Vaughn is here on the clock.

“Come on, Lockhart.” His chuckle scrapes over my nerves. “Don’t tell me I need to school you on how to manage your playthings.”

I look at him as the lighter flickers at the end of my cigar, and I suck in quick puffs to light it.

“I wasn’t aware I needed to manage them.”

“When they could ruin you with their dirt . . . you have no choice. You see, with sex comes a sort of power. With power comes fear. It’s so easy to make a woman bend to your will when you have both of those combined—power plus fear.”

“Mmm.” I don’t trust myself to say anything else.

“What I’m getting at is Vaughn needs to be fucked into submission.” He takes another long draw on the stogie but keeps his eyes on me, waiting for a reaction. And fuck yes, his words make my fists tense and my blood boil, but I know better than to give him what he wants.

“Every woman does, right?” His head startles, and surprise fills his eyes at my baited lie. “The question is, What would she be submitting to?”

Is this about me? About him exacting some sick revenge because I’m representing his wife? Or is this strictly about Vaughn? About what she has on him? Or is it something else entirely?

And of course the something else I fear he wants has me rising from my barstool so I can pour myself another glass. I’m definitely going to need some more alcohol to calm my temper down.

“She has things of mine she needs to give back.” His smile is strained, his eyes unforgiving.

“Like what?”

He shrugs. “Let’s hope she returns them, or else I’ll have to air all her dirty little secrets . . . and there are so many, Ryker, a judge would have a fucking field day. I’m thinking the ladies in lockup would love to sample her sweet pussy.” He nudges me. “It is sweet, isn’t it, Lockhart?”

“Carter.” It’s a warning. A caution that my restraint is being tested. A slip in showing him I care for her.

Fuck. Saying that is like throwing chum in the water to a shark.

“What’s wrong? You getting feelings for the hired help?” He shakes his head in disgust. “It’s wrong of you to let your guard down.” He steps in closer to me. “Use the sex. Get the fear. Gain the power. Understood?”

“Mmm.” Fuck if I’m walking into a trap willingly.

“So this is the part where you tell me if you’re with me or against me.”

His words make no sense to me. I’m representing his wife, and yet he’s talking to me about wanting to screw another woman.

“How’s that?”

“Well, she obviously has things we both want. It would be best if we worked together to get them.” He angles his head to the side and stares. “So are you just fucking her, or are you out to make an honest woman of her? One makes you a man; the other makes you a pussy.”

“Fuck off.” I laugh the words out as my head swims trying to figure out why his words make my stomach churn.

“So I can’t trust you, then?” His eyes narrow, his cigar smoke a hazy swirl in front of his face.

They say fight fire with fire. For some reason with the senator I doubt that will play in my favor. I’ll fight his fire with gasoline. Add some accelerant, light the match, and see just how big it will explode before it snuffs itself out.