Reveal (Wicked Ways #2)(34)

“Leave it be, Ryker.”

She knows me better than that. “You either tell me what he said, or I go find him right now and ask him myself.”

Her eyes flash up to meet mine, and she knows I’m dead serious. She knows I follow through with my threats.

“He told me if anyone found out about our conversation, he’ll make good on the threat.”

“Sounds like something the bastard would say.”

“Don’t give him another reason to come after me,” she pleads. “You can’t confront him. If you did, it would only serve to make him want this more. Knowing he’s screwing me over and sticking it to you, the lawyer representing his wife, will only up the ante for him.”

She’s right, and I hate admitting it.

But there’s more to their exchange. I know there is.

I study her and know there’s more. She already told me about the conversation, so she’s just trying to appease me. Just trying to distract me from whatever else it is that piece of shit threatened her with.

“I won’t confront him,” I say, the words like broken glass scraping against my throat. “But if I don’t, then you have to tell me what else he said to you.” The sudden widening of her eyes tells me my hunch is right. Besides the threat of losing Lucy, there’s something else there.

She shakes her head as if she’s not going to tell me, but words come out. “He knows about my uncle.”

If I thought she’d shocked me telling me about Carter showing up to her house, this sure as shit just pulled the rug out from under me. “What do you mean he knows about your uncle?”

He told me that night he had dirt on her. I thought he was bluffing—just a big ego trying to play the part. And this is how you failed her, Lockhart. You used her but never got your end of the bargain. You used her even when you knew about her past. Even when you knew how much it still torments her now.

“Did you tell him?”

Those four words—the mistrust laced through them—are like a twist of the dagger and knock my thoughts loose in a state of panic.

“Tell him what?”

“You’re the only one I’ve ever told about my uncle. About Sam. Did you tell him?” Her voice rises in pitch, distrust in each and every syllable.

“No. That’s none of his goddamn business. I wouldn’t betray your trust like that.”

She gives me a look that says I already have, and fuck if she isn’t right.

“You promised you wouldn’t confront him.”

Like hell I won’t.

“How am I supposed to stand by and let this happen to you?” I throw my hands up. “How as a man worth anything am I supposed to not defend you?”

“You’ve already done enough.” And it’s those words that quiet and fuel my rage simultaneously.

But not at her. Not at Carter.

Rather, at myself.

“I deserve that.”

Her nails score into my skin where she grips my forearms. “There’s nothing we can do. He’s a senator. He has—”

“I don’t fucking care if he’s the goddamn pope,” I shout, hating that my defiant Vaughn is suddenly lying down on this.

“I can’t compete with his power and influence.”

“What is it that you have on him, Vaughn? What is it he wants so badly that he’ll destroy you for?”

Because it has to be that, right? It has to be her blackmail material he’s after. Otherwise, his obsession over sleeping with her would be sick and so very different than his need to use it against her to get what he wants.

“It doesn’t matter what I have on him. He could recover from it—others in his shoes have. It was enough to keep him at bay with Lola, but now?” She sighs. “Now? The stakes have been upped, and he’d destroy me and everything I care about in the process.” She lowers her head and looks at her hands as she moves them off me to clasp them in front of her. Then she nods and begins to leave.

“Don’t walk away from me.”

She stops, her back to me, her head down. “I’m not walking away, Ryker. I’m just . . . I don’t know what I’m doing, but I have to think of me and Lucy first.”

I nod, knowing that I have to respect her request and hating it all at the same time.

If I hadn’t stepped in, he might have moved on. All this might not be happening.

“Don’t make this any harder than it already is, Ryker.”

“I’m going to kill him.” I’ve never spoken truer words.

“He’ll ruin me.” Resignation colors her tone.

“And I’ll ruin him.” I step up behind her and put my hand on the curve of her hip. Something, anything, to let her know I mean what I’m saying. It’s the first time she doesn’t pull away from me.

“It wouldn’t matter. The damage would already be done. I’d already lose everything that means anything to me.” She turns and looks back at me with those eyes I’ve lost myself in more times than I’ll ever admit just as another tear slips down her cheek. “Please, Ryker . . . I appreciate you wanting to wield your sword for me, but it’s not going to make this go away.”

“Then give him what he wants. Whatever you have on him,” I urge.