Ten Days of Perfect (November Blue #1)(54)

He stepped back, which threw me off balance emotionally, and my hand remained suspended in air for a split second before I let it fall haphazardly to my side. I turned around and looked at Adrian, who just nodded in Bo’s direction with a look of concession on his face. I slowly turned back around to see Bo seated with his elbows on his knees, his hands clenched around his hair.

“Ember,” he lifted his head and shot me an exhausted gaze, “I’m being blackmailed.”





Chapter Seventeen

“Blackmailed? By who? For what?” Thoughts flew out of my mouth before I could filter them.

Bo’s elbows remained on his knees as he searched my face. His eyes ran red with pain, and I had to look down. He swallowed hard and looked past my shoulder, to Adrian. I turned on my heels and met Adrian’s eyes.

“Wait, you?” I said to Adrian.

“No, Ember, I’m not,” Adrian said unflappably, as if he was prepared for my reaction. “I’m on his legal team - remember?”

“Are you being blackmailed or is DROP being blackmailed.” I had three trillion questions, but I stuck to the most basic as my head wrapped around the world ‘blackmail.’

Bo looked up at Adrian, who gave him a nod.

“It’s just me. The only connection this has to DROP, of course, is my money. Otherwise, this is one hundred percent personal.” A grim line set across his brow.

“How long has this been going on?” I asked.

“About six weeks,” Bo whispered, still seated.

“OK. So you,” I pointed to Bo, “knew you were being blackmailed when you came to town. And you,” I pointed to Adrian, “knew he was being blackmailed when you recommended our agency to him?” the basement of my voice flooded with anger.

Adrian took a step toward me, but I stepped back, stopping him.

“No. I’ve only been consulting with DROP’s legal team for a few weeks. I was consulted specifically for the purpose of finding a collaborating agency. It wasn’t until after the initial contacts with Hope were made that I was informed of the blackmail.” He gave me a minute to process, before continuing.

“Once it looked like the collaboration was going to go forward, and I could tell you two were developing . . . feelings for each other, it became a problem for me on an ethical level. I didn’t want to involve you with something like this. But, my hands were tied as far as what I could tell you.” Adrian shrugged and took a seat next to Bo.

“But Bo, you had no problem involving me?” No thought was sacred.

“Ember, you’re not involved, nor did I plan on you ever finding out. This is a personal attack by some *s. Adrian was convinced you’d find out anyway, especially when he couldn’t get you to stay away from me.” Bo’s mouth hooked into a seductive, wicked grin.

“Adrian, why do you feel it’s so important for me to know? You and I are in agreement that I’d probably find out anyway; wouldn’t that have boded better for you, in the end?”

“What are you talking about?” Adrian looked at me curiously.

“You could have told me right away, right? You’ve been cryptic all week, telling me to be careful around Bo and I still can’t tell if that has to do with me and Bo or just me. Was this for his protection, mine, or yours?” I spoke frankly and laid it all out for Adrian.

“Ember,” Adrian sighed, “I don’t understand why you think I’m such an *. It kills me to see you with someone else. I miss you, Blue, that’s all.”

Blue. A lacy black corset tightened itself neatly around my throat with a wide satin bow.

Adrian, and Adrian alone, had called me “Blue” when we were an “us.” His honesty held my heart captive and misted my eyes. Never, in the history of ever, had Adrian Turner been that vulnerable - let alone with an audience. He seemed to sense his slip; he bowed his head and jammed his hands into his pockets. The ocean quieted its white caps, and the stars hushed as the world awaited my response.

“Adrian, I’ve missed you too. I didn’t know I’d missed you until I saw you. I’m glad we reconnected, but you have to admit this is f*cked up - even for us. You should have told me about what was going on, or at the very least encouraged Bo to tell me sooner than this. I know you’re bound by laws and oaths, and all of that, but you know me and I respect confidences.”

Blue? I’m expected to speak after that, and you can’t even look at me?

“I guess you’re right . . .” he trailed off, meeting my stare with his espresso eyes.

Bo sat back during my exchange with Adrian. There were years of history pulsing rapidly between Adrian and me. Bo seemed to be chewing the scene against the inside of his cheek. I was still feeling off-balance when I realized some of my earlier questions had gone unanswered. I buried “Blue” in the sand for the moment.

“What’s the blackmail about, Bo?” I asked bluntly.

“The past. It doesn’t even really have to do with me. It’s nothing I’ve done or said or anything like that; I’m just the one with the money.” He shrugged, trying for passive, settling for anxious.

“Do you know who is blackmailing you?”

“Yes.” Black passion leaked from his voice and beckoned a chill through my core.