Chapter 25

"So, you are the cunt who has been keeping my lovely brother occupied, huh?"

"Say what now?"

"See, I have an overachieving brother who thinks he is better than me and does not miss the opportunity to portray me as the bad guy in any situation."

"I doubt you need help with that. You are doing well displaying yourself as the bad guy all on your own."

He popped a gum that I had not noticed he had in his mouth to cut me off, and I gritted my teeth to stay calm.

"I have been looking for any weakness of his that would give me an edge, but to no avail. That is because my brother insists on looking perfect."

He air-quoted it and bit his lip as he looked directly at me.

"I am sure you understand… how perfect he seems all the time, and… effortlessly makes you feel like absolute shit!"

I flinched from his tone, and he broke into a peal of wicked laughter.

"I do not know what any of this has to do with me."

He raised his hand to shut me up in the coldest way possible, and I could hear him grinding his teeth.

"I have been looking for ammunition to use against him. Imagine my luck when I heard my goody two shoes of a brother abandoned stakeholders meeting for a personal visit. He faulted a meeting to visit a woman. I thought her pussy must be that good to have Samuel vanish from work because he never does that. I put on my investigation cap and found you. I am good at that; you know? I still cannot believe you fell for the old FBI bit. Hahaha."

"Congratulations, but I do not think your brother will appreciate your presence here, and neither will the police or the FBI take your impersonation and forcing your way into my home lightly."

I took my phone out of my jean pocket and placed my finger on the emergency dial.

"Hahaha. Do you want to call the police? Go ahead. But, I do not think you want to do that. Your eyes tell me you are hiding something sinister you do not want anyone to find out. I am great at unearthing secrets, so if you do not want me to make finding whatever your little secret is my number one priority, then lower that phone this instant."

He maintained my gaze until I lowered the phone, and his cheeks cracked into a wide smile. "Good girl. I see why he likes you. You are not just dangerously pretty, but obedient too. Anyway, I am happy because I know I have finally found an ally. Guess who it is?" He waited for my answer, but I folded my hands across my chest and waited too. "Well, it is you. I find pillow talk to be very resourceful, you know? Name your price. How much for whatever you have on him?"

"You, disrespectful son of a bitch. Get the hell out of my house."

He crossed his legs and leaned back in the chair. He was silently telling me that my bark was like that of a puppy.

Father Lord, help me keep my temper in check.

"Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock. Come on, woman. I have not got all day. How about you answer me when I am still being nice?"

"How about you get your dusty ass out of my Grandfather's chair and get the fuck out of my house?"

He appeared like he was the one tolerating me, and that caused me to flame up. "I said get out!" I shouted at him, and my baby's cry rang aloud.

"Is that a baby crying?" He asked, and I froze.

Oh no.

"Is that a baby crying? From inside your house?"

"No, it is the television. A sound from the television."