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There’s a small part of me that thinks he’s serious, but of course, he’s not. “I’ll pretend you didn’t just say that,” he says.
“That’s okay,” Savage assures me. “Cat heard me.”
“Stop, Savage,” Cat pleads, her voice soft but crisp. “Please.”
“How much?” I ask again.
“One million,” Royce replies and the room fills with a combination of gasps and curses.
Chapter fifty-seven
Cat
One million dollars.
In the midst of the curses and gasp, Lauren enters the room. “What just happened?” she asks, a cup of steaming coffee in her hand.
“We all just got group fucked,” Savage replies dryly, and I’d laugh if the truth wasn’t more like Reese and I just got fucked because some woman from his past says he fucked her in the present. I fight the urge to rush out of the room. It’s an emotional response my hormones want to create in me. I need to be a grown adult and ask questions. I need to stand by my husband’s side and make decisions. He didn’t do this. I am not punishing him with my pregnancy-induced emotions.
Reese’s hand settles low on my back. “We’re not paying her a million dollars,” he says. “Talk to us about options.”
“You get her on tape extorting you for money and we take that to the police.”
“I get her on tape?” Reese asks. “I don’t want to go anywhere near that woman. She’s liable to scream rape.”
“I’ll do it,” I say. “I’ll meet her in public.”
“No,” Lauren says. “You’re too close to this. It will hurt you. She’ll hurt you.” She looks at Reese. “And no, I do not believe you’re guilty and neither does Cat, but it will hurt her to sit with that woman. And if this woman is a stalker, her obsession with you will make her lash out at Cat.”
“I can handle it,” I say, turning to face Reese. “I can do this. I’ll make her go away.”
His hands come down on my shoulders. “Lauren is right. I’m not letting you do this.”
“I’ll do it,” Lori offers. “I’m a female, an attorney, and I have a vested interest in protecting the firm.”
Reese and Cole look at each other and I can’t tell what passes between them but I suspect Cole isn’t interested in putting his wife in danger, and I understand. I love Lori. I don’t want her in the line of fire. “No,” I say. “I don’t want you to wade into this quicksand.”
“We’re in this,” Cole says. “It’s not a matter of us staying out of the quicksand. We’re partners and friends.” Cole looks at Royce. “Where is your head on this?”
“I think I should do it,” Lauren suggests, before he answers. “Because I don’t have a vested interest and I’m married to a man who is surrounded by the kind of people that will put her in jail.” She steps in front of Royce now. “I can do this and you know I’m the best choice for all kinds of reasons.”
She means my pregnancy and while part of me wants to blurt that out to the room, the other wants this problem to go away so I can just enjoy this time in our lives with my husband and keep his birthday surprise.
Royce stares down at his wife and then looks at Reese. “She can do it. It makes sense.”
Lauren rotates to stand by his side. “Reese? Cat?”
Reese looks at me and I nod. “Yes. She’s a criminal attorney and it works. I think it works.”
“When?” Lauren asks, looking at Royce. “The sooner the better. I can do it anytime tomorrow. I have to be in court at random times on Wednesday and Thursday. I’m more limited on all those days and I think we all just want this over.”
“I’ll make a call,” Royce says, but he motions to Reese and Cole. “I need to talk to you both.”
“You talk right here,” Reese says. “There’s nothing you can’t say in front of Cat and Lori.”
“I need to see you both alone,” Royce repeats.
I turn to Reese and press my hand to his chest. “I need some air. I’m going to the patio. It’s okay.”
