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Shelby’s eyes flared and her mouth grew tight. She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “Is that so?”
Quinn’s eyes slid toward Alex.
“You’re currently unemployed and living with your mother in southeast Iowa,” Alex said with a hint of smugness. “You’re under investigation for embezzlement and fraud in three different counties. There’s a bench warrant out for your arrest for failure to appear for a drunk driving charge. And you’re married to two different people in two different states making one of those marriages unlawful. Does the poor bastard even know?”
Shelby curled her lip at Alex. “You gonna turn me in or something?” she asked, unimpressed.
“I was thinking about adding more to it,” Quinn said.
“What do you mean?” Shelby asked.
Quinn shrugged. “You’re not a productive member of society. You seem to take pleasure in hurting others and being irresponsible. So what’s a few more charges? How about some felonies?”
Alex nodded and started typing.
“Trespassing, vandalism,” Quinn continued. “What does someone get for felony extortion these days?”
“Up to thirty,” Dan said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Shelby’s confidence began to dissolve. “Extortion?” She puffed a laugh. “Yeah, okay.”
“Oh, I get it,” Quinn said, his voice glacial. “Because you’ve had mediocre success manipulating people in your life—people who care about you, no doubt—that’s given you a false sense of security. You think you can game your way out of anything.”
Quinn’s expression took on a wolfish quality.
“But you see, I don’t care about you. I think you’ll find it difficult to manipulate me. We have you on video threatening to release the photos if payment wasn’t provided. Further, a man was arrested later that night with intent to harm Ms. Lorna.”
Zara wished he’d stop with the Ms. Lorna. Also, Kramer didn’t find her place because of Shelby. She darted a glance to Cas who shook his head once.
“I didn’t mean?—”
“What did you mean?” Quinn asked, his voice a sharp crack that made Shelby flinch.
Shelby’s face flushed a deep maroon and her eyes glossed over. She looked down at her lap and back up, her gaze connecting with Zara’s.
“It was Asa’s idea,” Shelby said softly. “I told him I didn’t want to do it but he insisted.”
What was this fresh hell?
“He said that if I leaked the pictures, you’d be more willing to pay for the video. I was supposed to get half.”
Zara covered her mouth with a hand to keep from laughing. Not because it was funny, but because it was so absolutely tragic. Shelby sat there, unflinching eye contact, and lied.
Not a small lie either. But the kind meant to destroy. To ruin. All for what?
“I never learn,” Shelby continued, sounding appropriately contrite as she self-flagellated. “He’s always been like this. And I get caught up in it because he’s my brother and I care about him. I mean, you must know how he can be.”
Damn. She was so convincing. But Zara knew the truth. She knew Asa the way she knew her own mind. Not only would he never conceive of this kind of scheme, but he’d also never do anything to trick her or hurt her. Even his actions the day before had been an attempt to protect her.
For a moment, she was able to put herself in his shoes. See the maneuvering happening in front of her, recognize it for what it was, and know that she’d do anything to protect him as well.
Zara’s gaze slid to Cas. To Devan. To Dan. To Alex. To Quinn.
Quinn rolled his eyes and turned his body toward Zara. “What do you want me to do?” he asked.
Shelby fell silent, a hopeful breath paused in her lungs.
Zara stared at her. This familiar but unremarkable human who had brought so much chaos to the mind of the man she loved. Made him doubt his talent. Punished him when he dared to find happiness.
