Page 42 of Legacy of Deception

Nonplussed, EJ waved a hand in the air, dismissing him. “I have other business to tend to at the moment, so get the fuck out.”

With my hands free, I turned around, watching Stone narrow his eyes and point the cigar at EJ’s mug as he slowly walked backward to the door. “You’re a bastard, EJ.”

Shaking his head, EJ waited until the door closed to open the floor to me. “Make it quick. I have a meeting with your father-in-law soon, but you already know that.” He leaned against the pool table.

“I want to make sure the plan was clear over the phone.” Finding a red leather barstool, I sat. I’d stood enough and, lately, was losing the stamina to do it for longer.

He crossed his arms, his brown leather jacket wrinkling in parts. “If I say no?” he pushed, always trying to keep the top position. In this case, it wasn’t possible, though.

I heaved a sigh. “Don’t make me be the evil one.”

A cocky grin spread across his lips. “You’re doing that all by yourself.”

Arching a brow, I searched his eyes. I wasn’t sure what he wasn’t understanding, but he didn’t have a say in the matter. “I will rain a storm down on you that you don’t know what to do with.” I knew I had leverage with that thumb drive, but how much? EJ wasn’t completely trustworthy. In fact, I wouldn’t have put it past him to try to slither his way out of this one like the poisonous snake he was.

“Are we done here?” He leaned back, and his hand came down on a ball sitting on the table. He swiveled his upper body and shot it in the nearby pocket with his finger. Even a slight nuisance like that he felt the need to discard.

“Not by a long shot.” I got up and pursed my lips, closing the gap between us slightly as I tried to make my position clear.

Averting my gaze, he exhaled. “What more could you possibly want?” He sounded just as he looked—bored.

The truth was, I had a feeling, unless I was a cigar or prostitute like his moronic buddy had assumed, he wouldn’t have been enthralled. “Your word that his money isn’t good here. That you don’t need him to invest, after all.” It was one thing to force him into agreeing over the phone, and an entirely different thing to do it in person. I knew it would give me more peace of mind. However much I could have when dealing with someone who played dirty on a daily basis.

“Whatever you say.”

I clapped my hands together like I was brushing them off. What I was doing was washing my hands of this actually. “Then I suppose there’s nothing left.” I nodded, pleased with the way this went for the most part.

He turned his attention forward, his dark, soulless eyes meeting mine. “Well, let’s not make a habit of this. If I never see your face again, it’ll be too soon.”

I rolled my eyes. “The feeling is mutual,” I responded, turning on my heel and making moves to leave. I had said everything I needed to say, so I saw no reason to stay any longer.

“Although—”

I stopped dead in my tracks.

“—I did have one more thing to tell you.”

I could hear the confidence in his tone, the zippers on his jacket as he got closer.

Swallowing, I slowly turned around to him, my expression stoic. “What?”

A sly grin played at the corner of his mouth. “Congratulations on the bun in the oven.” His eyes never moved from mine, though. Never shifted lower.

“Thanks,” I said cautiously, daring him to blink, which he hadn’t done in an alarmingly lengthy period of time.

He tsked, and a shiver ran down my spine, tingles forming at my fingertips. “It’s odd how news of your relationship with Marco only came out recently. I brushed up on a few things before this little impromptu visit from you. It turns out the two of you have been mighty good at dodging the press.”

I understood what he was getting at, but I wasn’t going to let him frighten me. He had no assurance as to what he was talking about. Without confirmation, he really had nothing. If he thought he was getting any from me, he was acting imprudently. I wasn’t giving him shit. “What can I say? We got lucky.”

“I doubt that.”

His icy voice landed in my chest, and I feared hypothermia if I continued listening to him and his threats that held no weight. “Yes, well, that’s a personal problem. After this, we’re done, EJ. You have my word.” I didn’t need to give him any more of a reason to poke around in my business and cause trouble for me.

“I can assure you the same. We’re done.” He gave me his back as he left me standing there, probably assuming I would show myself out.

Which I did. Happily. There was no other way to feel. I was getting exactly what I had asked for, and soon, Santo would be getting exactly what he deserved.

Chapter 18