Page 241 of Toxic Kiss

He glares at me while I pull out the first eight-by-ten glossy photo and toss it onto the desk. His face pales instantly.

There it is. That sweet moment when Charles realizes he’s already lost.

“Charles, is everything alright?” The small voice comes from his computer.

“I’ll call you back,” he says and quickly slams his laptop shut. His terrified gaze lifts to mine. “Where did you get this?”

“Oh that? I have many.”

I pull out an inch-thick stack of photos featuring Charles with a woman in various positions and a dozen different locations. I slam the photos down, and Charles begins to sweat profusely.

“I may be mistaken, but isn’t that your boss’s wife?”

“Shh,” Charles hisses as he scrambles to cover the photos strewn across his desk.

His wide, terror-filled eyes look at the door.

“How did you get these?”

“That’s what you’re worried about?”

He pulls his tie loose.

“What do you want?”

His voice is low and shaky, and all his earlier bravado has vanished.

“You know what I want. Drop all charges, issue a formal, public apology, and never come near Haven or me again. I won’t just ruin you.” Leaning closer, I whisper. “Ruin is recoverable. I’ll take everything that makes you matter and leave you breathing just long enough to understand what you’ve lost. Do I make myself clear, Charles?”

“This is blackmail,” he whispers.

“I like to think of it as quid pro quo.”

“Yes, fine. Charges are dropped. I’ll make the apology today.”

“And?”

He swallows.

“And you’ll never see me again.”

“Good, I’m glad we were able to work this out without much ugliness. I had a feeling you’d see reason.”

This douche never deserved to even look at Haven, let alone touch her. I want to break every bone in his body. But landing in prison for murder and never seeing Haven again…then Charles wins and I can’t have that.

“Enjoy what’s left of your pathetic life, Charles,” I say and turn to leave.

“Wait.”

I look back.

“Are there more copies?”

I smile. “Of course there are. Insurance against any attempts to come after me.”

“No. I need them all.”

“You mistake me for a man asking a favor, Charles. I’m the consequence of your actions. I warned you not to come after me and you didn’t listen.”