Page 29 of Cocky Brutal Sinner

9

BRINLEY

Eden’s hazel eyes flit back and forth between James and I, like she’s watching a silent, motionless tennis match.

“You’re Maura’s husband, right?” she says after a moment. “I saw you in the pictures from Cat’s wedding.”

James gives her a curt nod, not bothering to introduce himself. Here’s his chance to lower the tension, and he’s not taking it. Not a good sign.

“Why don’t you head home, Eden?” I suggest. “I was about to close up, anyway. I’ll be right behind you.”

Any brightness in my voice sounds just as false as it is. Eden hesitates, reaching toward her handbag on the counter but not grabbing it. I shoot her an encouraging smile, a silent plea to pretend with me that everything’s fine.

“I guess I’ll see you later,” Eden says finally. “It was nice to meet you, James.”

I follow Eden to the door and switch the open sign to closed. Technically, we don’t close for another five minutes, but if this conversation is about what I think it is, I don’t want anyone around to listen. James settles at a table while I lock the doors and draw the blinds.

He sits up ramrod-straight in the chair. He knows how to use his posture as a weapon, intimidating his opponents with his height and rigidity. He examines me through cool blue eyes, and I square my own shoulders. I’m the one who named the Villain of Sequel in the first place. This is my shop, and I don’t have to cower to him.

“Can I get you a coffee or anything?” I ask finally.

James shakes his head. “Sit,” he says, gesturing to the seat across from him. Like he owns this place and I’m the patron.

My legs feel like they’re made of water as I stride across the room and slide into my seat. James folds his long-fingered hands together and stares at me for a moment.

“I know you’re Peppermint,” he says finally.

This is it. My nightmare has come true. If I could have picked the worst person to discover Peppermint’s identity, it would have been James. I know he’s brutal and merciless with two things—business and Maura. Peppermint threatened them both.

I summon every crumb of acting skills in my body and force a laugh. “I’m who?”

He ignores that. “I’ve known it was you for a few months.”

“I don’t know what you’re⁠—”

“Don’t deny it,” he says flatly. “I’ve had my best people looking into it since the articles you wrote about me during the engagement period with Maura, when the contract between Pages and Sequel was on the line.”

So that’s it. He’s right—there’s no use pretending. All I can do now is face the consequences. I inhale a shaky breath. “And?”

His brows raise a fraction of an inch. “And?”

“What do you plan to do about it?” I have a thousand more questions than that. Are you going to tell everyone? Are you going to try and get me arrested? How exactly do you plan to ruin my life, now? Knowing James, though, the less I say, the more likely he is to show mercy. I hold my breath, waiting for his answer.

It’s not what I expect.

“I know why you did it,” he says simply.

“You do?” I echo.

“Yes.”

I can’t help it. I snort out a laugh. “Sure you do. Because you know me so well. You know all the inner workings of my simple little mind. Why don’t you tell me all about why I wrote those articles?”

“You were punishing us for what we did to you. You were fighting back, the only way you knew how.”

“And you don’t think you deserved it?” I snap. My skin prickles from the blood boiling under the surface. “What you did was unforgivable and unprovoked. I was just a fucking kid. But did any of you assholes even bother to apologize? Did you face any consequences? Of course not! Because you’re the golden boys, the rich, handsome, lucky guys who get everything handed to you on a gold fucking platter.”

“So you gave us consequences,” he says coolly. “You made us suffer.”