Page 108 of Gilt

Jameson takes out his wallet and tosses a few hundred dollar bills at his feet. “That ought to cover it.”

Turning toward me, he gestures toward the house. “Come inside.”

I put my hands on my hips and shake my head. “I’m not taking your orders.”

“Can we do this somewhere else?” Jameson suggests.

“No,” I refuse, “because Levi has something to tell you.”

“I do?” Levi adds in confusion.

Before he can work out that I’m forcing my hand to get him to confess, Jameson shoves him against the column. “Did you touch her? Did you lay a fucking hand on her?”

Levi shoves him away. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“There’s a difference between stage fighting and real fighting,” Jameson warns him.

My stomach clenches in anticipation at his words. Maybe it’s a little primeval of me to get off on watching two beautiful men make each other bleed, but if it’s wrong, I don’t want to be right.

“Tell him why you’re here, Levi.” I call out to them, hoping they can hear it past the roar of adrenaline that’s taken over their reasoning.

“What’s going on out here?” Monroe steps onto the patio, her eyes flashing from her brother to Levi. “You didn’t start a fistfight, did you?”

“I didn’t,” Jameson says with emphasis.

I can’t keep it in any longer.

“Levi came here because he’s going to play you in the biopic that Hans Von Essen is directing.” The truth explodes from me. Not telling them would be as bad as lying. Something Levi might feel comfortable with, but I can’t anymore.

“Is this true?” Jameson asks in a hollow voice.

Levi hesitates, which is answer enough.

“Get the fuck out,” Jameson orders him. “And stay away. Don’t call. Don’t come by. Our lawyers will handle this.”

“Lawyers?” Levi repeats. “I don’t have a lawyer.”

“Then I suggest you get one.” Jameson turns his back towards his former friend.

“You can’t sue me because I’m taking a role.”

“Maybe not, but I can find something to sue you for, and I will.”

Levi balks at Jameson’s threat. “You wouldn’t actually do that.”

“A day ago, I might have said, ‘You wouldn’t actually take a role where you say I murdered my father.’ I guess we’re both full of surprises. Do you know how easy it would be for me to pull the plug on you playing this role?”

“I’d like to see you try,” Levi sneers. It’s the most unattractive he’s ever looked, and for the first time, I notice that his teeth are slightly crooked. One ear is larger than the other, and there are slight acne scars on his face. I guess a good smile can really disguise an asshole.

“Monroe, back me up.” Levi addresses her and turns on the charm, but she simply raises an eyebrow.

“You heard what he said. Get out.”

“I thought we were friends.”

“We were,” she informs him. “But this is about family.”

“Your family’s fucked up. You both know it. You both know how much your father hid. How he treated your mom. You told me so yourself.”