Page 41 of Lethal Salvation

Duchess hoped Bás was getting all this on his end. It wasn’t an admission of all the horrid shit he’d done but it was a start. He clearly wanted access to Macey’s because it would be perfect for cleaning the money and providing a legitimate cover for what they did.

“I always knew you were into drugs and guns but you’re in the flesh trade now?”

Duchess tensed but didn’t outwardly react. Gideon was pushing too hard, he needed to rein it back.

“How could you suggest such a thing? I prefer to think of it as a service for both the girls who need our help and the businessmen that want the company. It’s all consensual and legal, Gideon, so don’t get your knickers in a twist. You always were the strait-laced one. Everyone always thinks it’s Damon, but you’ve always had a stick up your ass. Which begs the question, why now?”

Gideon flexed his fist out of sight under the desk and she knew the subtle slight had pissed him off. “I’m in somewhat of a spot with cash flow and this would help me.”

“Hmm, I see. So now you want to dirty your hands?”

“No, just a slight bending of the rules.”

“Cautious as always, Gideon.”

“Nothing wrong with being careful, Carter.”

“I agree.”

Gideon cocked his head. “Is that why you had documents and fake footage of me going in and out of your underground casinos?”

Shit.

He was going off-script.

Carter looked toward her, and she kept her gaze on the back of Gideon’s head.

“It never hurts to have a little leverage in the bank, Gideon.”

“Even if it’s fake as fuck?”

Gideon was showing his anger and that wasn’t a bad thing, Carter would expect some kind of reaction, so she let this play out and trusted that Gideon knew his brother well enough to know how far to push.

“Real and fake are just perceptions, Gideon. Who can tell these days what’s real and what’s fake.”

His eyes moved to her, sliding over her from top to bottom, his insinuation clear.

The air was thick with tension now, an ugly poison swirling around the room, making it hard to breathe.

Gideon slapped the desk and leaned forward. “I want a percentage of the takings from the girls and you can handle the deal.”

Carter grinned like he’d just gotten away with the heist of the century, leaning back in his chair, leg crossed so his Italian loafer caught the light from the polished surface. “You’re already getting the advantage of a cheap deal, why would I give you anything more?”

Gideon leaned forward and rested his arms on the desk, his fingers linked as if he was relaxed but she could feel the tension in his spine as her hand rested on his shoulder. “Because you owe me for trying to have me killed last night.”

Carter’s brows winged up and genuine shock showed on his face for a moment before he shut it down. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Gideon stood pushing his chair back in anger. “Don’t fucking lie to me. This meeting is over. If you can’t agree, I’ll continue this deal on my own.”

“I’m not lying, Gideon. If I wanted you dead, my men wouldn’t be incompetent enough to miss.”

“Then who?”

“I have a thought, but I need to confirm before I can voice it aloud.”

“You have until the black-tie ball and then I want an answer.”

“And if I don’t tell you?”