Chapter 24
Cora
The dirtiest part of blackmail is one must stoop to their enemy’s level in order for it to be successful. Most consider it reprehensible to use blackmail to coerce another, even if they are evil spawns of Satan, like Zane Devin. Even if the reason you’re doing it is to keep yourself safe.
The problem with blackmail is that it’s not a foolproof form of insurance. I hold a few of Zane’s secrets, but he also knows that I’m withholding that information from Rune and using it as leverage.
I know what Zane did. And now he knows what I know.
And it’s possible so does Viper. Not that I know for certain. And I can’t just outright ask him.
What I know about my mother would ruin everything.
Including Delly.
Zane’s grated curse brings me back to my current problem. A late afternoon meeting with two of the men I hate, and one disgusting cheater. Unable to avoid this meeting today, I now sit around the long conference table in the boardroom with Rune, Zane, cheater Dave, and one temperamental Clyde.
I glance at him sitting in the large leather chair beside me and roll my eyes as Zane shouts out another curse, but he’s so focused on Zane, and the blonde assistant he’s yelling at, that he doesn’t notice.
Zane’s entire demeanor today screams of entitlement, lined with rage.
He’s the perfect picture of controlled violence, with sleek blonde hair and handsome features, all stuffed into a navy business suit and paisley tie.
Even the backdrop of sterile gray walls and the large windows overlooking downtown fit his persona.
Pretentious, privileged, and arrogantly cruel.
As I watch him sorting through papers with one hand and verbally abusing his assistant until she’s cowering at every snarl and aggressive word, I can’t feel bad about my lack of morals.
Zane has none.
“It’s not fucking here,” Zane snaps, his blue eyes burning through her. He smacks the stack of files with his uninjured hand, and she flinches.
“What’s not there?” she asks, her gaze moving around the table, landing briefly on Clyde, then Dave, then me.
She’s young, maybe even younger than me, with big blue eyes and a friendly face. I don’t know her name. Not that it matters. She won’t last long at the rate Zane is going.
“The. Fucking. Contract,” Zane grinds out through clenched teeth. “I gave you instructions to have the files here for today’s meeting.”
“There was no note,” she says, and when he snatches the file from her hands, she reels back like she’s worried he may hit her.
From the head of the table, Rune clears his throat, and Zane runs his palm over his hair, smoothing down invisible fly-aways, regaining his composure. “I told you to prepare me a copy when you sent the contracts.”
I raise my hand and clear my throat. “I forwarded the contract, remember?”
That gets Zane’s attention, and the assistant slinks out the door as he directs all that volatile irritation toward me. He’s such a prick. The delight swirling through me at his deadly glare should make me feel even more morally corrupt, but it doesn’t.
I give him a saccharine smile. “If you remember, you sent me a memo about wanting the document sent to”—I shuffle papers pretending to read them—“to Ben Snyder’s associates so they could review and sign.”
Zane props his only working hand on the edge of the boardroom table, fingers rubbing together like he’s imagining strangling me.
I gesture to him. “If I remember correctly, things sort of got out of hand.” I smile sweetly, eyeing the arm in the sling that secures his hand to his chest. “And then you had an unfortunate accident.”
“God, you’re a fucking bitch,” he snaps.
“Call her a name again, and you’ll be needing someone to hold your dick while you piss,” Clyde snarls.
I huff out a laugh, but it dies as Rune reaches for my hand. He lifts my hand and presses my knuckles to his lips before letting my hand go. My fingers burn, imaginary acid scalding my flesh, and every one of my nerve endings strains with the effort it takes not to look at Clyde’s reaction.
“Cora,” he says. “Did you send the documents as asked?”
“No, Papa, I couldn’t send the files on the day it was requested.” I clear my throat as I gesture to Zane. “I could not return to the office and—”
“Because you can’t work from home?” Zane snarls. He scoffs. “I swear to god, Rune, she is useless.”
“Enough,” Rune says, voice like ice. “You’re the one who invited trouble—”
“How was this my fault?” Zane yells, lifting his hand in the sling. “I didn’t do a damn thing.”
Rune stands upright, his palm slamming down on the table hard enough to rattle the pitcher of water and row of glasses.
Across the table, Dave leans back in his chair, pretending to look over a file, and next to me, Clyde shifts, but remains quiet. We all do. Rune and Zane rarely clash, but when they do, it’s like a nuclear bomb going off.
“You called things off,” Rune seethes. “First, we forced his hand, then you spat in his face.”
Zane laughs. “He took her, Rune. How is demanding he abide by the code forcing his hand?”
“It’s a fucking game to him.” Rune slaps the table again as if emphasizing his words. “Every single thing he does is a move on a chessboard. We forced him to return her, and then you canceled the wedding.”
Zane levels him with a cool gaze. “I don’t want a secondhand whore as a wife.”
Rune tenses, hands curling into fists. Beside me, Clyde’s anger builds like a storm., turning him tense. I place my hand on his arm, and he shifts, relaxing some.
“That works out well for both of us,” I say, picking up my pen and tapping it on the table. The sharp clink drags everyone’s attention my way. “I’d prefer not to marry a man with a tiny dick and only one good hand.”
Zane bolts up from his chair, but Rune casts him a glare that has him sitting back down.
“Contact Snyder,” Rune says to him. “Have another meeting. And let him know we’re interested in his offer.” Right as I’m about to ask what offer he means, he gestures to Dave. “You said his associates are in town?”
My stomach tumbles. Viper.
“One more,” Dave says, dropping the file on the table, looking bored despite the fact Zane is boiling in the seat next to him.
“They aren’t all here?” Clyde asks. “What’s the point of a meeting if we can’t speak to them all at once?”
Dave shakes his head. “The other one, Steele, is traveling. Spain, I think?” He shrugs, resting an elbow on the armrest and reclining back. “I don’t remember when he’s supposed to be back in the States.”
Striker’s face flashes in my mind. Does Reaper join them? I try to recall the names from the files when we bought the hotel chain, but I come up blank. There are only three partners in the group. Breaker said they, but never specified who.
“Contact them,” Rune says, dragging me from my thoughts. I look his way. He meets my eyes briefly before saying to Zane, “Did they mention if they brought the samples?”
He raises his cast. “I’ve been out of commission for the last week, so I have had no communication.”
“I can find out and set up a meeting,” Dave offers.
Rune nods, gathering his papers and then says to Clyde, “Continue to keep Cora at your side. Now that word is out the agreement is off, I’ll be making a new offer. So until it’s accepted, I don’t want him thinking he can use her as leverage again.”
New offer?
And because I can’t help myself, I say out loud, “What new offer?”
Rune ignores me and motions for everyone to leave the room. When I stand, he says, “No. Cora, you stay.”
Clyde tenses next to me, but shakes it off before anyone else notices. He taps the glossy table surface. “Don’t leave the building, Cora. I’m tired of chasing your ass around.”
I watch his back as he leaves, and the second the door closes behind him, Rune lets out a heavy sigh.
“Finally,” he says. “Now we can talk.”
Talk. My stomach clenches, shards of ice cutting through me. Rune fucked me once in this room, and I wouldn’t put it past him to attempt it now. Especially since he feels like he’s owed. But Clyde is right outside the door, so that can’t be why he wants me alone.
“I want you at the meeting.” He leans over, bracing his hands on the conference table, watching me. Like he’s waiting for my reaction.
“Do you mean the meeting with the Snyder Group?” I ask, keeping my expression blank.
“He’ll like you,” Rune says rather than answering my question. “And since I need what he has, you’ll do everything he wants.”
I need you fresh.
I think he’ll like you.
“You—” I let out a small laugh, leaning back in my seat. “You want me to join the meeting and do what, exactly?”
Rune’s blue eyes drift down my body and stop on the space between my thighs, hidden by my skirt. “Whatever he wants.”
My cheeks heat as a combination of fury and disbelief blast through me. I stand up, slapping my pen down on the table. “Say it.” I snap. “You’re asking me to go to the meeting with those men, and do what, Papa?”
Rune runs a hand down his blue tie, adjusting it.
“If he wants to fuck you over the railing of my club for everyone to see, you’ll pull up your skirt with a smile” He moves in close.
“If he, if they, want their dicks sucked while they settle the deal with Zane, you’ll fall to your knees, mouth open. ”
I take a step back, my face burning as hot as if he’d slapped me.
Just when I think he can’t get worse, he does.
“You fucked up my deal with Zane.” Rune drags a finger along my jaw. “You hold shares in my company. Do everything I say, or you’ll find yourself in the same position as your mother.”
The air leaves my lungs. My knees give, and I grip the back of the chair to stay upright.
Rune has done terrible things to me, but he’s never threatened my life.
He steps close, gripping my chin, and the scent of his cologne makes my stomach roil. When his lips brush mine, my heart nearly explodes. I jerk out of his grasp, slapping his hand away, fighting tears, hating that I’m forced once again to bend to his will.
“That’s my girl,” he whispers, then lets me go and walks out of the room. The door closes behind him with a quiet click.
I wrap my arms around my middle, bending at the waist, taking deep breaths. I don’t know why he keeps shocking me. Rune’s used me to sate his greed my entire life. I mean nothing to him.
“What did he say?” Clyde’s voice pulls me back from the brink. “He’s doing it, isn’t he?”
I stand upright, gathering files and stuffing them into my bag, glaring at him across the long table.
“So you knew Rune would use my pussy in a business deal?” I ask, shouldering my bag and stalking toward the door. “I’m not a fucking bartering tool, Clyde.”
“That’s exactly what you are, and you know it.” His words make me pause.
I stop, my hand on the knob, and point at Clyde. “You need to learn how to warn a girl before she’s sold to the highest bidder.”
“Could be worse,” Clyde says. “You could still be stuck with Zane.”
My “fuck you” gets muffled by the slam of the boardroom door.
The irony.
Rune’s whoring me out to the men I want to be with.