She laughs. “Why, if I hadn’t grabbed her arm, who knows what would have happened?”
Jax grabs her arm, shaking her. “Threatening children now, Alicia?”
“No threats,” Alicia says silkily. “It’s more of a promise, really. Quite simple. You keep your word, and Elise Michaels remains unharmed.”
Jax and Gray snarl in unison, and I look at Tristan. He’s watching Alicia carefully, his hands folded.
“I think you’re scared, Alicia,” he says quietly. Gray and Jax stop their snarling, and Alicia straightens. “Excuse me?”
“I think you know,” Tristan says in a low voice, “That this ruse isn’t going to hold forever. It’s going to unravel. And you’ll try anything, won’t you? So desperate to get what you want that you’ll threaten a child.”
“It’s no threat,” Alicia blusters. “I mean every word.”
“I’m sure,” Tristan says drily. “You think holding the safety of Elise Michaels over our heads will make us dance to your tune? Your father is already extorting us with what I strongly suspect is false evidence—,"
“It’s not false!” she shrieks. Her composure is rapidly unraveling, spots of bright red appearing on her cheeks. “My father has you tied up, Tristan!”
“Maybe,” he murmurs, surprisingly calmly. “But some knots unravel, Alicia.”
He stands up. “Get out of my office.”
Alicia’s mouth falls open. “But—,”
“Get out.”
Tristan’s bark is enough to take the air from my lungs. Alicia backs up rapidly, the color leaching from her face.
“Don’t worry,” Tristan says softly, the faintest hint of menace in his tone that makes Alicia swallow as she backs through the door. “The agreement remains in place. For now.”
As soon as she reaches the other side of the entrance, Jax slams the door in her face with enthusiasm, grinning at the outraged squawk the echoes through the wood.
“We’re going to pay for that, but I don’t give a fuck.” Rubbing his hands together, he looks around. “What is it?”
But I’m watching Tristan. Watching the familiar tilt of his lips, that self-assured smirk that’s been missing since this whole shitstorm started.
Catching my eye, he casually lifts his hand.
Gray chokes. “Is that what I think it is?”
Tristan grins. “It’s something that’ll help us win.”
The recording device clicks as he presses a button, the tinny sounds of Alicia’s voice filling the room.
“…Quite simple. You keep your word, and Elise Michaels remains unharmed.”
Another click, and the recording switches off. Tristan looks around at us.
“I’m going to Erikkson’s office tomorrow,” he says in a low voice. “I’ll see what else I can find. Then we take it all to my dad, but Logan is right. I’m done with this shit.”
Gray clears his throat. “Does that mean everything comes out?”
I turn to face him, my fists clenched. “I’m done with hiding,” I remind him, my jaw tight.
You promised me, Gray Cohen.
Gray’s throat bobs, but he gives me a nod.
“That’s it, then,” he says hoarsely. “It’s all coming out.”
