“Yeah, you know what I’m saying.”
All the blood instantly rushes from my head. I squeeze the phone so tightly I hear a crack. “No. I don’t.”
He laughs which quickly turns into a rough cough. “She was so fucking nervous. I just dropped her a little something to get her to loosen up. Then she went to the bathroom and never came out, so I dipped. Went to a party. Never saw her again. Don’t worry, nothing happened.”
Fear turns to rage. I grip the phone tighter, my voice low but laced with fury.
“Rebel. What the hell did you drop in her drink?”
Sleep-deprived and running on fumes, I suddenly feel electrified, as if someone hooked me up to an IV of pure adrenaline. My vision blurs with red-hot rage. I could fly straight to whatever overpriced hotel room Rebel is holed up in and kill him if he hurt her.
“You know what I did,” Rebel snaps, his tone dripping with arrogance. “These women are loose and willing. I just gave her a little something to take the edge off before we were supposed to go to a party. I would have hired her, but she couldn’t hang.”
The breath punches from my lungs. The urge to destroy something—to destroyhim—is overwhelming.
Rhiannon had been nervous about meeting with him, and he’d drugged her to get her to calm down. Rhiannon met with him for ajob.Because she’s trying to take care of her family who depend on her, and he took advantage of her by trying to control her.
My name is etched on the door of this office, and that’s the only thing that’s keeping me tethered to reality. Because if Rebel werehere right now, I’d wipe the smug look off his face permanently and land myself in prison.
Instead, I bite out, “Don’t bother calling us your attorneys anymore.” My voice is ice. “I’ll let Dave know that he needs to find new representation.”
I slam my thumb on the hang-up button before he can spit out another excuse or try to justify his vile behavior.
He’s done. Finished. I’ll tell Rhiannon to file charges, and I’ll be the one representing her. We’ll get the footage from the restaurant, and his name will be smeared cross headlines. Our law firm works closely with a PR firm in the building, and I’ll call in a favor to have his career ruined.
Men like him don’t care about physical threats, but he’ll feel my wrath the only way that matters to him. By destroying his career.
The anger that’s bubbling inside me needs an outlet but first I need to call Rhiannon and be sure she’s okay.
I dial her number, but it goes straight to voicemail like she’s turned it off. My hand instinctively grabs the coffee mug that’s perched on my desk, and before I can stop myself, I hurl it against the far wall. The ceramic explodes into shards, scattering across the floor.
“Fuck!” I roar.
An award for being thewinningest entertainment lawyer under thirty years oldfrom five years ago shakes atop my desk, teetering on the edge almost toppling off and shattering to the floor.
I fucking wish it would.
What’s the point of all this anymore? The clients we’ve taken on aren’t usually this wicked, but damn if Rebel hasn’t just pushed my already frayed nerves and sheer exhaustion to new heights.
My outburst must have echoed outside my office because it only takes twenty seconds before I hear the door to my sister Rosie’s office beside mine open and close. Her footsteps are light but purposeful, and a soft knock follows before my door swings open. She slips inside and drops into the chair across from me, her brows knit together in concern.
“What happened?”
I exhale shakily, running a hand down my face. “Rhiannon Carpenter happened.”
“Who?” she asks, frowning. “Wait… the model from Rebel XOXO’s shoot last week and the woman that you booked a sex therapy session with?”
I nod, my head still in my hands. The weight of the past few weeks feels unbearable. I should have stopped her from meeting with him. I should have gone with her. I should have told my dad to handle the case in Los Angeles himself or sent one of the junior lawyers. I should have done absolutelyanythingdifferent from what I did.
I know it’s irrational to blame myself for Rebel’s actions, but I am.
What’s happening right now? Is this what… love feels like? An urge to protect her at all costs. To take care of her. To give her everything that I have. Money, prestige, and power no longer matter to me. All I want is her and I still don’t know if she wants me back.
I want to date her crazy ass. I want to make love to her.I want to marry hersomeday. Kids, a house in Brookhaven, her family becoming mine, dinners with Leo, Chris and Rosie. I want it fuckingallwith her.
“She met up with Rebel to discuss his new clothing brand,” I manage, my voice hoarse. “Guess he had something else in mind. He drugged her when she wasn’t paying attention.”
Rosie’s gasp fills the room. “No. No way.”
