Page 4 of Resist

“You left marks on her. That’s unacceptable. You didn’t pay for that right. In fact, in doing that, you’ve cost me more than a pretty penny because I can’t send her out on any more dates until she’s healed.”

“Not my fucking problem.”

“Oh, but that’s where you’re so very wrong.” I angle my head to the side and purse my lips as I draw out the pause. “Per our contract, you will pick up your phone and deposit an additional ten thousand dollars in my account to cover the loss of income I will be incurring because you couldn’t act like a gentleman and treat a lady kindly.”

“You’re out of your fucking mind.”

“Maybe I am, but I’m thinking the New York Times would love these photos . . .” I hold up my phone as spittle forms in the corner of his mouth when he opens it and then closes it again, at a loss for words. “And then once they post them, and the attention is front and center on you, we can follow them up with the coup de grâce . . . I’ll leave what that might be up to your imagination.”

“You bitch.”

“I believe we’ve already established that.” I quirk an eyebrow. “I hear your seat is being highly contested this midterm election with the supposed blue wave and all. I’d hate to see the favored senator have some problems that might cause him to lose those votes he so desperately needs.”

“Like playing with fire, do you?”

“Only when it’s someone else who’s going to get burned.” Our eyes hold, challenge, as silence filters through the room and we each consider our next move.

He lowers his face so that his mouth is near my ear and murmurs, “You’re a real ballbuster, and it’s such a goddamn turn-on.”

“At least a ballbuster doesn’t use their fists. Transfer the funds, Carter,” I demand, stilling when he reaches out and runs a hand down my arm.

I don’t react.

I can’t.

Showing him fear is not an option right now.

“I’m going to have you. You know that, right?” I snort at his words, and he emits a guttural groan full of suggestion, his erection bumping against my thigh. “It’s inevitable that I will. I love showing a woman who thinks she’s in power just who really is.”

He draws in a breath as I attempt to even mine out. “I’ll say it again: transfer the funds.”

“This is fucking extortion,” he says with an exaggerated sigh as he steps away from me, and I feel like I can breathe for the first time since I entered the room.

“Nah. It’s called protecting my investment.” I chuckle. “And preserving your candidacy hopes.”

There’s a split second where I fear I’ve pushed one too many buttons. It’s in the stiffening of his body. The clench of his fists. The glare in his eye when he turns around and meets my stare.

“All it takes is a push of a button to transfer the funds . . . or to send the pictures . . . and that vice president opportunity is down the drain.”

“Fucking cunt.” He sneers as he stalks full force toward me, anger emanating out of his every pore.

I don’t swerve. I don’t call chicken. Instead, I stand my ground as he gets within an inch of my face.

“I’ll give you what you want this time, Vee. Only once. After that, make no mistake that I’ll get what I want from you or one of your girls. No one says no to me or threatens me—no one—without serious consequences. The customer is always right, after all, and you stepped way over the fucking line.”

My throat is dry. My palms are sweaty. My voice hard to find.

But I find it.

“I know where the line is. It’s protecting my girls.” And myself.

Leave it to a man to make sex messy.

CHAPTER TWO

Vaughn

I push through the door to the adjoining hotel room, click the lock when I shut it, and head straight for the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.