Fraud

“Where are we going?” she laughs, the sound husky and breathless.

“Where do you think?”

I slap her butt and grin. “Get that fine ass upstairs, and stop asking stupid questions.”

Watching her body move as she runs up ahead of me, I catch her by the waist when she attempts to turn in the direction of my bedroom.

Ivy squeals when I pick her up to carry her in the direction of the guest bedrooms, my hand slamming against the door of the smaller room to shove it open.

As soon as I step in, I lower her feet to the ground and spin her to face me, my hand catching her jaw and forcing her mouth open as I lean down to kiss her again.

Her knees weaken, and I wrap my arm around her body to hold her up, my steps slow and steady, directing her against a wall.

Everything inside me is screaming for me to lift the skirt of her dress and take her right now, but that’s not how this game is being played.

Gripping both her wrists, I lift them above her head, pi

She pulls away from the kiss, her breath beating hot against my lips.

“Is this the payment?”

I smile, wondering how she doesn’t see that it’s Fraud staring down at her.

The instant metal clicks, one cuff and then two, Ivy’s eyes round, her head tilting up to see I’ve trapped her in place.

My mouth presses to her ear. “This is the begi

Laughing as I step away, I wait for her to realize what I’m doing. It doesn’t take long, her arms shaking the thin chains, her eyes rounding more.

“What are you doing?”

“Playing the game,” I answer smoothly. My head tilts just slightly. “Or did you think I was done?”

Anger rushes in to replace the sensual heat in her eyes. “You’re joking.”

“We’ll see,” I answer as I spin on my heel to leave the room.

“Where are you going?” she demands.

“To make a phone call, love. Hang tight, and I’ll be back eventually.”

“What the hell? You can’t leave me like this.”

The chains slap against the wall to emphasize her words. I had them installed during the two days I waited to go fetch her from the cabin. It amuses me she thought the game I’d set up began and ended with ru

Stepping through the door, I turn and stare back at her in the room. Her cheeks are pink with anger, her body stretched taut.

With her arms above her head, the hem of her skirt sits just beneath her pussy. My eyes graze down her exposed thighs, my cock twitching with the need to push her skirt higher to explore.

But that’s for later.

“It looks like I am leaving you like that. But don’t worry. I’ll be back. Plus, this is just another challenge. According to you, that makes you bold. I’m only doing you a favor.”

Flashing her a smile and a wink, I slip my hands in my pockets and walk down the hall, chuckling as her voice tears through the house.

“Damn it, Gabriel. You son of a bitch! I’ll pay you back for this.”

“It’s going to be kind of hard when you’re shackled,” I call out in answer.

She growls just as I turn to run downstairs, confident that a woman who is not to be trusted is contained for now. But she’ll be all sorts of pissed when I get back to her.

I’m looking forward to it.

Hanging a right as soon as my feet hit the first floor, I cross the foyer into my home office, shut the door behind me to ensure Ivy’s screamed threats don’t disturb me and drop my weight into my chair to lift my feet to the desk.

Facing the monitor on the wall, I clench my teeth and take a steadying breath before dialing a number that will bring Warbucks up on screen. The video feed comes to life when he answers.

My mood sours as soon as I see his face. As usual, his complexion is ruddy, his chin sagging from years living in excess.

Warbucks is missing the jacket and tie he was wearing at my office, his shirt undone at the top. Behind him a gas fire rolls over fake logs, the gentle ambiance bullshit.

“It’s about time, Gabriel. I was begi

He pulls a cigar from a small humidor on the table beside him, clips the tip and lights up, smoke rolling over the screen that obscures his face.

My mask is firmly in place as I lean back in my chair and grin at him.

“It’s like I said: I’ve been busy.”

“So I’ve read,” he barks, barely able to hide the anger of not being kept in the loop. “Tell me what you’re doing about getting me the information I need.”

Thankfully, Ivy was right when she believed she’d set me up for this conversation. I use it to my advantage.

“Ivy is in love,” I answer, my fingers tapping against the armrest of my chair, “and while she’s busy pla

He cocks a brow at that, and I groan to realize I inherited the expression from him.

But the lies I developed all by myself.

“I’m not surprised. You were always intended to marry her. At least until her father stepped into politics and decided to hide the fact he’s just as dirty as us.”

Ripping my feet down from the desk, I sit straight, my chair creaking with the sudden movement.

“What does that mean?”

Warbucks takes a few puffs of his cigar before tapping the end to dump the few ashes into a crystal dish beside him.

“Just what I said,” he answers, his voice gritty.

Again I silently pray for that sound to indicate throat cancer, but I think this bastard would somehow survive even that.

His green eyes meet mine.

“Thomas Callahan and I made the arrangement the same day you shoved that dumb bitch to the ground when you were kids. Not that it matters now. He called it off to appear polished despite being dirty.”

I was supposed to marry Ivy? The thought doesn’t make sense. Warbucks is the most powerful man in town. He didn’t need to tie his son to another family like Emily’s parents did.

All I want to do is press further about the issue, but think better of it. Relaxing against my seat, I stare at him instead.

“Yeah, well, I’m thankful he did it. Ivy isn’t exactly the brightest bulb in the pack.”

“No woman is,” Warbucks grumbles.

Except, Ivy actually is one of the smartest people I’ve known. She easily matches Ta

Even if she is still caught in the trap I’d set around her years ago.

“What information do you want? I have access to her father’s files and can obtain whatever you need. I’m not sure how much longer that access will last if her father hates us as much as you claim he does.”

Another puff of smoke blows over his lips.

“Forget what I asked for at the begi

It takes effort to restrain my smile. These fat fucks have no idea.

Fraud is on full display, when I cross an ankle over a knee and steeple my fingers at my chin.

“Of course. I warned him against what he did. As usual, he didn’t listen.”

Warbucks flicks another ash.

“Get me everything you can find on Jerry Thornton. He recently disappeared from view, and we have a suspicion why.”

They’re still after the servers, I realize, which means we’re right to want them as well.

Curious, I lie like I have no idea and ask, “Who is Jerry Thornton? What relationship does he have with Governor Callahan?”