Page 21 (1/2)

“How?”

His s to negotiate”

“Youto threaten”

“Sweetheart,” he says “You know me so well”

He pulls out his phone

“What’s the hunch?” I ask before he can dial

“I’las isn’t the brains behind this—that man couldn’t find his dick without a wo the tape will destroy hiuy who screwed Nikki Stark’s best friend That’s worth so to a worm like him”

“You think someone approached him?”

“I do,” Damien says

“Who?”

He shakes his head “I have a few ideas, but no confir, my fear is that Damien thinks his father—a e—is behind this

“Will Douglas tell you who it is?” I ask

“To be honest, I believe Douglas when he says he doesn’t know”

“So souess Which et ato insist that he deliver mine That he tell his handler that if Valentine’s Day passes with no photos released to the le photo turns up where it doesn’t belong, I will not stop until I’vehell

“And then,” he adds, with the scary kind of smile that makes me remember why he does so damn well in the shark-infested waters of corporate America, “I’ll invite law enforcement to the party, just to add a little spice to the gests that we put it away and enjoy the rest of our last day After all, toh if it worked

“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Mr Stark What do you have in ht I’d teach you a bit about sailing”

As it turns out, I’ Darace His second ite, is much more my speed, and I follow him into the ater as soon as the boat is anchored The reef is tee with color and life, and I watch all of it, hted when Damien points out both a manta ray and a sea turtle

Back on the boat, I sit on the deck, a torapped around me as the sun sinks toward the horizon

Da us back to the island, and I feel completely at peace out here on the wide, blue sea Despite the dicey start to theis calm now We’ve both pushed it aside, I think Hopefully, there will be no pictures released to I’ so long as we are together