Page 196

Story: Men of Fort Dale

“You read the message, right? You didn’t just watch us having a bit of fun.”

David glanced toward the office door. “How did you even know I saw the damn thing?”

“You know you can get a notification if someone reads your message, right?”

Right.

“Fine, you have my attention now what do you want?”

“Look, you’ve seen enough movies and shit, right? You know how this goes.”

David made an ugly face. “Money?”

It wasn’t like he was going to pretend to be surprised, but it just seemed so...predictable.

David pinched his brow. “How much?”

“You know what? I’ve been thinking about that for a while, and I’m having a hard time coming up with a good number. But you know, you’ve got to have some money. I mean, big-time general like you, you should have plenty of money.”

He didn’t make quite as much as Ethan apparently thought. True, he probably made enough to be the envy of a cocktail server at an upscale bar, but it didn’t make him rich. Considering he spent most of his time working, his budget was mostly spent on food and little else. His savings were considerable, but he’d never thought they might have to be put tothisuse.

David gritted his teeth. “How the hell am I supposed to come up with the correct amount?”

“You’re a smart man, David. I’m sure you can figure out how much is enough to keep this video from getting to the wrong eyes. I mean, hell, it’s the 2010s, right? Being with a guy isn’tthatbig a deal...maybe. But having a bit of fun with someone young enough to be your son? Shit, I bet the internet wouldlovethat,” Ethan said with far more relish than David would have preferred.

“I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

“Not really, no.”

“Fine, then just...why?”

“Why?”

“Yes. Why are you doing this?”

“You break my heart, I break your bank...or your reputation, that’s up to you.”

David jerked back from the phone in surprise. “What? I told you from the beginning there was an expiration date for whatever we had going on. I told you I was only in it to enjoy what we could enjoy, and then we’d move on. You had the choice to walk away, and you chose to keep going.”

“And I wanted more.”

The fact that he’d agreed to David’s terms obviously meant nothing. David could only stare at the phone in utter disbelief as the reality of the situation settled into his gut. Was he really being blackmailed by a man who should have been nothing more than a fond memory because he’d walked away after saying he would?

Hell, he’d stepped in it, hadn’t he?

David closed his eyes, knowing he had no choice but to ask, “How long do I have?”

“Tell you what, I’m feeling nice since you’re probably going to be so generous, ya know? So how about I give you the weekend. Monday at this time, and you tell me your offer.”

“And if you like it?”

“You give me the money, and I give you the USB stick it’s on.”

David blinked. “You...keep it on a memory drive?”

“I’m not giving you my computer. You’ll get the original copy on a drive when I get the money.”

“The money I have to figure out.”

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