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David watched Christian as he mulled over the information. He couldn’t help but wonder, considering what he’d just confirmed about Christian’s tastes, if the younger man had got some enjoyment out of the video. David wasn’t thrilled that someone else was in on the entire disaster, but he’d be lying if he said some part of him, a decidedly horny part, wanted to know what Christian thought of what he’d seen.

And what it would have looked like if Christian had been the one holding the camera that night.

Stirring, David shifted in his seat. “In any case. He contacted me the other day through that message and apparently had it set up to alert him when the email was opened. He then called me and let me know what he wanted.”

“How much?”

David shook his head. “Ethan has decided to play games. Rather than tell me what he wants, he’s making me decide how much my career is worth.”

“Wow, that’s...evil.”

“Yes, apparently, he likes to play with his food.”

“Have you considered going to the police? Blackmail is illegal.”

David sighed, draining the last of the whiskey before continuing. “I have, as I’m sure anyone being blackmailed would. The problem is it wouldn’t stop him from simply releasing the video onto the internet anyway. At that point, what would he have to lose?”

Christian fiddled with his glass. “I mean...would it be that bad? We’re well past the point of anyone caring about the whole being with other guys thing, right?”

David smiled ruefully. “If it were just a matter of being with another man, it wouldn’t be a problem. That it was with someone who was nineteen and allowed to be filmed…well.”

“There are people who get with people who are eighteen. What does it matter?”

“To you and me, nothing. But to Command? It wouldn’t look good if a high-ranking general had random flings with men half their age. It wouldn’t necessarily ruin my reputation, but it would certainly look bad. I imagine I would find myself quietly, slowly, but inevitably, brought down from my position and filed off somewhere else.”

Christian frowned. “You’re telling me just because you’re with another guy, a young guy, you’d be shoved into a corner to be forgotten about?”

“If it were a relationship, and not a casual relationship of a strictly sexual nature, one that allowed for filming, probably not. I would be spoken of, but considering this is behavior that would be considered unbecoming of a man of my station, I would find myself in a lot of trouble, albeit the hidden kind.”

Christian snorted. “How stupid.”

“That’s just how it goes.”

“So now you’re stuck either letting this happen and letting him get whatever money you can come up with or risk everything you’ve worked for?”

“That more or less sums up my problem, yes.”

Christian huffed. “Well, that explains why you’ve been in such a mood.”

David frowned. “A mood? Yes, I imagine I have been. This has been weighing on my mind quite heavily.”

“I like you better when you’re trying not to laugh at my smart-ass jokes.”

“And I prefer trying not to laugh at your jokes.”

“So, what are you going to do?”

Now, there was the question. David had been thinking long and hard about what amount of money would satisfy Ethan and guarantee an end to the entire thing. He still had another day and a half to give it some thought, but he could feel time ticking away rapidly.

David laughed humorlessly. “How much do you think would be a good amount to offer him? I don’t want to lose my entire savings over this, but I don’t want to risk insulting him either.”

Christian snorted. “It sounds like he could use a bit of insulting.”

“Yes, but I won’t be the one to do it.”

“No, I bet you wouldn’t.”

“So, now you know everything I know, what would you offer?”