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David watched Philip pull out his phone and place it on the counter. Stepping forward, David picked up the device and felt the floor to his stomach fall out. Clear as day was a picture of him and Christian standing on the balcony overlooking the sea. Whoever had taken the photo had been standing below them and had obviously been using good equipment. The image was close and clear enough to make out exactly who they were and to see their lips pressed against one another as David tried to comfort the younger man.

“My, that is quite an interesting picture you have, Philip. I never knew you were into photography,” David said, feeling lightheaded.

“Oh, only certain pictures, and I’m terrible at taking them. But if you have the money, you can always pay someone else to take them for you,” Philip said, reaching to take the phone back.

David let the device go, knowing that breaking it wouldn’t matter. “Ah, I see. You hired someone to follow me and take pictures?”

Philip nodded, pocketing the device. “Yes, you see, I’ve known about your predilection for young men, and I thought that was an important detail to remember. What I didn’t count on was just how careful you would be. You never allowed yourself any public displays before this, nothing that could be used. I mean, I could have made a case from a few, but I needed something a little more substantial.”

David didn’t have to think too hard about who Philip was considering contacting. “For Command.”

Philip tapped the counter with a wink. “Right on the head.”

David’s stomach turned as he realized Philip was more than happy to present that picture to Command, given half a reason. And yet?—

“You haven’t gone to them,” David pointed out.

Philip sighed. “I honestly thought I was never going to get my chance. Everything I had wasn’t going to count for much. I mean, Command is a stickler for a good image, and while you talking or visiting younger men wouldn’t have been enough to offend the old guard in control right now, it would have hinted. I didn’t want a hint, though. I didn’t want a sliver of a chance.”

“Of what?” David asked between gritted teeth.

“Of you to get out of it. You’re a clever man, David, inspiring confidence and goodwill in others. The last thing I needed was for you to use all the good ol’ boy charm to wriggle your way out. I thought I had something before, and then it mysteriously slipped from my grasp. I’d almost given up hope, and then this hit my email this morning, and I couldn’t be more delighted.”

Christian appeared in the doorway, dressed, his jaw tight. “Ethan.”

Philip’s eyes brightened, turning on his stool to face Christian. “Ah, Christian, it’s good to see you.”

Christian scowled. “No point in bothering with the friendly act. You’re the one who put Ethan up to the blackmail.”

Philip blinked. “Blunt, I see why you and David get along so well. Though, blackmail? Ah, now I’m beginning to understand.”

And so was David. “You contacted Ethan. You wanted the video and pictures he had, didn’t you?”

“Well, I knew you’d been with him for a while. And despite not getting anything worthwhile on my end, I was...curious to see if he had anything I could use. He swore up and down he did. I promised him a great deal for it, and he seemed quite eager. That was until suddenly it was mysteriously gone,” Philip finished with a frown.

David chuckled mirthlessly. “You trusted the wrong person. He tried blackmailing me first. For money.”

Philip laughed softly. “I see, I see. The little shit tried to get money from both of us then. To see who he could get the larger amount from?”

“Or to get the money from me and hand it over to get money from you as well,” David growled.

“Tricky. I should give him a job. Except for the part where he failed,” Philip said with a haughty sniff.

David looked up at Christian, who was still standing behind Philip, glowering furiously at him. David had thought it strange that despite having had the evidence for a while, Ethan had sat on it until recently. Apparently, it had never occurred to the younger man how damning his evidence was until Philip contacted him. If it hadn’t been for Christian, David might have ended up screwed anyway.

Philip followed his gaze, turning to Christian. “Didyouhave something to do with that?”

Christian crossed his arms over his chest. “You didn’t come here to tell us you knew about us, just to have fun. If you wanted to remove David, you would have sent everything you had to Command and let them do the dirty work for you.”

“True,” Philip said, nodding.

“So, what do you want?” David asked.

Philip winked. “Easy. Step down.”

David reeled. “Excuse me?”

“All you need to do is resign. The trials of running this base have been too much for you over the years, and you crave something a little less demanding. I’m sure they will undoubtedly place you somewhere nice, and hey, with your kind words in my favor, they can put me in your position instead,” Philip said, steepling his fingers in front of him.