Page 106 of Ruthless Lord

“I think he’s a rat, but he’ll do what he’s told. I dangled the biggest, fattest piece of cheese imaginable, and he’ll go to any lengths to get it.”

“And what about you?” he murmurs, stooping to kiss my neck. “Did that little bit of revenge feel nice?”

I lean against him. Do I really hate Emily that much? She’s only doing what my dad told her to. It’s my fault for trusting her so easily. I should’ve known better, but I was vulnerable and afraid, and she was the only person showing me any kindness at the start of all this. I needed her. It was a mistake, but what the hell. It worked out in the end.

“Not really,” I admit with a shrug. “But fuck her anyway.”

Dad’s voicecomes through scratchy and slightly distant. “How’s that? Better?”

“Good enough,” Stefano murmurs into his microphone. We’re in a van parked about a mile from the Westbrook mansion. “Where are you?”

“In the bathroom near my father’s suite. God, I’m sweating. I never sweat like this. I can’t believe I’m nervous.” The sound of running water and Dad talking to himself.

“Just do what you need to do and get the recording.” I lean up against Stefano, feeling stifled and unhappy. My heart’s beating fast and nerves jangle in my guts. Dad must be even worse right now.

“It’s going to be okay,” Stefano says lightly, not talking into the microphone anymore. “You don’t have to be worried about him.”

“I’m not really. I don’t care if Grandfather has him killed. I just want the plan to work.”

“That’s my girl.” Stefano kisses my hair. “Just hang tight.”

We’re subjected to ten minutes of Dad cursing to himself, peeing, and grumbling in the mirror before he finally leaves the bathroom and heads down the hall to his meeting. The transmitted audio is surprisingly clear. I can hear Grandfather’s assistants talking quietly to Dad, and I can even tell who they are based on their voices. He sounds stressed, but still like himself, as he cracks jokes and blatantly flirts. Finally, he’s allowed into Grandfather’s inner sanctum.

“You know my schedule, Walter,” Grandfather says, sounding exasperated. That’s how he always talks to Dad, like it’s the most annoying possible event in his day. “What was so urgent you needed to speak with me?”

“I have some concerns.” There’s a rubbing sound, and I’m guessing Dad just sat down.

“And here I was, worrying about what you thought all morning.”

I can almost see the deep frown on Grandfather’s face right now.

“I know, Dad, but please listen. We’ve been tracking the Marino trucks for a while now?—”

“How many times have I told you? We don’t use that name. Not here, not anywhere.”

“Right, but?—”

“You’re too goddamn stupid for your own good. How you’re my son, I’ll never understand. I’m of a mind to get a DNA test.”

“I know, you’ve been saying that my whole life. It doesn’t change the fact that the Marino trucks are all over the place. The data’s been corrupted.”

“Then fix it.” Grandfather lets out a grunt of frustration. “I swear, I have to hold your hand through everything.”

“I need funds. I need people. Your support so far?—”

“Mysupporthas been everything. Without me, you’d have curled into a tiny little ball and cried yourself to sleep. Or more likely, you would’ve done something stupid and gotten yourself killed.”

“At least I put Charlie in this position, just like you asked.”

I start back. My eyes go wide. There’s a short silence as Grandfather laughs, and I turn to look at Stefano.

I can’t believe this. From the start, I thought it wasDadwho had blackmailed me.

But now I realize it was all another game, games within games. Dad was doing Grandfather’s work. He was maneuvering me from the beginning.

All for this. So Grandfather could use me like he uses everyone.

Stefano’s hand touches my leg and grips, comforting and firm. I blink back tears as Grandfather talks again.