Waterfall Kisses (The Kisses 9)
“Talk some sense into him?” I took an angry step forward. “Do you know what he did?”
“Do you?” Toby replied.
“I know enough. I know that he's a liar.” I paused. I needed him to contradict me. “I know that you helped him.”
“What?” Toby shook his head in surprise. “I didn't help him! He made that bet on his own.”
“But you told him to,” I pushed. “You told him to bet on that game.”
“I lost my shirt in that game. He won forty grand and made a billion dollar company. Me? I had to go ask my mom to help me with rent.” Toby was mad now. “There's no reason for Leo to have all this and for me to have nothing.”
“So you should have won? I don't think you even had the money to make a real bet,” I sneered.
Toby's eyes flashed. “Like he did? He took his friends' money. He's no different than me. If he had lost instead of me, you'd wouldn't look at him the way you do.”
“So you knew? You knew about the money and the bet?” I let out incredulous sigh. “And you didn't tell anyone either?”
“Oh, I knew.” Toby got right up into my face. “I figured it out long before you ever did. If you could just see how guilty he is. He pretends that he's helping people- giving them jobs and going to meetings- but it's just guilt. He's no better than me even if he acts like he is. Someday, everyone will know.”
“After you get yours?” I pressed. “You're pathetic.”
“Says the woman who hangs her boyfriend out to dry because of a fight,” Toby countered. “One fight and you have to go tattle to your brother?”
“My brother isn't a part of this. Why do you deserve to have what Leo does?” I asked, glaring at him. “He worked hard for it.”
“Because I deserve it more than he does!” Toby's round face was livid. “He thinks he's all high and mighty because he doesn't gamble anymore. But he's no better than me. He's a fraud. Once I get what I'm owed, everyone will know what he did to get here.”
“You just want money? You'd hold this secret over his head for money?” I hoped I wasn't too obvious, but I need him to say more. “You don't deserve anything!”
“I deserve everything! He fucking owes me!” Toby's voice rose to a yell. “I'll get what I'm owed or I really will tell everyone. I follow through on my threats.”
“You deserve everything you get, Toby,” I hissed. “You're scum.”
Toby laughed. “Like you could ever do anything about it.”
“She just did,” Leo said quietly. “It's over, Toby.”
Toby looked over at him in surprise as if he had forgotten that Leo was there. “What?”
Leo walked to the table and picked up my tablet. He touched a button and suddenly Toby's voice boomed into the room on the speakers. It sounded too high and feminine.
“Once I get what I'm owed, everyone will know what he did to get here.”
“You'd hold this secret over his head for money? You don't deserve anything!”
“I deserve everything! He fucking owes me! I'll get what I'm owed or I really will tell everyone. I follow through on my threats.”
Leo tapped the tablet and the room fell silent. Toby's eyes were about to bug out of his head.
“Really, Toby,” I said, shaking my head. “You should know we record everything in these rooms. That's how we take minutes. That's the point of having meetings in these rooms.”
“You set me up!” Toby blanched and then his round cheeks turned red. “You bitch!”
He lunged for me, but Leo stepped in front of him.
“Touch her and you're a dead man.” Leo's voice was low and dangerous. Fire flashed in his blue eyes and his shoulders somehow got bigger and more intimidating. Even with a broken arm and a beat-up face, Leo was determined to be my protector.
Toby stepped back, putting his hands up in the air. If looks could kill, I'd be ten feet under. He looked like he was going to lunge again as soon as Leo moved.