Triple Threat (Deception Duet 1)

Not to mention, it gets me closer to him.

Winston motherfucking Constantine.

With each limped step I take, fury builds higher and higher like a fiery tsunami of lava born from the depths of hell. I want to make that man pay for what he’s done to my family.

But I can’t.

I’ve looked at it from every angle. He’s too powerful. Too fucking rich. We’ve had our pissing match and he proved he’s got the bigger literal dick. So, since I can’t cut the head off the king cobra, I’ll just hit where I can.

In this case, Ty Constantine.

Bryant says Winston wants to buy Croft Gaming and Entertainment, or at the very least, partner up. This means giving Alexander Croft something of considerable value in return—the Constantine name by way of marrying off his cousin to Alexander’s daughter. Ty, just a nobody in that family, is expendable to Winston.

Ty, to me, is important.

He’s a blade, though seemingly insignificant, I can use to poke at Winston.

“Hey,” I call out to Ty as he enters the parking garage elevator. “Can you hold the elevator?”

He sees me approaching, limp and all, and shoves an arm out to keep the doors from closing. I grit my teeth together, forcing a frown into a smile. Ty has the Constantine signature looks—golden hair, sharp blue eyes, powerful aura. It’s hard not to keep from punching him in the face.

I’m playing a long game here, though.

A fist to the face is something I would have done a year ago, but not now. I’m smarter than that teenager who got bested by Winston fucking Constantine. I’m a goddamn snake now too.

“Thanks, man,” I say as I step into the elevator.

He flashes me a megawatt smile, much friendlier than any Constantine I’ve ever known. Poor sap. We’re going to fuck with his life and he has no idea.

“You work here?” he asks, nodding his head up as he mashes the top floor button.

I hit the button to the floor below his. “Yeah. Started this week.”

“No shit? Me too.”

“Working for the big man?”

His cheeks turn pink like he’s embarrassed to admit that. Arrogance is a Constantine trait, so this is new.

“I’m a glorified intern.” He stuffs his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Probably not as cool as whatever you do.”

I scoff. “I’d rather be some rich dude’s coffee bitch up at the top than pushing a pencil in my cubical from eight to five.”

“It’s kind of awkward shadowing Mr. Croft—”

“Mr. Croft? As in the CEO?” I let loose a low whistle. “Lucky bastard.”

He shakes his head. “Nah, man. Not so lucky. He’s just…he makes me nervous. Last night, he invited me to his house for dinner—”

“You fucked the CEO?”

His face turns from slightly embarrassed pink to mortified crimson. “W-What? Hell no. Dude, I’m straight. He introduced me to his daughter.”

The elevator dings and then the doors open to my floor. I step in front of the doors to keep them from closing. “Was she hot?”

He smirks. “Hot. Shy but seriously hot. But the dinner itself with Mr. Croft was tense.” A sigh rushes past his lips. “I’ve honestly been eager to hang out with someone who isn’t family. I didn’t grow up here or go to college here. I don’t know anyone. It’s boring as shit when you don’t know anyone but your damn cousins.”

This guy just makes it too easy.

“I could give you my number,” I offer with a grin. “We could go bar hopping or some shit. You could tell me all about this tense dinner and the hottie. Hell, maybe we could invite her to come along without her daddy.”

His blue eyes sparkle and he nods emphatically. “Yeah. I’d like that.” He thrusts his phone at me. “Plug it in. Sorry, I didn’t catch your name…”

“Ford. Ford Mann.” I type in my name and number before handing it back to him.

“Ty Constantine.”

“I best get back to the boring-ass cubical. Go have fun with Daddy CEO.”

His face doesn’t redden this time now that he knows I’m just giving him shit. “I’ll text you later. Nice meeting you.”

“Likewise.” I tip my head at him before moving out of the way. The doors close and then he’s off to the next floor.

After waiting a good five minutes, I hit the button to go back down to the parking garage. Bryant got me this in with the company so I could get closer to Alexander and Ty. Since Alexander is on the top floor and hidden away from people who work in cubicles, my only attainable person is Ty. I managed to get an in with him inside of five minutes, so I’d say my work for the day is done here.

When I reach my car, I pull out my phone to see I’ve missed an actual picture of Sully flipping me off and then a video of Sparrow in his car singing “fuck you” to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Idiots.