Tormented

“You’re not investigating me or my family?”

“My interest is preventing another woman from getting beat up. I swear.”

He stared hard at her, as if he were trying to see into her. “You’re very dedicated to this expose.”

“What do you mean?”

“Or is sex with a man you barely know pretty commonplace for you?”

She flushed. “I wasn’t planning on having any sex.”

“Then why did you?”

“Because...”

Because you came along. You and your—the things you do.

“Because you messed everything up,” she finished.

At that, he laughed.

“Seriously,” she said. “You’ve compromised me. I don’t know how much of a story I can get out of this now.”

“Would you like to be compromised some more?”

Yes, yes, yes!

She scolded herself for being a crazy sex friend. Glancing at Bataar, she saw a faint grin on his lips. Turning back to Ben, she said, “You one of those guys who thinks about sex every seven seconds?”

“When I’m with you, pet. The thing is, I don’t think you’re far off seven seconds yourself, babe.”

She turned redder. ’Cause he was right. Right now, if he commanded her to jump his b

ones, she just might do it. Bataar or no Bataar.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Jake took his slut to Weaverville,” Vince informed them as Ben and Kimani stepped inside the cabin. “Everyone else is out on the boat.”

“I’m going to get myself some water,” Kimani said. “You want some?”

Ben nodded, his attention half on Vince, a tall, bulky guy who seemed to serve as security for Jake but also ran errands, like picking up lunch.

“Jake should be back soon,” Vince said before leaving the two of them alone in the main room.

While Kimani filled two glasses with water in the kitchen, Ben went out on the deck to take a call from Uncle Gordon.

“Ben, what do you know about the PAC called Oakland Forward?” Uncle Gordon ask.

“It’s an independent expenditure chaired by Ezra Rosenstein,” Ben answered. “Why do you ask?”

“You didn’t see the article?”

“What article?”

“There’s an article today in the online edition of the Tribune. Nothing major, but I got a call from the FPPC about it.”

“What’s the FPPC?”