Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
He cuts me off with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Save your moral outrage, Angie. We both know this situation isn’t about rights.”
“Then what is it about?” I grind out, struggling to keep my temper in check.
Ralph’s eyes glint with a predatory anticipation. “Power,” he says, his voice low and menacing. “And control. And people getting what’s coming to them.”
A shiver of fear and revulsion runs down my spine, but I refuse to let him see it. “I won’t play your games, Ralph,” I say quietly.
He chuckles, looking thoroughly amused. “Angie, you’re already playing.”
The waitress returns then, setting down Ralph’s breakfast with a cheerful smile. It’s an abrupt return to reality that momentarily stuns me into silence.
“Enjoy your meal,” she tells Ralph before shooting me an empathetic look.
“Thanks,” Ralph replies, his attention already on the food in front of him.
“Well,” I say after a moment’s pause, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. “I hope you enjoy your breakfast.” With that, I push back my stool and stand.
“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice is casual, but there’s a hard edge to it.
I toss some bills onto the counter for his meal, ignoring his question.
“I’m not bluffing, Angie,” he says. “Don’t you want to hear what I want?”
I turn back at him. “I don’t know what information I could possibly have that would be of any use to you. What do you want to know about? My family’s history? It’s posted all over the tabloids. All over the internet. I’ve got nothing that would give you any leverage over the Steels.”
He scoffs. “Why the hell would I want information about the Steels?”
I blink. “Because we have money. Because we have power. Isn’t that what you said you care about? Power and control?”
He rubs at his forehead. “Christ, you’re dumber than you look. No wonder you want to go into psychiatry. You’re not smart enough to be a real doctor.”
I want to blow up at him, but that would just be giving him what he wants.
“If you don’t want information about my family, then I really don’t know what use I could be to you.”
I’m about to turn my back to him when his words slink into my ears like a deadly viper.
“I want information on Jason Lansing.”
I give him a dirty look. “All I know about Jason Lansing is that he’s our anatomy professor. My knowledge of his life begins and ends with that.”
Without another word, I walk out of the diner and into the cool morning air. But Ralph’s words follow me like a shadow.
Power and control. And information about Jason.
What kind of information does he think I have?
His dick size?
And that’s assuming he knows that we’ve slept together. Which he couldn’t possibly…
Shit. We were in the anatomy lab. If he saw us kissing there, he could have…
Jason locked the door.
But not soon enough.
The chill of the morning seeps through my clothing, but it’s a welcome respite from the toxic warmth of the diner. I draw in a lungful of crisp, clean air, hoping it will rid my senses of Ralph’s stench.
Control. The word echoes in my mind as I start walking through the town. What control does he think I have? Yes, I could pay him off, but that’s not what he wants. He wants me to feel helpless, powerless under his threats.
And he wants some kind of leverage over Jason. Leverage that he thinks I can provide.
I’m glad Aunt Mel is still here.
She said she had a meeting and then she’d be flying back to the Western Slope this afternoon.
I quickly text her.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Jason
I open my mouth, but before I say anything, a chirping sound comes from Dr. Steel’s direction.
She grabs her phone out of her purse. “Sorry. I must have forgotten to put it on silent.”
“No worries.”
“I’ll just check it later. It’s my niece.”
Angie.
She has other nieces, but they’re not in Boulder. At least not that I know of.
“Go ahead. I don’t mind.”
“You sure?”
I nod. “Family is important.”
Don’t I fucking know it.
“Okay. This will only be a second.” She taps out a message and then tucks her phone away. “My niece wants to talk before I leave later today. Now where were we?”
“Your suggestion to continue our conversation,” I say, my voice steadier now despite the surge of adrenaline that the mention of Angie has triggered.
“That’s right,” she says, her tone softening. “I want to make it clear, Dr. Lansing, that I’m not here to pass judgment or make you feel cornered. This is about your well-being—both mentally and physically.”
I nod, understanding the logic behind her words but resenting them all the same. They feel like chains holding me back from something I desperately need.
“I get it,” I assure her, trying to put a little warmth into my tone. “And I’ll do whatever it takes. If that means talking more, then we’ll talk more.”