High Stakes Read Online Free PDF

picture from his case. “Not as gorgeous as this one.” It was a shot of C.J., in a beautiful white sundress, tanned, her hair lightened. Her face glowed.
    Liam smiled. “Holy Cow, Aidan, I’ve never seen anything like that.”
    “Yeah, too bad I can’t publish it anywhere.” Aidan’s photos were well received worldwide because they were so good, but he refused to capitalize on Bailey’s fame or C.J.’s history with her.
    Liam left and came back with four bowls of stew. They sat at a table, eating heartily. Afterward, Aidan said, “So, what’d I miss?”
    Hell, his brother was going to blow up when he heard. Bailey had given them all nicknames, and Aidan’s was The Peacemaker. He wouldn’t run to type today, and Dylan regretted that he’d ruin his brother’s mood.
    “Rachel Scott published photos of your wedding.”
    As expected, Aidan let out a string of obscenities. When Dylan explained it was his fault, Aidan managed to calm down. Though the brothers fought, when it counted, they were there for each other. “I don’t blame you. I blame that bitch.”
    “I should have made her leave. But it’s water under the bridge. I saw her this morning, by the way.”
    “Where?” Patrick asked.
    “She called, wanted to talk to me. Jesus, she showed up at nine a.m. with war paint and hair done like she was going to the opera.”
    “Let me guess,” Liam said, “She wanted a second column from you.”
    “What’d you say?” Aidan asked.
    “That it’d be a cold day in hell.” His cell phone rang and he checked the ID. “I have to get this. It’s my editor.”
    “Hi, Herb. What’s up?” The man’s gravelly voice rumbled over the phone. “I have instructions from on high, aka Mayor Jacob’s office by way of the CEO of
CitySights
, that you’re to give Rachel Scott an investigative interview.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “The owners of the network want you to do for her what you do for most of your columns. Apparently, NSMBC has friends in high places. I know this concerns your family, but if you want to keep your column—the CEO’s threat, not mine—you have no choice.”
    “Fuck,” he spat out after he disconnected.
    “Hogan?” Liam asked. ”No, my editor. Looks like the temperature just dropped below thirty-two degrees in the underworld.” He explained his boss’s instructions.
    “Are we
ever
going to get her out of our lives?” Aidan asked.
    “Maybe Dylan should seduce her.” Of course Pat was joking. “Keep her quiet with sex.”
    “I’ll bet she’s frigid as hell.” This from Aidan.
    Liam said, “Come on, guys. Let’s not bad-mouth her. She’s got a job to do.” He smiled at Dylan. “Still, if you spent some time with her, you could keep an eye on her.”
    Dylan didn’t respond. His brothers couldn’t be any more wrong. Though he hadn’t done it to control her, having sex with Rachel had no effect on her betrayal of the O’Neil family.
    Sighing, he refused to let the notion hurt.
    oOo
    “So, beautiful, how did you snag this one?”
    Rachel glanced up to see Rubin Raskin standing in her office doorway. Her space was big, airy, with two windows and had been professionally decorated in blues, greens and a hint of peach. Behind him in the large newsroom, the staff’s low murmurs and ringing phones drifted into her office.
    Her colleague and the man she preceded on nightly cable-news network NSMBC alternated being a staunch supporter and, like now, somewhat sarcastic about her success. Incredibly handsome with masses of light-colored hair and nearly gray eyes, Rubin was a favorite of the audiences, who seemed to love his wit and his charm. Just like her in some ways. Though she tried not to capitalize on her looks, she knew they’d helped her rise in the media world.
    “Snag what?” she asked, marshaling her defenses.
    “Haven’t you heard? Your producer is in heaven. You’re getting Dylan O’Neil to follow you around for a while. The First Lady’s