Reluctant Surrender Read Online Free PDF Page A

respectable folks are dying to get a piece of us. One whiff of sexual harassment and we’d be writing checks from now until doomsday.”
    That was true. Their lifestyle was a blessing and a curse. Blessing because it was one hell of a ride and a curse because the road was strewn with hazards. One wrong move and everything they’d worked for over the last ten years could be taken from them…and he’d made more than just one wrong move with Colin Reneaux three days ago.
    He couldn’t hold back his grimace and David’s eyes widened incredulously.
    “Are you fucking kidding me?” David shot out of his chair. “You put your hands on her?”
    What could he say? He was ready to come clean when Ted walked in.
    “Hang on to your leathers, boys, we’re totally screwed and I don’t mean in a good way.”
    Ethan figured he had this coming. He shouldn’t have touched her, but he did and he was going to be man enough to own it. Calmly, he handed his glass to David and motioned for him to refill it. Turning to Ted he asked, “Screwed?”
    Examining the jagged scar that ran from the corner of his friend’s right eye to the middle of his cheekbone, he determined, whatever the news, it was going to be dire. The puckered gift left by a devastated sub became more prominent when Ted was stressed.
    “The episode at the mansion is out. It was posted to YouTube last night and by early this morning it went viral.”
    Despite the bad news, Ethan was relieved. He’d expected Ted to corner him on how he’d behaved with Colin. “The episode? You mean the fights?”
    Ted frowned at him. “Of course.”
    David swore. “That fucking stone-cold bitch. She signed a nondisclosure, didn’t she?”
    Ethan didn’t move, only nodded. He was too busy thinking.
    “Well that’s the end of her.” David handed him his brandy before he shot back the contents in his own glass and made a face as if it burned going all the way down. “We’ll own her ass. Doesn’t she realize we could do the same to her?”
    Ted shook his head. “I’m not so sure about that.” He gave Ethan a penetrating stare. “Didn’t you tell him?”
    “Tell me what?” David looked between the two of them. “What?”
    Ethan sighed. “I popped the disc out of her camera before I gave it back to her assistant.”
    David collapsed into his chair. “So what happened? Did security miss a cellphone as well and some sneaky bastard recorded it? Is that what you’re telling me?”
    “Not exactly.”
    That pronouncement got both their attentions. Ethan waited for Ted to say more and when he didn’t David growled, “You better spit it out because I’m ready to kill someone.”
    “The images came from her camera. I had it confirmed by Freddie down at Shack’s.”
    “How is that possible? I have the disc.”
    “I’m not sure. I visited Colin this afternoon. She’s beside herself. She’s thinking someone broke into her office and stole it. The only logical explanation is that someone got to the camera before you did that day.”
    Ethan thought about that. Casper had admitted he’d been napping. One flash drive and the opportunity to use it? Anything was possible.
    “That could have happened.” There were a number of things Ethan wanted to ask Ted now that he knew he’d been to see Colin, but he stuck with the basics. “Did you tell her it was me who took it?”
    “No.”
    The way he eyed him, made Ethan uncomfortable. “Why?”
    “Because we may have to use her perceived culpability to our advantage.” He turned to David. ”After I had a chat with Decklan I thought it would be in E’s best interest if we let her think she owed us one.”
    David pointed. “You fucked her, didn’t you?”
    Ethan glared. He wasn’t sure why he was so angry at David’s accusation. Was it because the guy had overstepped his boundaries or the fact that Ethan hadn’t fucked her but he’d wanted to? Bad.
    “Dave.” There was no mistaking the warning in Ted’s