Overboard by Sierra Riley Read Free Book Online Page A

bank account when he’d checked on his phone earlier.
    He pulled over to the side of the road and found Jason in his contacts list.
    “What’s up, Duncan?”
    “I need my money, Jason. I just left the site. The job’s done.”
    “Really? It’s finished for real? Are you sure you’re not bullshitting me?”
    The blood started pounding in Duncan’s ears. He hated any hint that someone thought he did not do his job well. Duncan worked hard and with honesty. Everyone knew that about him. He’d put Jason in his place if he decided to challenge that.
    “What are you talking about? I just finished the final shit a few minutes ago. Sebastian is happy as shit. Send me my goddamn money.”
    The line went silent long enough that Duncan thought the call must have dropped.
    Finally, Jason said, “Listen. I’m sorry, man. But I just got a call from Sebastian about ten minutes ago. He’s pissed. He’s threatening lawsuits or some shit. I can’t afford that. I hate to do it, but I have to hold onto this money until this is all sorted out. I might have to come after the money I’ve already paid you. If the customer’s not happy...”
    “The customer was fucking happy. The job was done and done right. I don’t know what kind of bullshit he’s pulling, but I need that money right now. I’m leaving for a vacation tomorrow and that money better be in my bank ASAP.”
    “I just can’t do that, Duncan. I’m really sorry but something happened. Something bad. You did something that’s bringing my business real heat. I don’t know what it is, but you aren’t seeing a damn penny until I get to the bottom of it. I have my own vacation starting tomorrow too. We’ll regroup afterward.”
    The line went dead for real that time.
    Duncan pounded his open hand against the steering wheel until his palm went numb.
    The lawyers sounded so much like Sebastian. The fucking asshole just couldn’t stop himself from being an asshole. Just when everything had seemed weird but okay between them, Sebastian’s true nature had come out.
    Duncan had considered calling Sebastian after the trip and asking him out. The guy had seeped into his skin and Duncan had started to wonder what it would be like to go on a couple of dates with the pretty boy. Seeing Sebastian helping with the labor the last few days had convinced Duncan that there was a real man trapped in the rich boy persona, someone he could maybe love and certainly trust.
    I should have known. Nothing about him is real.
    Duncan’s face turned to stone during the rest of the drive to his apartment. He tossed shit for the trip into his two threadbare suitcases without even worrying about whether things matched or if he had enough underwear.
    None of it mattered. This vacation was going to be the death of him.
    He couldn’t afford to go without that money.
    Fuck. He couldn’t afford not to go because of the cancellation fees.
    Losing that check would be a catastrophe. The kind that would force him to consider moving back in with his parents until his finances recovered.
    He rushed to the bathroom and dropped to his knees to vomit in the toilet. His body shook and ached after the heaving ended.
    He would not move in with his parents. That was an unacceptable option.
    But with his sister getting married, he couldn’t move in with her. What other options did he have?
    Sebastian’s smug face flashed through his mind. Instead of wanting to toss him on a bed, he wanted to throw him off a balcony, preferably the top floor of a high-rise.
    Sebastian was the problem, not Jason. Sebastian and his lies were the reason Duncan wasn’t getting paid.
    He screamed in his tiny apartment.
    He should have known better than to accept the job after the disastrous speed-dating afternoon. Sebastian had shown his true colors there and had followed through to show those true colors to Duncan in exquisite detail.
    All the trust Duncan had felt for Sebastian was composed of lies fueled by lust. Duncan needed