The Seduction 4 by Roxy Sloane Read Free Book Online Page B

I can’t
trust anyone here, but finding information alone has been a
challenge. I quickly weigh the risk before asking, “What do you
know about Martin Ridley?”
    Cam pauses, frowning.
“I haven’t heard that name in a long time. He was part of the
company, way back years ago.”
    “So you don’t know
he’s behind the Excaliber bid?” I ask point-blank.
    Cam looks shocked. “Are
you serious? When did this happen? How are you sure?”
    If he’s lying, he’s
doing a good job of it. “I had someone do some digging,” I say
carefully, not wanting to give Vaughn away. “And they confirmed
he’s the one behind the hedge fund.”
    Cam exhales. “Shit.
That would explain why Ashcroft didn’t accept their offers.”
    “So there was bad
blood between them?” I press him, looking for any hints of
deception.
    But Cam doesn’t
flinch. “Real bad.” He nods. “Ashcroft wouldn’t even talk
about what happened back then. All he ever said is the guy was
rotting in jail where he belonged.”
    “He’s out. And
running around town conspiring with Brent and Carter.”
    “Maybe this will help
us.” Cam looks brighter. “Ridley always had the worst
reputation.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Shady business
dealings, mob ties, you name it.” Cam sighs. “Ashcroft didn’t
find out until too late, they were already in deep with him. But if
the board knows he’s behind the offer, maybe that will make them
think twice. You can’t trust a guy like that. He’s dangerous.”
    I gulp. “That’s not
good.”
    “Not at all.” Cam
looks grim. “I heard he had a way of making threats just disappear.
Feds tried to get him on drug running charges once. Two weeks before
the trial, their star witness blew his brains out.”
    I feel a chill.
“Suicide?”
    “That was the
official verdict,” Cam gives me a look. “But it was too
convenient by half. The guy didn’t leave a note, just put a shotgun
in his mouth and pulled the trigger.”
    Just like Vaughn’s
dad.
    I stumble back,
suddenly sick to my stomach. “I... should get back,” I say
quickly.
    “Thanks for the intel
on Ridley, this should help us a lot.” Cam grins, not realizing
what his words have done to me. “I’ll look into his history with
Ashcroft Industries. Maybe there’s something back then we can use.”
    I nod and hurry back to
my office, mind racing. All this time, Vaughn and his family believed
that his father committed suicide, but what if that’s not the
truth?
    What if Jack Vaughn was
killed -- because of this man, Ridley?
    No. I can’t jump to
conclusions. Something like this is too big to just go on coincidence
and rumor. Even Cam said, they never knew about this other guy for
sure -- and I can’t dredge up Vaughn’s past for him without solid
proof.
    The thought haunts me
for the rest of the day. I still don’t hear anything from Vaughn,
and when I get back to my apartment, I’m not even sure if he’ll
be there.
    But he is. Sitting in
the dark staring out of the window, like he’s been there for hours.
    I turn on the lights.
He doesn’t move.
    I take a deep breath.
I’m feeling scared and insecure and angry over the way he acted at
the restaurant. But I won’t let him push me around now. If this is
going to be different now, I need him to let me in.
    “I was worried about
you.” I cross around so I’m standing in front of him.
    Vaughn looks tense and
conflicted. He gulps from the glass of whiskey in his hand. “Dammit,
Keely. Can’t you just leave it alone?”
    My heart aches. I hate
seeing him like this. I wish we could just move on and pretend we
never met Julianne at all, but it’s too late for that.
    “You promised me, no
more lies,” I remind him. Vaughn gets up angrily and turns to go,
but I move to stop him.
    “I mean it, Vaughn.
You either tell me the truth, or you walk out that door right now.
And you don’t come back.”

10
    VAUGHN
    Keely stands in front
of me, unflinching. She folds her arms and waits, and I