Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“No of course not!” I practically scream into the receiver. “I love Talon and Torment, and they’ve been nothing but good to me.”
There’s silence for a moment.
“Yes, but have you been having sex with the twins?”
I pause for a moment, my expression scrunching in horror.
“What kind of question is that? My sex life is nobody’s business!”
The attorney lets out a long sigh.
“You’re right. It isn’t anybody’s business except when there are criminal charges involved. I know this is very uncomfortable for you, Paisley, but the press and the police are going to investigate every angle. Just keep in mind that it’s not a crime to be having sex with two men, even if they are twins. What’s important is that you’re honest – with me, and with law enforcement.”
My face is red now and my lips are trembling with rage.
“Yes, I’m having sex with both Talon and Torment Creighton, okay?” I snap out. “There, happy?”
Mara sighs again.
“This isn’t easy for you, and I understand that. But please bear in mind, Miss Matthews, that we’re on the same side. I want to get the Creightons out of prison just as much as you do, so we need to be thorough as we review all the facts. Now, the source claims that you were blackmailed into a sexual relationship with the twins. Is there any truth to this allegation?”
“What?” I almost scream again. “No, absolutely not! Again, I’m in a consensual relationship with the twins, and not because they forced me or threatened me. How can the source even say this? How did they substantiate that claim? Who is this quote-unquote ‘anonymous source’ anyways?”
Mara pauses.
“We don’t know who the source is because they called the precinct’s tip hotline. But when a serious claim involving a minor comes through, law enforcement must investigate.”
“Okay, but they’re wrong!” I say emphatically. “Totally and one hundred precent! Now why would they say I’m being blackmailed?”
Mara hesitates for a moment.
“The source said that the Creighton twins are in possession of nude photos of you, and that they threatened to release them to the public if you didn’t accede to their demands.”
My jaw drops to the floor. “What? That’s not what happened at all! If anything, it’s the opposite, and I have nude photos of them! Well, of Talon at least,” I amend, remembering the steamy photos from the gym.
The attorney makes soothing noises.
“Okay, thanks for clarifying that. But are you sure there are no nude photos of you? Did you ever let the brothers snap any compromising shots?”
I snort then.
“Miss Hoffman, I’m a professional photographer. The Creightons aren’t behind the camera; I am. Again, I’m the one in possession of nude photos, and they’re of Talon Creighton. They have nothing of the sort on me.”
The clacking of the keyboard comes again, and Mara murmurs, “I see. So it seems the source was very misleading.”
“Misleading?!?!” I exclaim. “It’s more like they were totally wrong and got everything backwards! How can this be happening? How can the police just make an arrest without verifying any of these so-called claims? They completely screwed up Talon and Torment’s big match yesterday!”
The attorney clucks and nods.
“Yes, I’m aware of that because the Creightons told me, and I assure you that they are planning to sue in order to assert their rights. But again, right now we’re just focused on getting the twins out of lock up.”
I nod.
“Of course,” I say in a choked voice as my hand goes down to protect my belly. “I understand.”
Mara types a bit more and then exhales heavily on the other side.
“Now it sounds like you’d like to help the brothers, Miss Matthews.”
“Of course I do!” I exclaim. “I’d do anything for them.”
Mara makes a noise of approval.
“Then please help us clear this up, Paisley.”
“What can I do?” I ask in a wooden voice.
“Come down to the station,” Mara urges. “We’ll present your evidence to the authorities, and tell them that this so-called tipster’s claims were totally baseless. We need to attack this aggressively from the start and come out with all guns firing. You’ll be saving Talon and Torment from a lot of hassle and a lot of embarrassment if we nip it in the bud at the very beginning. After all, the Creighton are under a lot of scrutiny right now.”
I brace myself against the mattress.
“But it means that people will find out about our relationship, doesn’t it?”
Mara pauses.
“Yes, Miss Matthews. You would need to reveal the nature of your relationship to both the DA and law enforcement.”
“I see,” I hum, suddenly indecisive. But then, my heart swoops and I know what I have to do. I don’t care about keeping our relationship under wraps anymore. Too much is at stake, and besides, it’s not as if we’re doing anything wrong.
“Okay, I’ll do it then. I’ll talk with law enforcement.”