Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
The cockiness in her manner disgusted Harley’s cat. “Why is that?”
“I’m very good at reading people.”
Jesse took the Dictaphone from her hand, checked it wasn’t switched on, and then slung it on the sofa. “She’s not here to discuss Clive Vincent.” He tilted his head. “You don’t like my Harley very much, do you? I have to wonder what your issue with her is.”
Gabrielle stiffened . . . most likely because a lethal edge had crept into his voice that made even Harley nervous. Considering how much beef he had with the reporter, Harley had expected an explosion of some sort. But no. Oh, it was clear that he was pissed; his fury pulsed around the room. But he appeared the epitome of calm.
“I’m not interested in making a new friend; I’m interested in her story,” said Gabrielle, watching him carefully. “I suppose I haven’t been too polite in trying to get it, but it’s just business.”
One of Harley’s brows slid up. “Not personal?” She hissed. “That article you wrote will have extremists lining up to reach me.”
Her over-glossed lips flattened. “You have a pack to protect you now.”
“A pack that you also endangered by sending extremists my way.” Her voice went slightly guttural as her cat pushed for dominance.
Licking her lips, Gabrielle backed up. “That wasn’t my intention.”
“I don’t believe you,” said Harley, taking a step forward for each one she took backward. Gabrielle’s eyes flickered with fear. Her cat liked that.
“You wouldn’t hurt me.”
Harley’s mouth curved. “You don’t know me, Gabrielle. You don’t know what I’m capable of or you would never have fucked with me.”
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to piss off a margay?” Jesse asked the reporter. “I’m a Mercury wolf, as you know. My pack has the kind of resources, contacts, and alliances you can only dream of. Just imagine how much misery I can cause a person for fucking with my mate . . . then triple it.”
Chest rising and falling madly, Gabrielle said shakily, “My pack wouldn’t take too kindly to you threatening me.” Oh, the fox had balls.
“They’ll see it as my right, given that your actions put my mate in danger,” said Jesse. “They’ll also be forced to agree that it was wrong for you to take personal photographs without my knowledge or consent. No shifter likes their private business made public.”
“The photographs were given to me anonymously. Someone slid them under the door of my office. They were in a blank envelope.”
“Is that so?” he asked, skeptical.
“Look.” She opened a black satchel, flipped it open, and pulled out a letter-sized brown envelope—the same kind Hector had used to contain the testimonies. “There are at least five photos in there.”
Jesse fished them out and quickly flipped through them. “You have no idea who sent them to you?”
She shook her head. “A lot of people leave me things anonymously.”
“Hmm.” Jesse returned the photos to the envelope. “I’ll be taking these with me.”
Harley then shoved her way into Gabrielle’s personal space. “Now you listen, and you listen good. If you do anything to put me in more danger than I’m already in, I’ll come for you. Just in case you’re thinking your pack can protect you or that it’s worth the risk, I can always pay your boss’s wife a visit. I’m sure she’d be interested to know just how close you are to her husband. And I’d be more than happy to tell her.”
Her mouth fell open. “I don’t know what you’re—”
“Yes, you do.” And so did Harley, thanks to Donovan. “What you may not know is that his wife inherited a lot of money. They have a prenup stating that if he’s unfaithful, he walks away from their marriage with nothing. You can imagine how quickly he’ll fire your ass for fucking up his life, can’t you? And if there’s one thing you care about, it’s your job.”
Looking at the fox doing her best to hide the tremble in her legs, Harley came very close to feeling sorry for her. But not close enough. This female was ruthless and without morals. “What will it be, Rowan?” Harley continued. “You can agree right now to not include me in any more articles . . . or, to put it simply, you can fuck me over and then watch your life fall apart.”
Gabrielle closed her eyes for a moment. Then her shoulders sagged slightly. “Fine.”
“Say it,” snarled Jesse.
Her eyes snapped open. “I won’t include Harley in any more of my articles.”
“Right answer.” Putting his hand on Harley’s back, he guided her to the front door.
“Don’t you want to know who my source is from your pack?” Oh, apparently Gabrielle wanted to take a parting shot.
As he opened the door wide, he gave Gabrielle a hard look. “That was just petty.” He trusted his pack mates, was confident that they would never betray him.