them at him. Fifty and hundred dollar bills hit him in the face and then floated to the red carpet before settling around his feet. She rolled her eyes. “You’re despicable. I can’t believe I thought you were anywhere near decent.”
Damian took no offense at her insult. He’d accepted that he wasn’t decent a long time ago. He was expecting another slap in the face though…definitely not his own money thrown back at him. So, all in all, this morning after wasn’t going too badly.
Without emotion or expression, he waited for her to charge out of the room. Letting out a breath when the door slammed, he spared the scattered bills around his feet a second glance and walked off toward the bathroom. Whomever cleaned the room when he checked out would find the generous tip. With distaste, he removed the condom and dumped it in the bin. What a waste. He hadn’t enjoyed his time with the enraged-yet-lovely Lacy. He usually managed to squeeze an ounce of enjoyment out of his trysts, but not this time.
He was supposed to be in a state of elation. He had finally gotten what he’d craved for years—revenge. He’d manage to take down his enemy. Aldridge was done, in every sense of the word. Damian had spent the night celebrating. He’d practically emptied the bar he was at and picked up what was supposed to be a stellar one-night stand.
On his way to the shower, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His grim expression and flat eyes reminded him that he wasn’t enjoying his triumph as much as he’d expected.
“Sweet revenge, alcohol and a gorgeous woman. What more could you want?”
He stared at his reflection, confused, as if he expected the miserable image of himself to supply an answer. Could his mother have been right? Could taking down Caleb Aldridge not be the answer to him at last finding some semblance of peace?
With a deepening scowl, Damian stepped away from his reflection. Like hell. He wasn’t happy because he hadn’t done enough. The punishment had to fit the crime. All he had to do was find a way to drive a few more nails into Aldridge’s coffin, and then he’d be satisfied, he was sure of it.
Chapter Two
Abby
Men like Henry Sullivan were despicable. Abby gazed down at the older man with cool disdain, but he was much too caught up in fondling her to notice. For a second, she felt nauseated. There she was, mere hours before her father’s funeral, straddling this overweight lawyer. Her subconscious screamed at her. What are you doing? This isn’t you.
She shoved the thought aside. This was her now. This was who she’d had to become to avenge her father and her family.
Henry Sullivan was only the first step in the plan. She needed information. Abby knew she could get the man to sing like a canary the day he’d arrived at the Aldridge mansion. He’d come to present her father’s last will and testament. Henry, being a big fan of younger women, had blatantly ogled her the entire time he read the will. His meaty hands groped her bra-clad breasts as he gazed at them hungrily.
“What really happened to my father, Henry?”
He glanced up, his beady, hooded eyes were clouded with lust and confusion. “He ... hung himself,” Henry said slowly.
Abby gritted her teeth. No shit, Captain Obvious. “I’m well aware, Henry,” she said, “but what I mean is, why would he do that? Surely, you know. You were close friends. He must have said something to you about what was going on with him.” She’d heard rumors about why Caleb Aldridge had taken his own life, but before she could move forward with her plan, she had to be certain.
“I don’t think now is the time to talk about …”
She gripped his jaw with one hand and squeezed. “Now is the perfect time,” she said with steel behind each word. His eyes lit up with excitement, and his breathing escalated. Her sister was right—the man loved to be dominated. Abby didn’t want to know how Elaina knew that.
“Tell me, Henry.”
Rubbing his palms over her bare ass, he said, “He lost everything.”
“How?”
“Aldridge Enterprises went bankrupt. A few bad investments, you see. Someone swooped in and stole the company right from under Caleb.”
“Who was responsible for this hostile takeover?”
Henry shook his head. “I'm not at liberty to say, Abigail. I’m temporarily under this individual’s employ until everything has been transferred over to ... I can’t