way too short to figure out the man’s angle.
Anderson leaned against his desk, arms crossed over his expensive suit, clearly intrigued enough with Charlie’s presence to not keep him waiting in the outer sanctum. “Well, well. If it isn’t the Saint. Come to crucify a few sinners?”
It was a deliberate dig, a reminder that Jared had been the first one to give him that nickname back in high school. But they’d both come a long way since then. Their friendship had splintered when Charlie joined the Navy and had gone downhill from there.
“You have it backward.” Charlie kept his tone pleasant as he faced down the man who had stolen nearly everything from him except his pride. Jared Anderson would pry that from his cold, dead fingers. “Almost all saints are martyred. And I’m not willing to lay down and die for my cause like you seem to think I should. Though I might be convinced to shed a little blood if I don’t get what I want.”
The arteries would all belong to Anderson, and he didn’t seem confused about that, despite the smile that bloomed on his smarmy face. “I’ll bite. What is it that you want?”
Charlie’s fists curled up involuntarily. The man had gall. “Really? You’re not clear on why I’m standing here in your building?”
A temper tantrum would get him nowhere, but he did like the idea of smashing one—or both—of his fists into Anderson’s vile mouth. It was a sweet bonus that he’d be fattening lips that had touched Audra. If only Charlie had realized two years ago when he’d taken Jared up on his open invitation to visit him in the Caribbean that they’d become different people, none of this would have happened. Of course he’d never have met Audra, and that didn’t sit well.
Not even a flicker of emotion flashed through the other man’s gaze. “Why don’t you spell it out for me?”
He got it now. This was a poker game. Winner takes all. If Charlie did all the talking, Anderson could keep collecting cards until he flipped over his hand, which would no doubt be laced with several aces in the hole.
He forced himself to smile. Charlie had a few aces of his own. “You’re not going to win whatever game it is that you’re playing.”
That got a laugh out of his opponent. “I assure you that I consider nothing I do a game. If you’d like to continue our discussion, I suggest you get to the point. Otherwise, I have many other pressing matters on my plate for today.”
“Fine. The injunction. Make it go away.”
“Wow. That is a popular subject today.” Anderson shook his head. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told Audra. Not under my control.”
A chill slid down Charlie’s spine at the casual mention of Audra’s name. Which had not been an accident. “When did you talk to Audra?”
“Oh. Hmm.” Anderson managed to look perplexed, a feat given that his dear old friend had likely never been confused a day in his life. “I naturally assumed you knew she’d come by today, given how cozy the two of you are lately. I actually thought that was the reason you’d darkened my door.”
No wonder Jared had finally agreed to see him after all of Charlie’s failed attempts.
“Because Audra came to see you, it followed that I’d be right behind?” There was an undercurrent here that Charlie didn’t like. Neither did he like the way Anderson was leading him down this primrose path, especially when Audra’s name was being tossed around so much. And that she’d been here ahead of him without his knowledge. What else didn’t he know?
The first coil of foreboding unwound in his stomach.
Anderson shrugged. “Figured maybe you’d come to defend her honor or something equally ridiculous when she willingly chose me the first time. Just like she’s going to do the second time. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.”
Second time?
“What the hell are you babbling about? Audra and I are finally starting to unwind all of the damage you’ve done to us over the last year.” And breathe. The fury bubbling under Charlie’s skin wouldn’t be contained so easily. But Charlie didn’t want to end up in a Freeport jail cell, so he forced himself to take several steps away from temptation. “Back off. From me, Audra, and my business.”
This man had once been his friend, a running buddy from his high school days when they both found a common interest in causing as much