“The payments will go to the legal aid society. We’ll see that Mrs. Gorcey receives the money.”
Mulligan rubbed his jaw and stared at Justine. She could tell he didn’t like it but she would not budge on this. If Gorcey paid Mulligan, then Mrs. Gorcey might never see the money. Or, she’d see a reduced percentage, less a fee for Mulligan’s intervention.
Mulligan waved to the guard at the door. “Robert, I’ll follow up with you later. You’re excused.” Gorcey didn’t stick around. He quit the room in a flash. “Rye, see Mrs. Gorcey returned home. I’d like a word with Miss Greene. Alone.”
Chapter Three
Jack didn’t like ceding the upper hand. Not in his business, not in negotiations. Not even in bed. The minute he gave up control was the minute his empire toppled. Men all across the city were waiting for him to grow weak, to let up for one single second. Jack wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.
He meant to die while still on top. It was the only option for a man such as himself.
So, he didn’t care for Justine arguing with him when he’d solved her little problem. He’d expected her gratitude. Her appreciation. In his dreams, perhaps a celebratory fuck. What he hadn’t expected was for her to contradict that resolution.
“Please, sit.” He gestured to a chair. If they were to argue, then it was better to do it in a civilized manner.
“I’d rather stand,” she said. “This won’t take long.”
He shook his head but remained on his feet. “Miss Greene, you seem to misunderstand how things work in my world. My decisions are final. I solved your problem with the Gorceys. Do not spit on my benevolence.”
“And while I appreciate your help, I do not like the idea of Mrs. Gorcey beholden to you for her monthly stipend.”
“She is not beholden to me. You are.”
He almost enjoyed the shock that overcame her face. “Me? Why?”
“Because I did you a favor. As I said, favors come with a price around here. Quid pro quo, Miss Greene.”
“You never said that,” she snapped. “You asked what was in it for you if you helped me.”
“Implying that I am owed a debt should I lend assistance.”
Her arms lifted and fell at her sides. Then her jaw worked as she clenched it. She was glorious in her anger, with her tightly leashed emotion and flushed skin. He wondered whether that lurking fire and spirit would emerge in the bedroom. He doubted it. She gave off a virgin air. Surprising, considering the way the Greene girls ran amok in New York City. God knew none of them worried about propriety. But this was a complex creature, one he hadn’t figured out just yet.
Justine’s gaze narrowed, her stare full of loathing. If he weren’t so amused by her, his balls might have retracted up into his body in the face of her fierce disapproval. “We never agreed to any debt or repayment. I assumed you believed Mrs. Gorcey’s story and acted out of compassion and kindness.”
He chuckled. “Wrong. I believe Mrs. Gorcey, but there’s no compassion or kindness here. I am pure greed, through and through.”
“Well, I cannot pay you.”
“It’s not money that I’m after.”
That statement hung in the air and he could tell she didn’t understand. Hell, he barely understood it. But, twisted bastard that he was, he knew one should never turn down the opportunity to have the daughter of a prominent family in his debt. He’d be a goddamn fool otherwise.
“I do not understand.”
“It’s very simple. You owe me a favor, Miss Greene. The time and method of repayment is at my discretion.”
“Absolutely not. That is completely unacceptable. There’s no telling what you might ask for.”
“That is a risk you’ll have to take—unless you’d like me to turn Robert Gorcey out on the street without any agreement of future payments, of course.”
“That’s blackmail.”
She said it as if he was wholly unaware of his terms. “Very good.”
“What could you possibly want from me? I have no connections . . .” She drifted off as if an idea had occurred and rendered her speechless. “Surely you cannot mean anything . . . physical.”
“You’re hardly my type,” he said by way of answer. “I think I’d scare you witless the second I undressed.”
“Then I cannot begin to see what you will require in exchange.”
“No one can predict the future. Perhaps I’ll never call in that favor.” A lie. Of course he would call in the favor, but she needn’t know that.