The Seduction(16)
Author: Carly Phillips

Zach glares at Sean. “Not so simple now, is it, you son of a bitch. Now you go ahead and tell her the rest.”

My mouth grows dry. I glance between the two men I never thought would hurt me. Sean, because I’ve known him my entire life and he’s always given it to me straight and considers me like a sister. And Zach because he’s protected me, looked out for me, and treated me like I mattered.

Folding my arms across my chest, I step up to them. “Someone better start talking. Now.”

“Ask him about his sister,” Sean says, his eyes dull and unfocused.

I blink, surprised. “I know about Grace.” I’m relieved now because this isn’t something Zach has kept hidden. “She’s in South Oaks. So what?” I look between them.

“So he put her there,” Zach said with disgust, jerking a finger toward Sean. “He’s the bastard I told you about. The one who preyed on Grace’s fears and used her so badly she broke.” He runs a hand through his hair, and I see the agitation in his movements, the pain in his gaze.

But he still won’t look at me. And I’m too busy trying to process what he just told me. Sean’s the man who likes to find a girl’s weak spot, play into it, and f**k her until she’s screaming in panic and fear? That’s what gets him off?

“But … but … that’s sick.” I glance at the man I’ve known my whole life.

He can’t meet my gaze anymore either.

I want to gag but manage to suppress the reflex. “What does this have to do with me?” I rub my arms, goose bumps and chills covering my skin.

Sean groans. “He’s using you to get revenge on me. He can’t get to Avery, so he figured he’d go after the next best thing. The world knows I don’t give a shit about anyone, but somehow he found out about you.”

“No.” I whisper the word. “Zach?”

He nods slowly, unwillingly. “I followed Ferro. Watched. Waited. And finally I saw him walk you out to your car. He hugged you, and I knew I’d finally found a weak spot.”

Sean curses and goes for Zach, but my scream stops him. Zach has his hand curled into a fist, ready to hit back if needed.

“I want to hear everything. Don’t take that away from me.” I blink back tears, telling myself that I will be strong. I will not break. Not in front of him. I can’t let the depth of his betrayal hit me. Not yet.

“So you watched me at The Tavern? All along, I was just your pawn?”

Zach’s eyes fill with remorse. “Only in the beginning.”

“Bull.” Sean’s voice slices through the air. “You’re not the only one with the ability to find necessary information. I met your security friend, and we had a talk.”

I winced at the word. So did Zach. “Is he still alive?” he asks Sean.

“He liked his pretty face, so he talked. Now it’s your turn.”

Zach narrows his gaze and walks up to Sean, getting into his face. “You say you care about her? Let it go at this. She’ll never talk to me again. It’s good enough.”

Something passes between the two men, an understanding. About me. I won’t allow it. “No. Whatever it is, you tell me.” I step closer and shove at Zach’s chest. “You owe me that much.”

With a nod, he comes closer. He takes my face in his hands.

He smells so good, looks so familiar and … sad. More than anything, I want this all to be a bad dream. I want to go back to the kitchen, to sitting on his lap and eating our French toast.

He speaks and shatters the possibility. “However things between us started, they turned very real for me very fast,” Zach says. “If you want to hate me, that’s your right, but do us both a favor and leave now. Let him take you home.” He releases me and pushes me toward Sean.

It’s not nearly enough information. He can’t get rid of me so easily.

“How?” I ask, not satisfied being talked about as if I’m not in the room or being told what to do by two men used to manipulating people for their own benefit. “How did you plan on hurting Sean through me?”

I want to know, and I’m not leaving here until I do. Nausea spikes inside me, similar to when I found out about my ex-boyfriend’s betrayal, but I fight it back.

Zach’s shoulders slump, and I realize it’s bad. And his silence tells me the words aren’t going to come from him. “Sean?” I ask.

“He was going to videotape you,” the man I’ve known nearly forever tells me.

An old conversation with Zach comes back to me. I have my PI license, and I’m good at digging up information.

“Oh my God.” So much becomes clear in an instant. “You knew about the sex tape. All along, you knew and planned to use it against me. You were going to do exactly what Sean did to your sister. Use my biggest weakness against me, break me, and make sure Sean knew it was all his fault.”

“No.” Zach’s voice shakes. “Yes … but no. I mean, that was the plan before I knew you. I fell in love with you, Chloe. I couldn’t—”

“If that’s true, then why did you have the cameras installed in your bedroom anyway? Long after you met her?”

“What?” I barely understand what I’m hearing.

Zach picks up the nearest item, a ceramic bowl, and hurls it against the wall.

I jump as the piece shatters, much like I’m doing inside.

“It was you,” Zach tells Sean. “Every time I changed my mind, you surfaced. You called her. You showed up at the bar, reminding me of the course I had set for myself. For my sister. I owe it to her to make sure you have to live with what you did to her every f**king day.” His face is red, his anger and pain both blinding and blistering.

“I do!” Sean explodes, his rage something I’ve never seen before, and I slink back, away from both furious men.

I’m merely the pawn between them.

“I live with a lot of things I’ve done that make me sick to my stomach, but her?” Sean points to me. “She’s innocent, and she doesn’t deserve the likes of me … or you.”

“Get her out of here,” Zach says, his words gutting me despite his betrayal. “Take her far away from me.”

I’m mute. Stunned. Aching.

Sean nods. “I will, but first tell me one thing. Is there a video?” he asks point-blank.

“No.” I realize I’ve spoken out loud. “No, no, no.” Memories of my naked body on screen flash through my brain. “Not again.”