Page 50 of Work It Out
Rayah’s voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through their bickering like a bullhorn. “What condition?”
Quin sucked in a hiss through his teeth. Pierce fell back a step. Jake closed his eyes, flopped himself out of her arms and onto the floor, and muttered, “Shitty McShit Shit.” Shawn was the only one who didn’t seem concerned by her question.
Rayah didn’t move a muscle, wasn’t sure she could. “What condition?”
“Nice try,” Shawn scoffed. “But I’m not buying the dumb act, and neither will the judge.”
“You know,” Vicky’s confused gaze bounced from one face to the next, “Jake’s POTS.” When that didn’t clear things up for Rayah, she explained, “It’s basically a blood pressure/heart condition. Sometimes, when he stands up too quickly or lifts heavy things, his heart flips out because his veins can’t pump the blood around right or something. He doesn’t always pass out, just sometimes. I mean, I think it’s more complicated than that, but…”
A heavy silence filled the room.
“The altitude sickness… The balance beam…” Rayah blinked quickly, as if seeing him clearly for the first time. “You have a serious medical condition, and you didn’t tell me?”
Jake moved his arm and turned sad silver eyes on her. “It’s notthatserious,” he began, but immediately abandoned that tack. “I’m sorry, Rayah. I should’ve told you, but I could lose my shot at the part, hell, at any action career at all, if the studio finds out. And I swear, my case isn’t dangerous. Annoying as hell, but not life-threatening. My dad’s a cardiologist, and he cleared me. Pierce knows about it, and he knows what to watch for so I don’t accidentally hurt myself.” When smoke practically poured out of her ears, he amended, “Usually. Today was a fluke.” He grimaced. “Well, and the altitude sickness. We didn’t anticipate it bothering me, either. But we’re figuring it out. I promise.”
“How dare you?” Rayah rose to her feet. She couldn’t stand to be on the floor with him another second any more than she could stem the flood of betrayal coursing through her. “This isn’t some tiny detail, Jake. You actively hid a condition that puts you at a higher risk of injury. Or was this your plan all along? Hurt yourself on my property and sue me for all I’m worth?” She barked an ugly laugh. “Joke’s on you. This place is all I have.”
“What is it with you and lawsuits?” Jake sat up, though he closed his eyes and put one hand to his head.
“I’ve been through a nasty suit before. Excuse the hell out of me if I don’t jump at the chance to go through that again.”
“You’ve been open less than a year; you haven’t had time to go through an ugly lawsuit.”
“Right, because I popped into existence fully formed the day this place opened.” She thrust a finger in his direction. “Don’t for one second think I’m going to roll over. I’ve been threatened and blackmailed by far worse than you with a lot more ammo, you walking liability.”
“Blackmailed by who?” Quin demanded.
“Her dad,” Pierce whispered back.
“What?” Quin asked, horrified.
Jake’s “What?” had a more murder-y vibe, but then he’d proven himself to be one hell of an actor.
“I know,” Pierce replied. “Fucked up, right? Can you believe he’s still trying to get money out of her? One of these days that old bastard’s just going to disappear.”
Her gaze whipped to Pierce. “How do you know he’s still trying to blackmail me?”
Pierce gulped. “It wasn’t my fault, Ray. You sent me to your office to get that arnica salve you make. I barely bumped the mouse and then the email was right there and—”
“Pierce, stop.” Rayah slowed her breathing, pressing her lips together hard enough that she worried she’d drawn blood. For a moment, she’d forgotten she and Jake weren’t alone. The last thing she needed was Jake and Shawn digging into her past. “None of that matters, because I have amazing lawyers. They’ll never see a dime.”
“Damn it, woman!” Jake dragged himself off the floor, only to have to sit down on the box that was nearly his demise. “I don’t need your money. I’m paying you, remember?”
“You might not need it, but you’ll get it!” Shawn started.
Jake pinned him with a glare. “Shut the fuck up, man. You are not helping, and I’d never sue her.”
I trusted you!she wanted to scream, but even that admission took trust, and he’d destroyed all that had existed between them. “You knew how I’d feel about this, and you deliberately kept it from me anyway. Worse, you strong-armed Pierce into doing the same.”
“I didn’t give him a choice,” Jake said defensively.
“Oh, don’t worry; I know exactly where the blame belongs. His job’s safe. Or as safe as if can be, considering you probably just cost us our insurance.”
“Rayah, I—”
“Take Vicky to the cabin to get settled in.” She tilted her head at Shawn. “I want him gone, and I don’t want to see his face again. He’s no longer welcome. If you don’t like it, you can leave with him. Otherwise, I’ll deal with you later.”
She didn’t need to look at Shawn to know the guy was steaming, but she didn’t care. He’d earned the boot. “Cupcake—”
