The Edge of Dominance

  “Did you know anything about this?” Hammer murmured as they paraded down the hall, the other men following, hope stirring.

  “I suspected she’d been up to something, but no. I’m as anxious as you to find out.”

  “What the fuck is on that DVD?” Beck asked from behind him.

  “I can’t even begin to describe it,” Seth said wryly. “You’ll just have to see for yourself. Bear in mind, this is the uncut ‘director’s’ version. And tonight will be the only screening. You’ll see why.”

  After they’d all settled back in the plush recliners with their legs stretched out, popcorn in their laps and beers by their sides, Hammer popped the DVD into the player.

  The big screen came to life with the image of River and Marlie coming through the hotel door.

  “What the fuck?” Hammer whispered, totally stunned.

  That bloody, miserable bitch. He should have known. Why hadn’t he guessed—and decked Marlie when he’d had the chance? Liam was gobsmacked by the lengths that whore had gone to in order to carry out her obsessive vendetta.

  I told you she was a woman scorned. His mother’s voice pierced his brain.

  Liam watched as Hammer stumbled back into his seat. Shock etched on his face as he stared at the screen, slack-jawed.

  “Holy shit,” Beck barked. “That fucking skank. You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “Marlie?” Hammer choked. “She’s not smart enough to pull off something this complex.”

  “She might not be smart, but she’s cunning,” Seth argued. “And she’s very guilty.”

  “I’ve never been able to stand that bitch.” Liam cursed, watching the drama unfold on screen.

  “Aw, look. River found himself a wild skank-muffin,” Beck drawled.

  “Motherfucker,” Hammer murmured, eyes glued to the TV. “I can’t believe she’s behind all this.”

  “I can’t believe you ever fucked her,” Liam chided.

  “I can’t believe you fucked her more than once.” River shuddered.

  When she dropped to her knees and began to claw at the man’s pants, Sterling sat up and leaned forward in his chair. “What the hell am I watching? Who is she?”

  “The first vacu-whore off the line.” Beck snorted. “I thought of hitting that once, but I wanted a newer model. You know, one that hasn’t sucked the foreskin off every dick in a thousand-mile radius.”

  “What the devil is she trying to do to you, River?” Liam asked with a laugh.

  “She’s hunting the elusive trouser snake, son,” Duncan drawled in a singsong Irish lilt. “Be fast now, lassie. Catch it with your lips before it escapes.”

  “That’s not a snake!” River protested with feigned indignation. “It’s a goddamn anaconda.”

  “Watch out,” Seth yelled. “The teeth of the venomous skank-muffin can shred a man’s cock to ribbons.”

  “If her brick-hard tits don’t knock you unconscious first,” River groused. “Jesus, I’ve thrown medicine balls that were softer than those things.”

  Hammer simply groaned and covered his face, peering out between splayed fingers.

  Like watching a train wreck, no one could look away.

  When Marlie jumped to her feet and peeled off her dress, Liam howled with laughter. “Oh, look. The cankerous cock cobra has just shed her skin. Quick! Someone call National Geographic.”

  “I’m going to be sick,” Hammer moaned.

  Seth stood and paused the feed.

  The men groaned in unison. Beck threw popcorn at him.

  “Shut up, your fucking pervs,” he scolded. “Sterling, you need to listen to everything she says now that River has her on the bed. When he releases his ‘anaconda’ and double bags it with condoms, you can tune out again.”

  “Double bags?” Hammer snorted. “What, did she have open sores or something?”

  “None I could see on camera,” Seth replied. “But I might have suggested she had critters all up in that shit. I knew Raine wouldn’t be happy if River took one for the team and ended up with a case of crotch crickets.”

  “Just another reason I kept my mouth off her shit,” River added.

  “Okay, everyone quiet down,” Seth instructed. “Listen.”

  The room went deathly quiet as he started the video once again. As Marlie confessed to sleeping with the AUSA and bribing Lewis with blow jobs to get her hands on the security drives at Shadows, Liam’s temper skyrocketed.

  He was sickened by the visible glee she took in lying and planting the seeds that would destroy not only Hammer but their family. And the more she maligned Raine, the angrier Liam grew. He clenched his jaw and fists. Blood thundered in his ears as he restrained the urge to snap her fucking neck.

  “I want to kill that cunt.” Clearly, Hammer was as livid as Liam. “Why such hatred? I never promised her a fucking thing, and she certainly didn’t mean shit to me.”

  Liam gripped Hammer’s arm. “There’s the problem, mate. She’s a narcissistic slut who expected you to put her on a pedestal. Instead, you tossed her aside for our girl. Marlie couldn’t handle the rejection.”

  Hammer shook his head in disgust. “So she thought she’d put me in prison instead? What a squack-dripping, sociopathic cuntsicle. I want to fucking kill her.”

  When River reached inside his pants on the video, Seth stopped the DVD again.

  “Aw, come on, fucker,” Beck grumbled. “We want to watch the rest.”

  “Keep your panties on,” Seth chided, then turned to Sterling. “Is Hammer free? Is there enough on this tape to clear his name?”

  All eyes turned toward the lawyer. Liam held his breath as Hammer tensed beside him.

  “Christ knows I’d love to say yes, but she didn’t name names. If I presented this to the judge, my defense would be as circumstantial as their prosecution.” Sterling looked frustrated and saddened.

  “I thought you might say that, so…” Seth pulled a stack of papers from his briefcase as he stood in front of the men. “I did a little more digging. That’s why I’m late. As of two weeks ago, the illustrious AUSA, Todd Wellington, acquired a mistress.”

  Seth handed Sterling a sheet of paper.

  “From these credit card receipts, you can see that Wellington began booking rooms at The Ritz every Monday and Friday for a little nooner. So I trekked down to the hotel a few hours ago and flirted my ass off with the front desk clerk. I showed her a photo of Marlie and Wellington, and she whispered that the couple had already checked in. They were up on the tenth floor. She wouldn’t tell me the room number, but I didn’t really need it.”

  “You sly fucker.” Liam grinned.

  “I paced the hall for about thirty minutes with my phone in hand. When suddenly, two doors down, they walked out of one of the rooms. I turned and clicked off a couple of photos. They didn’t even look my way. Wellington just shoved her up against the wall and grabbed her ass while Marlie swallowed his tongue.”

  “Oh, god. I know exactly how that feels,” River grumbled.

  “I was able to capture these…” Seth announced as he held up eight-by-ten photos of the couple groping and tonsil-swabbing.

  “Holy shit,” Hammer barked.

  Lunging from his seat, he spun and pinned Sterling with an anxious stare. Hope radiated from Hammer, instantly washing over Liam and bathing him in a warm wave of optimism and confidence. The double whammy damn near bowled him over.

  A slow smile spread over the lawyer’s face. Without a word, Barnes stood and pulled his phone from his breast pocket. “I just received an email from the AUSA’s office with the name of the prosecution’s witness.” A knowing smirk played on his lips. “Is the star of your video a…lady—I use that term loosely—named Marlie Natelnash?”

  “You mean Marlie Nastysnatch?” Hammer snarled. “Yeah.”

  With a nod, Sterling pressed a button, then held the device to his ear.

  “Hey, Arnie, it’s Sterling. Yes. Yes, our tee time is still on for tomorrow. I’m calling to
see if I can come by your chambers this afternoon. I’ve got some unbelievable information regarding the Hammerman case you need to see. This shit is going to blow you away. Oh, and you might want to issue arrest warrants for Marlie Natelnash, the prosecution’s witness, as well as our AUSA friend, Todd Wellington.” He paused as a grin speared his lips. “Yes, you heard me right. The pompous prick won’t be strutting around your courtroom—or anyone else’s. That won’t be possible after he’s been disbarred. Yes. I’ll be bringing you more proof than you can imagine. All right. Thanks, Arnie. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Wait! You can’t take the video,” Beck objected. “We haven’t seen the rest yet.”

  Liam and Hammer ignored the horny bastard. Both stepped toward Barnes, holding their breath.

  “So it’s over?” Hammer asked, his voice cracking slightly.

  When Liam gripped Macen’s shoulder, he could feel his friend trembling beneath his palm.

  Barnes patted Hammer’s arm in fatherly reassurance. “I can’t say definitively, but after I show all this to Judge Ayers, I believe that will end your problems.” Sterling glanced over both their shoulders and nodded toward Seth.

  “I have the PG-friendly version for you to take to the judge. All the confession and none of the sex.”

  “Perfect.” Sterling smiled. “I know none of you boys would ever tape a sex act without your partner’s consent and get your asses in trouble, right?”

  “I’m a decorated war hero who would never do such a thing.” River grinned.

  “I plead the fifth.” Seth winked, passing out DVDs like playing cards. “I made copies with spice for your spank banks, gentlemen.”

  “Burn mine. I don’t fucking want it,” Hammer growled.

  “Mine, too. Christ, man. What the bloody hell were you thinking?” Liam groused.

  “Sweet,” Beck cheered as he jumped up and grabbed one.

  “I’ll make sure to tell Heavenly how eager you were to add to your personal porn collection,” Seth jeered.

  Beck flipped him off. “I’ll tell her you recorded it.”

  After Seth handed Sterling a DVD with the confession only, along with the other incriminating evidence, the lawyer promised to call as soon as he had news, then left.

  Hammer stepped over to River and extended his hand. When Raine’s brother took it, Macen blinked back tears. “I don’t even know how to fucking thank you.”

  “You don’t have to, especially since I started all this. I’m just glad your taste in women has improved.”

  Hammer snorted and gestured Seth toward him for a manly hug. As the three stood there smiling and discussing how the sting went down, Liam’s heart soared.

  With the bromance blossoming, Beck eased from his chair and started the video up once again.

  “Oh, look,” Duncan called, pointing at the screen. “River’s tying the beast down. Just like King Kong.”

  “You mean King Cunt.” Beck snorted.

  “And now he’s getting ready to lay the bagpipes,” Duncan laughed. “Christ, your cock’s as big as the Alaskan Pipeline. Tell me, does it have its own heart and lungs?”

  River grinned, pulled away from Hammer, then took a seat next to Liam’s dad. “No, but I think it scared her a little.”

  “That’s not a big dick.” Beck grabbed his crotch. “This is a big dick.”

  “I got so pissed off at Marlie when I was recording this shit, I wanted to march into the room with River and give her a fifty-yard cunt punt,” Seth railed. “I didn’t because I was afraid I’d lose my shoe.”

  Liam and Hammer groaned in unison.

  “Oh, she’s spreading her legs,” Duncan bellowed. “Saints have mercy! She’s got a vagina the size of a hallway. Someone toss the lad a rope.”

  “Trust me, Duncan,” River drawled. “It would have been more appealing to fuck a hallway. I’ve touched mannequins whose bodies had more give than hers.”

  “Come on.” Hammer nodded toward Liam. “Let’s go find Raine.”

  “I’m with you. I’ve seen enough. Any more, and I’m likely to throw up.”

  As he and Hammer raced up the stairs, they met Bryn on her way down.

  “Don’t go near the media room, Mum,” Liam warned.

  “I had no intention, my boy. I’m not daft,” she scolded. “Go to your girl. She’s antsy to see you both.”

  Needing no further encouragement, they sprinted to their bedroom.

  Raine turned and flashed them a glowing smile. “Well?”

  They rushed to her and enveloped her between them, smothering her with kisses as she giggled like a schoolgirl. Excited. Happy. Free.

  “Oh, precious.” Hammer exhaled. “How the hell am I ever going to be able to thank you for what you’ve done?”

  “Just tell me it’s really over.”

  “Sterling is on his way to meet with the judge as we speak,” Hammer explained. “He’ll call soon. Then, hopefully, we’ll have something to celebrate.”

  “We will,” Liam assured. “Trust me. At least while Mum’s here. After she’s gone, I might lose my Spidey senses, but for now…”

  The three of them simply laughed.

  It felt good.

  The possibility of freedom tasted sweet. They were all anxious to start their long and happy life together. The dark cloud that had been hanging over their heads for so damn long began to dissipate.

  Chapter 18

  Hammer didn’t know how much time had passed since he and Liam had joined Raine in their bedroom. He didn’t care. All he wanted was to stay close to them, keep Raine wrapped in his arms, and sink deep into her mouth.

  If there were two people who embodied love for him, it was Liam and Raine. Only they’d stood by him in his darkest hours. Liam had saved him from making an irrevocable mistake. Raine was staving off his certain insanity by trying to bring an end to his legal threat. Hammer didn’t even know how to express the depth of his gratitude.

  A tap on the door drew his attention. Beck stood at the portal, wearing an early congratulatory smile and holding a copy of the infamous DVD.

  “Seth and I are taking off. River is downstairs with Bryn and Duncan.” Beck looked pointedly at Liam. “Your old man is a fucking riot, but your mom? That woman scares the shit out of me.”

  The trio couldn’t help but chuckle. Now if Sterling would just call with some good news, his life would be complete.

  Beck sobered. “I’m pulling for you guys. I hope you can put this crap behind you for good.”

  “Thanks.” Hammer nodded as the man waved and ducked out.

  He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. What the hell was taking so long? Anxiety crawled through his guts. What if Judge Ayers wanted more proof?

  Suddenly his cell phone rang. Hammer yanked it from his pocket and sucked in a bracing breath when Sterling’s name and number appear on the screen. He sank to the edge of the mattress, his heart slamming against his ribs in triple time. “Looks like it’s time for the fat lady to shut up or sing.”

  “We’re beside you, brother. No matter what,” Liam pledged.