Free Just a Bit Twisted by Alessandra Hazard Page A

price, Mr. Wyatt. Everything has a price.”
    “Some things don’t.” Shawn walked out.
    Everybody has a price .
    So this was what Joseph Rutledge had taught his son.
    Shawn wasn’t sure who he pitied more at this moment: Rutledge, his father or himself.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 12
     
    He finally found Rutledge on the terrace half an hour later.
    “I’m going home,” Shawn said.
    Rutledge’s back stiffened. He turned around, a cigarette in his hand.
    Strange. Until yesterday, Shawn had thought he didn’t smoke at all.
    Rutledge took a long drag, studying him with an unreadable expression. “Why? We’re supposed to leave tomorrow.”
    “I talked to your father.”
    For a moment, Rutledge went very still before a sardonic smile appeared on his face. “How much did he offer you?”
    “A lot. Only an idiot would refuse.”
    Rutledge turned away. “Congratulations. The easiest money you’ve ever made.”
    Shawn eyed his straight back. “Well, we’ve already established I’m dumb, didn’t we?”
    A pause.
    Rutledge let out a laugh. “You should have taken the money, Wyatt.”
    “I don’t like him.”
    Rutledge turned around again and ground out his cigarette with his shoe. “No one likes him. It’s not a good enough reason not to accept the money. We know it would have made no difference.”
    “We know it, but he doesn’t.” Shawn cocked his head. “Are you really okay with me accepting his money? He thinks I’m your boyfriend.”
    Rutledge’s lips twisted. “My father has been paying my boyfriends off ever since I was fifteen. You wouldn’t have been the first. The old man’s stubborn enough to think I’ll marry a nice little girl if he puts an end to every relationship I try to have. Though I’m a bit surprised this time. Usually he bothers only if the guy lasts more than a month—which doesn’t happen that often.”
    Shawn stared at him. “You can’t mean all of them accepted his money.”
    “No. Not all of them. But most.”
    There was a bland mask of indifference on Rutledge’s face, and Shawn had to curl his hands into fists and look away, trying to shake off the urge to touch him.
    “You said he reminded you of me,” Rutledge said. “But he takes it to a whole new level. He doesn’t know when to stop.”
    “Yeah,” Shawn murmured. “He’s a narrow-minded, self-absorbed, high-handed asshole, and he fucked you up. But it doesn’t excuse you when you act like a dick. And if you keep being so insensitive and keep treating people like pawns, you’ll turn into him. Do you want that?”
    “I didn’t bring you along so you could psychoanalyze me.”
    “No, you didn’t bring me along for that,” Shawn said, his voice quiet. “But I’m done.”
    Rutledge’s gaze sharpened. “What?”
    “I’m a bit sick of being treated like a cheap whore by your family.”
    “I wouldn’t call you cheap,” Rutledge said, his voice clipped.
    Shawn laughed softly. “Okay, maybe I deserve it. I needed money and wasn’t proud enough to say no, but I’m kinda sick of it now. That’s it, Professor.”
    He turned to leave, but Rutledge crossed the distance between them in a few strides and grabbed his arm. “You can’t leave. We have a deal.”
    Shawn looked at him, ignoring Rutledge’s painful grip on his arm. “We had a deal. I’m ending it now. I think I more than earned the money you paid me for this trip. You can keep the money for last night’s sex. On the house.”
    He tried to yank his hand free, but Rutledge’s grip only tightened. “You can’t just decide to leave.”
    “Why not? Why do you even mind?” His smiled brightly. “Didn’t you say you get bored of straight guys after you fuck them? Lucky for you, then.”
    Rutledge’s lips pressed into a thin line. His grasp loosened.
    Yanking his arm free, Shawn strode away.
     
     
     
     
    * * *
     
     
     
     
    By the time Shawn managed to dress the girls and get them out of the house, Rutledge’s car was waiting