Dances with Monsters(145)

But Connor knew there was much more to the situation than met the eye, and he wasn't about to let it slide. He'd done a little research on the hotel, asked a few questions, and now knew exactly where he was going. He headed to the bank of elevators and rode them to the fourth floor. He found the room he was looking for and listened intently. He heard shuffling noises from inside and glanced at his watch. It was exactly eleven in the morning—check-out time.

Carter Steele was nothing if not punctual.

Connor was leaning against the wall opposite the door when Carter finally opened it. To the man's credit, surprise flamed in his eyes only very briefly before settling into a cool mask of nonchalance. His hand settled on the doorknob as though he were trying to decide what to do. Finally, he stepped backward, allowing the bags on his shoulder to slip down his arm and settle on the carpet as he pulled the door open wider.

"Connor. How predictable. Come on in."

Connor pushed off from the wall and stepped into the room, careful to note Carter's exact position behind him. He didn't expect the man to do anything untoward, but it never hurt to be alert. He knew he wouldn't have much trouble at all subduing the man if necessary.

Connor found another wall to lean against as Carter moved to the desk chair across from him. He stretched his legs out in front of him and folded his fingers together over his belly, looking up at Connor coolly.

"So. What would you like to talk about?"

"You and Marty Brown leaked that information about Drew," Connor said matter-of-factly. "I don't know if you know this, Carter, but revealing the identity of a rape victim prior to a trial is illegal in this state."

Carter shrugged negligently. "You have no proof," he said simply. "There is nobody to prove I had anything to do with it."

"But you did," Connor replied. "You both did."

"Hey, that freelancer asked what her name was. I told him. Might have made mention that she's Heath's little basket case. Maybe that set him off; I dunno. All I know is he was pissed you and your wife brushed him off—he'd been prepaid for an exclusive on the relationship of the infamous Riley brothers post-Ultimate Warrior. Whatever he did after that, he ran with it."

"What kind of man are you?" Connor asked rhetorically. "Who does that kind of a thing? Do you have any idea how much damage that caused?"

Carter shrugged again. "Not my problem, man." He rose from his seat. "What is your problem, or rather, your baby brother's problem, is the shit storm that's about to hit him from treating me how he did. Fire me? He wouldn't be here if it weren't for me! He wouldn't ever have been in Ultimate Warrior if it weren't for me! Fire me?" Carter got nose to nose with Connor and glared. Connor looked back at him impassively, but internally his muscles coiled tight as he felt the pure rage rolling off the man in almost noxious waves.

"Tell your brother that two can play that game—he's no longer manager of the gym. My gym."

"His gym, too," Connor said quietly. "I seem to remember this part where he's co-owner."

Carter smiled cruelly at him. "Yeah, about that. When he signed the contract, he agreed I would retain majority ownership and the right to dissolve the partnership as I saw fit. Well, now I see fit. Carter's Gym is mine, and you can tell him for me he's officially out on his ass. Hope he doesn't have any personals in my office—if so, they're goin' in the trash." Carter stepped around Connor to pick up his bags, and Connor clenched his jaw angrily.

"Tell your boy he just fucked up royally," Carter continued, opening the door again. "Oh, one more thing." He turned and gave Connor another chilling smile. "I've got a sweet little surprise waiting for him. I won't ruin the punch-line for you. Tell him to watch his ass." Carter stepped out of the room and the door slammed shut behind him, as Connor stood rooted in place, unable to process what he'd just heard. Things had gone from bad to completely fucked in a matter of seconds.

He headed back to the patio where his family was still breakfasting and caught Heath's eye, waving him over. His brother rose from his seat, wiping his mouth on a napkin and joined him where Connor was standing a few feet away. He folded his arms and frowned at his brother's expression.

"What is it?" Heath asked quietly. "Where'd you go?"

Connor sighed. "I—I went to go look for Carter." He steeled himself against the look of pure anger that creased his brother's face.

"You did what?" Heath hissed, struggling to keep his voice low. "Connor—what the fuck?"

Connor held up a hand. "Look, get mad at me if you want to. I was just bein' a big brother. None of that sat well with me yesterday. Heath, he worked with Marty to leak the story to the commentators. He said he gave Marty her name, and he did the rest."