Claimed by Her Web Master (Web Master #3) (16 page)

Back then, during one of the longest trials in New York’s history, he hadn’t spared me a second glance, and why would he? I’d just turned nineteen. I still hadn’t fully grown into my body, and I kept my mousy brown bangs long to cover my face so I could hide from the world.

Yet I couldn’t help wishing he’d gift me just once with his dazzling smile that he so easily gave out to the pretty blonde lawyer. I grimaced as heat settled between my legs. I didn’t like the reaction my body had to him then and I didn’t like the way he affected me now.

He’s a monster—a liar and a thief. Don’t ever forget that.

I’d been waiting for this day for five long years. Five years waiting for Mr. Dream Breaker to get out of jail. Waiting to get to the bottom of what really happened to the billions of dollars he’d fleeced off innocent investors so that he could live like a fucking rock star.

Oh, how sweet this day is.
Better than Christmas and all my birthdays rolled into one.

Operation Seduce a Billionaire was about to take off.

Erin Brockovich would be damn proud of me. But most of all, I imagined my Granddaddy eye’s would crinkle at the corners and he’d beam down lovingly at me when I told him I was following in his footsteps. He was the one who inspired my interest in justice by telling endless stories about his days as an undercover agent. Of course he always swore me to secrecy, saying that I was never to repeat anything he told me to anyone or our lives could be in grave danger. I was never quite sure which parts were true and which were fabricated by his vivid imagination, but I loved the rush of adrenaline that flowed through my body as he spoke. I was enthralled and enamored by the idea that one person could make a difference and bring down the bad guys.

“One day I’m going to be just like you. I’m going to fight for a good cause and make the baddies suffer.”

He laughed and patted my head. “Learn hard at school, so you can outsmart everyone else. That’s the key to catching the bastar . . . baddies.” Granddaddy had a choice vocabulary and although he tried not to cuss in front of me, I guess I inherited it from him or else I was just a natural, because I could out-swear any guy, especially after a few drinks.

“I’m going to make you proud, Gramps.”

“Work on your superpowers every day, Addison. Every hero and heroine need superpowers. Remember that.”

I never quite figured out what mine were, but I followed his advice and was a top student in high school three years in a row. If being smart was all it took, I had that covered.

The sun’s warm rays reached into the small space I’d called home, reflecting off the stark white kitchen walls and making a pattern on the wooden floor. I couldn’t wait to get out of there and kick my plan into action.

I placed the clipping with the others in the file I’d kept on the white collar criminals who ruined my family and countless others, then wiped my clammy palms on my denim skirt. This bad guy was going to wish he were back in jail by the time I finished with him, and there’d be no get out of jail early card for good behavior.

This time Foster Cruise will pay for his sins.
They’d lock him up and leave him to rot in hell for what he did. Let those sparkling white teeth
turn yellow with age and neglect. I snorted in an unladylike fashion at the image that flitted through my mind. What did I care what he looked like after I’d used him to get the information I needed to help the victims get their money back from him and his slimy boss?

If the justice system couldn’t make him pay back those people, I would.

Because of unscrupulous assholes like Foster and his boss, Arnie Hirsh, I’d given up a lot of things I previously had taken for granted. At least I’d learned that material possessions weren’t what made a person happy. Only vindication for my family and other innocent victims would finally bring me peace and happiness.

It would all be worth it when I wiped that cocky smile off the face of the man I detested with every fiber in my body. Oh, I was going to make him pay alright. My plan was solid—all I had to do was find out where he lived, infiltrate his life, seduce him and get him to spill his guts to me after we had hot sweaty sex. Easy enough, right?

I fired up my laptop and found the internet site with last minute internal flights. There were only two seats left in coach from New York to LA, and although they were more expensive than I bargained for, I closed my eyes and hit the buy button on a one way ticket to my destiny.

A
former psychologist
, Normandie has always been fascinated by human behavior. She loves writing quirky characters that are all too human. Fiber arts, baking, and Pinterest are a few of her favorite pastimes. A shamelessly proud basketball mom, Normandie lives on a farm with a passel of kids, an adorable husband, and a pet pig who’s crazy for Red Bull.

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