Read The Waterfall for Free Online

Lucy aren’t very good friends. Didn’t Sebastian once work for you?”
    She was tempted to pick at an itchy mosquito bite, but resisted. “I gather his company is doing very well.”
    Mowery didn’t react. Barbara liked that. It meant he had self-control. According to Washington gossip, there was no love lost between Sebastian Redwing and his old mentor. There was even talk that Mowery blamed Sebastian for the downfall of DM Consultants, Darren’s private security firm.
    Barbara supposed it was theoretically possible that Lucy would go whining to Sebastian about what had happened to her this week, but she doubted it. Lucy was quite determined to prove herself capable, independent—which, of course, she wasn’t. Barbara had already calculated that Lucy wouldn’t go to Jack or to the Capitol Police. Lucy wanted no part of being a Swift.
    â€œI get the impression you don’t like Lucy Swift very much,” Darren said.
    â€œI don’t see what concern that is of yours.”
    He leaned forward. “Cards on the table, Barbie. I have a bone to pick with your boss. I want to make him sweat. And I want your help.”
    â€œMy help?”
    â€œI think you’ve got something on him,” Mowery said, smug and confident.
    â€œNo. Senator Swift is a man of sterling integrity.”
    Mowery threw back his head and laughed.
    Barbara pursed her lips. “I’m serious.”
    â€œYeah, well, so am I. Barbie, Barbie.” He shook his head at her, sighing. “Office gossip says you threw yourself at the old boy a couple weeks ago, and he laughed you out of his office.”
    Her stomach flipped over on her. “That’s not true.”
    â€œWhat part? You didn’t throw yourself at him or he didn’t laugh?”
    â€œYou’re disgusting. I want you to leave.”
    â€œNo, you don’t want me to leave. You want to help me settle a score with Jack Swift. You want to see him sweat. You want him to suffer for humiliating you.”
    â€œHe—he wasn’t prepared for the level of intimacy I offered, that’s all. He was scared.”
    â€œScared, huh?”
    â€œHe knows I’ve been there for him. Always. Forever.”
    Mowery’s gaze bored through her. “What do you have on him?”
    â€œNothing!”
    â€œBarbie, I’m going to put the squeeze on Senator Jack. I’m going to bleed him. You’re going to watch, and you’re going to enjoy the show.” He reached over and touched her knee. “Revenge can be very sweet.”
    She said nothing.
    His eyes narrowed, and he smiled. “Only it’s not revenge you want, is it, Barbie? I get it now. You want Jack to suffer and come to you, the one woman who loves him unconditionally. This is precious. Truly precious.”
    â€œMy motives,” Barbara said, “are irrelevant.”
    â€œIn twenty years, has old Jack ever made a pass at you?”
    â€œHe wouldn’t. For much of that time he was a married man.”
    Mowery laughed out loud. “God, you’re a riot. This is going to be fun.”
    She was on dangerous ground. Deadly ground.
    Her stomach heaved, and she ran to the bathroom and vomited.
    Oh, God. I can’t do this.
    But she had to. She’d given Darren Mowery all the signals. He knew this was what she wanted. Not just a chance to get back at Jack for spurning her, but a chance to provide him with the opportunity to come to her for help, to find solace in her strength and wisdom. She’d driven up to Vermont and harassed Lucy, hoping it would relieve the pressure of wanting to hurt Jack, too. But it hadn’t. She loved him, and she wasn’t one to give up easily on those she loved.
    When she’d confided her love to him, Jack hadn’t gotten angry with her or shown any passion, any heat, any depth of emotion. He’d been kind. Solicitous. Professional. He gave her the predictable speech about