Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
He should have gagged him. This was getting out of control. Alexei snatched up his gun and got in Soren’s face. “Shut up or I’m going to take my dirty, sweaty sock off and shove it in your mouth.”
Soren sucked in a breath and opened his mouth. Alexei pressed the gun to Soren’s forehead, and no words left Soren’s tongue.
“I am serious. Kalman was not my first contract, nor will he be my last.” A deadly calm fell over him and it was as if he could suddenly breathe again. He didn’t feel anything for this man. He was simply a mark. It didn’t matter if they’d had sex, dinner, or shared a few laughs together. It didn’t matter if he knew exactly what Soren’s skin smelled like or the feel of his body when they lay wrapped in each other.
Alexei walked away from Soren, rubbing his temples. Why did this one have to be so damn complicated?
“I’m not telling you where I’ve hidden the damn hard drive,” Soren said in a low, hard voice. “The second I do, you’re going to kill me.”
“I still get paid if I simply kill you without recovering the hard drive,” Alexei pointed out. He glanced out the windows in the French doors, gazing out over the city before he pulled the curtains closed. It was safer if no one could see inside his apartment. If someone else was looking for Soren, he didn’t need to make it easy for them. He hadn’t seen any sign of another person following them, but he didn’t want to take any chances. At least if he had to fight someone else, there were ample weapons stashed at his place. Not to mention, he already knew all the possible exits.
“How much?”
Alexei’s head snapped to look at Soren, who was sitting with shoulders slumped in the chair. “What?”
“How much are you getting paid?”
A snort left Alexei and he walked around to sit heavily on the couch again. “What? You gonna offer me more money? I don’t work like that. Some assassins do have integrity. When I take a contract, I see it through.”
“Yeah, but can’t I be your one exception? We slept together, for fuck’s sake.”
“An unfortunate coincidence.”
“Your moans didn’t sound so unfortunate.”
Alexei clenched his teeth against the hot flush that was burning his cheeks. He didn’t need to have those memories thrown into his face. “Enough!” he snapped.
“How much?”
He couldn’t believe that he was even allowing this conversation to continue. “Five million to kill you. Seven million for the hard drive. Fifteen million if I kill you and recover the hard drive.”
Soren swore softly and dropped his head, eyes closed. “Okay, so maybe my offer isn’t that impressive, but it could be worth it since it’s less of a headache. My buyer is supposed to pay me ten million for the hard drive. That’s double the five you’re going to get for killing me.”
Alexei smiled tightly at him. “Yes, but I plan to get the fifteen.”
“You might plan on that, but I’m never going to tell you where it is. I’m not stupid enough to keep it on me. It’s hidden and will be shipped to the buyer when he fucking pays me. The best you’re ever going to get is the five for killing me.”
“Do you think I won’t torture you for the information I want?” Alexei sneered. He leaned closer, eyes narrowed. “I have no problem breaking bones and cutting off fingers until I get what I want.”
Soren’s expression twisted into one of disgust. “Yeah, if you’ve got no problem killing me, I can’t imagine you’d have any problem torturing me. But the answer is still no. You can kill me and get five mil, or you can keep me alive until my meeting and get twice that.”
He stared at Soren for several seconds, holding his gaze and reading his expression. The cat burglar didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. Didn’t waver. He meant it. He would rather die than give up the hard drive. Not that Alexei could blame him. If he did, he was dead. At least if he was killed without giving up the drive, it was a big fuck-you to Alexei.
So, what? Keep him alive? Protect him from other assassins until they could make the drop?
Alexei growled to himself and marched into the bathroom but left the door open so he could listen for Soren in the next room. This job was a goddamn nightmare. It wasn’t working out like it was supposed to at all. What the hell was he supposed to do?
His fingers positively itched to grab his phone and call his uncles. Justin would grumble about the time, but they’d both be right there to help him with advice. But he couldn’t keep leaning on them. He’d left and struck out on his own because he wanted to be his own man. He wanted to make his own decisions. Not go running to the safety of his home every time things became complicated.