Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
“Maddy.”
“Dad—Daddy?”
“I want you to go home. Call Uncle Channing.”
“Uncle Channing? Why? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, honey. Just tell Uncle Channing that KB made contact. He’ll know what that means. He’ll take it from there.”
“KB? Who’s KB?”
“I love you, Maddy.” I reached forward and ended the call. Fuck. My heart raced.
Kai Bennett was waiting for me, standing outside his SUV. I’d Googled this fucker, and there should’ve been way more images of him online than there were. He also should have been in his sixties, not just a few years older than me. He had dark features. Short black hair. He was powerful and feared. He was mafia, the real deal. There was a real possibility I could die at the end of this talk with him. And unlike the other enemies I’d faced against, this time, his men would shoot and they would kill me. I’d be just another execution to them.
The phone started ringing. Logan. Maddy had called him before Channing.
I declined the call, leaning forward to see if I could glimpse the guard at the gate. We had four guards. Where the fuck were they?
Knock, knock.
One of Kai’s guards was at my window, and seeing he’d gotten my attention, he stepped back, folding his hands in front of him. I put my vehicle in park and opened the door. Broad. The guy had more muscle than I did, and he was an inch taller. Clad in a business suit, wearing leather gloves, and I could see bulges under his jacket. Those were guns. More than one.
“Turn your vehicle off, please, Mr. Kade.”
So fucking polite. I hesitated, though, meeting Kai Bennett’s dark gaze before swinging around to the front. The entry gate had closed now, and it was supposed to be reinforced so no one could break through it. They weren’t flimsy gates. My dad hadn’t been messing around, but the guards were another thing.
Kai Bennett watched me with an impassive curiosity as his eyebrows furrowed just slightly. He didn’t make a move. He didn’t look alarmed either, just the slightest bit impatient as he continued to wait for me. As I reached over to turn the engine off, I heard doors opening.
Men got out of the other SUVs, all wearing the same uniform. Business suits. Tall. Broad. Fit. And with bulges under their jackets from their guns. But no one moved closer. Some fanned out, spreading through the parking lot, walking in the opposite direction.
“Let’s go.” The first guard moved to grab my arm.
“I wouldn’t, Thomas.”
We both froze, hearing Kai Bennett speak. His eyes were on his guard’s hand, which was two inches from making contact. His voice was a warning, but not an urgent one. It was as if he were here to cross an item off his to-do list.
“He’s a professional athlete, and if my research is correct, skilled enough with fighting that you’d be surprised at his reaction. I never told you to strong-arm him, so don’t.” His gaze shifted to me. “Kade, I’m here as a respectful formality.” He thought a moment. “That’s the best way I can put it. I mean you no harm, nor your daughter, which is why we waited to move in until she was in the clear. I hope you take that into consideration with the decision that’s weighing on you right now.”
I grunted, not liking this fucker. “What decision is that?”
“Whether to disarm my man, jump into your vehicle, and take your chances with my men out there or give in and have this meeting with me. You’re weighing the options because you know who I am. You know what I do. You know there’s just as much of a chance of you walking away from here alive as having a bullet lodged in your brain.” He gave a small nod. “Like I said, I am here as a respectful formality. Nothing else. I wish to have a conversation, to inform you of a few misconceptions you have about me, and then we’ll be on our way. I’m hoping that’ll be the end of this, but I suppose that depends on what you decide to do in the next few moments. So, Kade. What will we be doing today?”
I really, really did not like this guy. Way too smart. Way too smooth. Way too fucking arrogant. I ground my teeth against each other because he also could back everything up, and we both knew that.
I reached in and pulled out the keys.
“Hand them to Thomas, please.”
I’d started toward him but paused at his order. I positively loathed this guy. I handed them off.
As soon as Thomas had the keys, he moved behind me, shutting my door and nudging me forward. “Just walk to him.”
I held my hands out. “I have no weapons on me.”
Kai Bennett lifted his chin. “We know.”