Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“I did my best. I’d like another shot.”
“Afraid this is the end of our relationship,” he replied with a smirk.
Her brain felt sluggish, but she needed answers. “So, you’re just some hired gun who kidnaps people?”
“I take jobs now and then, yeah. Don’t work for anyone in particular. I’m more of a contract-basis kind of guy.”
She had to keep him talking. “How do people find you?”
“If you don’t know, you can’t.” He flashed a grin. “That’s the beauty of it.”
Emily eyed the gun, then his steady posture.
“You won’t make it if you try to charge. I’ll get off at least two shots,” he replied easily.
“Might be worth it.” Except she didn’t have the strength. He didn’t need to know that, though. “I don’t understand why you won’t tell me who hired you. I’m going to meet them anyway.”
He checked his watch. “Yeah, but they’re a ways off.”
“Any idea why someone would want me alive at this point?”
“No clue.” He stretched his legs, dark jeans and a black shirt blending into the shadows despite his blond hair.
“Do they plan to kill me?”
He glanced at her breasts beneath the thin silk. “Don’t know. Don’t care. My job’s to deliver you. That’s it.”
“So it didn’t matter that you took me from Jackson Tryne’s territory?”
“Not to me.” His shoulders lifted in a lazy shrug.
She coughed, trying to concentrate. “I take it you were in charge of the first kidnapping attempt on me?”
“Nope.” He shrugged. “Found out all about it and loved the garlic over the head idea, but you got away, didn’t you? If I had kidnapped you, let’s just say that you would’ve remained kidnapped.”
Fantastic. Someone really wanted her out of the way. “Who were the other kidnappers?”
“Can’t reveal names. Honor among thieves and all of that.” He chuckled. “I doubled the industry standard fee to come into Tryne’s territory to take you, because they would’ve just failed again.”
She could mess with his head. “There’s a reason for that, you know?”
“Meaning what?” His voice rose just a bit.
“Jackson will tear you apart for taking someone from his territory. Anybody, really. But you took me. I’m his friend and his current guest.”
The guy’s chin lifted. “So?”
“So?” Yeah, he was afraid of Jackson. Who wouldn’t be? “Have you ever met him?”
“No.”
That sounded truthful. Clearly, Jackson’s reputation had this male on alert. She could play with that. “The rumors you’ve heard about him are true. He has no mercy and is the best hunter and tracker alive.” She slowly shook her head as if in pity. “He’ll tear you apart just for fun.”
Her kidnapper swallowed. Loudly. “He’ll never find me. I’m turning you over in a couple of hours, and then I’m out of here. Think I’ll go far this time.”
“Nowhere will be far enough.” Her smile felt mocking. “However, there might be a way out of this for you. I can help. I have more money than whoever hired you. How about I pay you to let me go?”
He tilted his head, considering. “Tempting. But my reputation’s my reputation, you know?”
Her pulse kicked up a notch. “How about this? I pay you to let me go, and then I hire you to take out whoever hired you? That way, nobody knows you broke the contract.”
His eyes glinted with amusement. “I like how you think.”
“I do my best. What do you say to a fresh two million dollars?”
He rubbed his chin, his gaze calculating. “Three million.”
“Two and a half,” she countered without hesitation. “All in.”
He pulled out a phone and tapped the screen. “You have the money?”
“You know I do. I’m Emily Nightsom. I have access to more than you can imagine.”
“Do you, now?” His gaze sharpened slightly. “If I’m going to break a contract, I’ll do it right. Just how much do you think your father would pay to get you back?”
Chapter 13
Jackson surveyed the demolished hotel room, his chest tightening at the signs of struggle. Emily had put up one hell of a fight. Shattered furniture, overturned lamps, and scattered belongings painted a chaotic picture of her last moments there. His gaze fell on her open suitcase near the bed. Stepping forward, he crouched and picked up the sweater she’d worn earlier, holding it to his nose. Her scent clung to the soft fabric—a delicate mix of wild berries and honeysuckle, warm and fresh with an undertone of something wilder, distinctly wolf.
Thane searched the bathroom and returned, shaking his head. “She fought hard.”
Leroy ran into the room. “Okay,” he panted, hands braced on his knees. “Doc Gwen was working late. She saw an old, dark-blue sedan, maybe late seventies or early eighties. Boxy frame and chrome bumpers. She didn’t think much of it because of the interstate detour five miles back. Tons of different cars have been coming through.”
“You need to start some cardio,” Jackson muttered, tossing the sweater aside.