Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
I know one thing for sure. I don’t want revenge anymore. I just want my man to be okay.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Duke
“Nice to meet you,” Ethan says, shaking Molly’s hand.
It says some messed up things about me that, even now, with my son’s life at risk, I hate the sight of Molly touching another man. I’m going to have to get used to that. But if anybody ever oversteps the line, I’ll ruthlessly tear them to pieces. She asked if she was my girlfriend. I told her she was mine, and I meant it. She belongs to me. I would’ve gone further, but what if Ryan doesn’t make it? Can I live with that on my conscience?
We’re in the living room. Ethan is wearing a leather jacket, his bald head showing a zigzagging scar from a home invasion call from his time on patrol. He stands behind the chair, squeezing it, letting out a tired sigh. His eyes flit to Molly, then to me. It’s like he’s asking if he can speak freely in front of her. I nod.
“So, it turns out the man you fucked up was the son of the head honcho, some little toe rag called Jackson.”
“I pieced him up because he was holding a gun to my woman,” I snarl.
Ethan flinches. Molly lets out a gasp. I know I should try to rein in this part of myself until my son’s safe, but if it weren’t for that brick in the window, I would’ve taken Molly’s virginity right there, in the gym. I would’ve told her exactly what she means to me. I would’ve explained that I own her and always will.
“They don’t see that as a good excuse,” Ethan says once he’s over the obvious shock. “They actually want to talk.”
“Good. I’m ready.”
Ethan runs a hand over his head as though tracing the scar. He does it often during training, especially in between sparring rounds. It’s like he’s reminding himself how bad things can go and how quickly. “I’m risking my ass by being here. If the brass finds out I didn’t report this…”
“If you report it, will these wannabe gangsters find out?”
Ethan swallows. “Yeah, most likely.”
“Then what will they do to Ryan?”
“You’d probably never see him again.”
“Then let me talk with the bastards,” I snap.
“Goddamn corruption,” Ethan goes on. “It was worse when I started, but it’s still bad. The worst part is if I said anything about it, they’d find a way to get rid of me. Right now, I’m on the borderline. People talk way too freely around me. They’ve gotten way too comfortable.”
I let him vent, then ask, “How do I speak with them, then? I’m supposed to meet them in…” I glance at the clock. “Seven hours. Apparently, they have a surprise.”
Ethan reaches into his leather jacket, takes out the note, and slides it across the coffee table. I snatch it up and immediately take out my cell phone.
“No,” Ethan says, reaching into his pocket again. “Use this one. It’s a burner. There won’t be a record of you talking with them.”
“Why does that matter?” I ask.
“If you end up seriously hurting one of them to get Ryan back, the fewer links between you, the better.”
I take the burner cell. Molly is biting her lip, twirling a piece of hair around her finger over and over. I can’t believe I ever went even an hour without seeing her. With her taste still on my lips, with her so close, I can’t imagine being apart. A sick part of me wonders if the hair twirling is because she’s worried about Ryan.
That wouldn’t be a bad thing, would it? But what if all of this is still about revenge? What if she really cares about Ryan, and I’m just a way to get to him?
No, I can’t believe that. I can’t think about it. I quickly type in the cell phone number. It rings for a long time, but finally, a man answers. “Hello, superstar. I was waiting for your call.”
“Let’s settle this,” I growl.
“Easy, easy,” the man says, laughing. “And for the record, I don’t know what you’re referring to.”
“How much cash will it take?” I snap, hating the idea of paying these lowlifes but seeing no other choice.
“Not everything in life is about money, my friend. It’s like we told you. We have a surprise for you.”
“Then why make sure I got this cell phone number?” I snap.
“Because there’s another option. You see, I got to thinking about the little scene in the bar. You were angry when we had your son, but you were feral when you saw that young lady in danger. You were unhinged.” This man sounds like the big one, the leader of the sad little group. “I asked Ryan if my hunch was correct, and he ever-so-kindly confirmed that it was. You’re dating her. Your son’s ex-girlfriend.”