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 clench my fists, almost crushing the phone. The muscles in my forearm tighten as if getting me ready for a power punch.
“Hello?” the man says.
“I’m here.”
“Is it true, or is your son a liar?”
I swallow. I can’t say, oh, yeah, my son’s a liar. Go punish him for leading you astray.
“It’s true,” I say.
“Duke Harrow,” the man laughs. “That’s some seriously crazy shit right there, my guy. You’re tunnel brothers with your son.”
I cringe, almost roaring. I almost defend myself by saying, She’s a virgin. It’s not as bad as you think, but there’s no point. Let them believe what they want.
“What’s option B?” I snap.
“Ah, yes, but can’t you guess? Option B is very simple. If you give us the girl, we’ll release your son. A fair trade. The market for men isn’t as ripe as for young women.”
The market. I get cold all over. In my mind, I see Molly standing in lingerie in the middle of some sick auction, perverted men bidding on her, fear making her quiver all over.
“I can’t trust you. No deal.”
“Ha, can’t trust you,” he laughs again. “Something tells me that’s not the real reason for your hesitation. Something tells me the truth is you care more about the little girl than your own son.”
“You’re a fucking criminal,” I growl. “You kidnapped my son. Why would I think you’d make a fair trade?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I see right through you. The little girl is—”
“She’s my woman,” I cut in.
“Oh, sorry, my friend.” He’s loving this, and I’m going to love driving my elbow into his orbital bone with all the power in my body when I get the chance. “Have I offended you? It’s just, well, she is very young.”
I’m about to snap at him again, but then I realize there’s no point. He’s getting what he wants, goading me. “No deal,” I say in a calmer tone. It was much easier to stay calm before I had Molly in my life, bashing my emotional walls down. “What happens at midnight?”
“Nah-uh,” the man says. “No deal means no deal. Come at midnight. Come alone. Or, I swear to God, Ryan is done.”
He hangs up. I place the phone on the table and sit back, tension shuddering inside of me, through me. I’m going to snap, roar, or break something, but I let the anger fold inward.
“What did they say?” Ethan asks.
“He wanted me to trade Molly for Ryan,” I say. “It was a stupid thing to suggest. Like I’d ever do that. I’ll have to go at midnight and see what this surprise is.”
“No.” Molly stands up quickly, shaking her head, covered in pain and worry. “They’ll kill you. It’s a trap. It has to be.”
I stand, too. If Ethan weren’t here, I’d walk around the coffee table and pull her into my arms. I’d hold her tightly, whispering that she’s mine. I’d tell her that every single part of her belongs to me, her womb most of all.
“Tell him.” Molly turns to Ethan. “He can’t go.”
Ethan bites down, tracing his scar again. “You can’t go alone. I know that much.”
“He can’t go at all,” Molly says. “There must be a way for the police to help.”
“What if the wrong cops find out?” I snap. “Then Ryan is dead.”
I remember holding him for the first time, his tiny hand curling around my finger, telling myself his love would make life with my ex worth it. I would’ve stuck it out for my son, even if we didn’t love each other.
“Neither of us wants that, do we?” I say.
“Obviously not,” she snaps, glaring at me. “But I don’t want you to die, either.”
“I have to go,” I say. “Alone.”
“Not alone,” Ethan replies firmly. “I’ll be there. I’ve got a couple of cop buddies, too. I know they’re solid. We’ll be nearby. We’ll be ready.”
“But if you’re too close, if they see you—”
“I’ll be there, too,” Molly says.
“No,” I almost shout. Walking around the table, I stare down at her and yell, “You’re not going anywhere near them!” I remember the bar and the fury that flooded into me. I could’ve killed every bastard in there for even thinking about making my woman suffer. “You need to be safe. Always.”
She flinches on the always. I’m dropping so many unsubtle hints about my true feelings for her. “Nobody is always safe,” she says after a pause. “You can’t protec—”
“I can,” I interrupt. “I will. If you’re anywhere near me when this shit goes down, I won’t be able to focus. I’ll be thinking about you. That could get me and Ryan killed.”
“But you don’t even know what they have planned,” she protests. “What if you meet them, and then, bam, they take you out, just like that? Then what?”
If that happens, I’ll never be able to marry Molly. I’ll never be able to fill her young, perfect body with my seed. I’ll never be at her side as she brings our first child into this world, flushed and beautiful with the effort.