Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
They were waiting for Montgomery. He came looking for them. I know by his description. Bakti and the others didn’t like him and called him inventive names. He was very arrogant but gave them lots of money. Bakti wanted more money at that point in our conversation and was very annoyed when I refused. It appears Whitney’s three clowns have still been trying to come up with a vaccine because they asked for a number of items Bakti found suspicious.
Draden didn’t like the sound of any of it. Can we go there?
He’s going to take me there now. More money exchanged hands at that point, and Shylah stepped back to allow Bakti to lead her through the narrow, twisting alley toward the apartment the three men had rented.
I don’t trust this man for one moment. He’s been cooperative, and I think he’s telling the truth, that the Williams brothers and Orucov rented an apartment there for a week, but he wants money and I have it. He’s probably got a bit of backup somewhere. He doesn’t think they’ll have trouble robbing me, because I’m a woman. I’m actually a little surprised that he hasn’t tried to rob me on his own, but I think there’s something more here. I’m getting the vibe that he knows Orucov, and I’m coming to believe that Orucov came here to this place specifically for Bakti to help him.
If Bakti and Agus Orucov were friends, it meant that Bakti might take all the money offered but then, when he was certain he had every bit of information Shylah could provide, he might kill her to keep her from hunting his friend. She was well aware that was a likely outcome, but she went with him as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
Draden hung back, staying in the shadows, waiting, trusting Shylah to handle the man she followed if he suddenly turned on her. He was patient. If there was a plan for Bakti and his friends to murder Shylah, it wouldn’t be the first time such a thing had been carried out in the backstreets and alleyways of any city. They would have done it before and it would be a coordinated plan.
It took four minutes before the first suspect opened the now darkened door of Bakti’s house. The man didn’t turn on the lights. He came out, walking with a slight limp and carrying a cane as if he might need to use it later. As he passed the neighboring doorway, a second man and then a third emerged. They began to follow Shylah and Bakti. Draden dropped in behind them.
Three men. One walks with a limp. He’s carrying a cane I presume will be used as his weapon. They’ve done this before.
We’re in that part of town. Shylah was matter-of-fact. She was a tracker and that meant when she hunted, she wasn’t where the nice people of society hung out. She was with the dregs, those making their livings by robbing and killing. Not too far from here is the local paper man. He can make you any document you want that will pass any inspection, but you have to have the money for him. He’s pricey, but worth it.
How do you know that? And fucking pay attention to that asshole who is going to try to kill you.
He’s not nearly as cute as you are.
Shylah, damn it. Don’t get cocky on me.
Or as adorable. I bet he isn’t good in the bedroom either.
For God’s sake, woman, don’t think about him in the sack. You only get to think about me there—and not precisely at this minute. I want your entire focus on Bakti and how he’s going to kill you, most likely inside that apartment.
Honey, you’re not thinking too clearly. He doesn’t want to kill me right away. He’s got three friends coming to join the party. Not one. Not two. Three. What does that tell you? There’s going to be a party and I’m the entertainment. He’s going to whip out his knife or gun or whatever and threaten me. Usually not a gun because they don’t want noise. I’m supposed to fall apart and be scared, that’s part of the entertainment. He’ll make me beg for my life. Then he’ll tell me what I have to do to stay alive. It will be a very long night for me and then he will happily kill me.
The breath left his lungs. Bile rose without warning. She knew the signs for a reason. She’d been in that exact scenario before.
Honey, I’m here, they aren’t. This is what I do.
I suddenly don’t like what you do. He didn’t. He wasn’t a man to tell his woman what she could or couldn’t do. He was proud of her. Proud of her capabilities. But this … being alone with four men who clearly wanted to rape and kill her, that was beyond his ability to condone.