Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
The two guards at the door begin to pat us down. “If you want to discuss business, you will do so unarmed,” the boss says. My jaw grinds as they fish out my multiple weapons. And it’s not just me but Jewel as well. They’re even careful to check her boots. Whoever this is, they seem to know all our hidey holes.
I give Jewel a pointed look. I just want her to turn and walk away, but the silent communication makes her seem more determined.
“Sit,” the boss orders once we’ve been thoroughly patted down.
Two chairs are positioned opposite one another. The boss takes one seat and crosses his legs, expectantly waiting for me to join him.
Not for a moment do I consider letting Jewel sit instead of me. At least this way, I’ll be partially blocking her. When I take the seat, she stands behind me, regal in the way she scans the upper levels and masked men who surround us.
Whoever the fuck this is has money—lots of it. And not only that, but power. How had I been so blind that I didn’t realize someone with this amount of influence was in our city?
I spread my legs and lean against the chair casually. “You have my attention. What do you want?”
“You young ones seem to have a lot of fire in your belly. But what you lack is respect.” The voice-altering device irritates me. I want to know exactly who this motherfucker is.
“Says the man who hides behind a mask and men with guns,” I counter. But he has given away that he’s older. How old, I’m not sure.
He seems to consider that. “Kneel. And I’ll consider a discussion. If not, we’ll shoot down everyone here, including your two snipers on the rooftops. In fact, they’ll be the first two targets.”
I clench my jaw with the realization that whoever this is, is smart enough to have already noted Ford and Hawke’s positions. Who the fuck is this?
“Is your pride too much?” the man challenges.
Jewel moves in front of me, and I reach to pull her back. “The Montis do not kneel for anyone,” she says proudly. “I’ll give you your money back times ten, but don’t offend my fiancé and his family.”
Dammit. If we didn’t have a crowd, I’d bend her over my knee right now because of how fucking hot she looks.
The man seems to ponder this. “Unfortunately, money isn’t such a rare asset for me that it actually has value. Removing the Monti heir does. Or at least his pride. What will it be, your men and woman or your pride?”
I’m raging inside, but I smile. I am a proud man, but I am nothing without any of the people behind me. I’ll kneel for only one person, and that is my fiancée.
I slide from the chair, and she curses under her breath. “What are you doing?”
“Doing what I’m told for once.” I wink at her. I know I’m an idiot. I should’ve, at the very least, told my father about the situation I’d gotten myself into. Instead, I came barreling over here. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jewel stands in front of me as if protecting me from the man watching me fall to my knees. Had she a gun, I imagine she would’ve pulled it on him already.
“Jewel, get out of the way,” I growl.
“No,” she replies fiercely. “I know exactly what you’re doing, and you’re not sacrificing yourself for me or making yourself seem smaller because of the shit I got us into.”
The man stands now, studying her. “Mr. Monti was correct about one thing. I was always using you as bait to bring him to me. Dead or alive, I didn’t care. That goes for both of you. Although, my bet was on him.”
Her knuckles turn white as she curls her hands into fists.
“What I want from Mr. Monti is not something you can provide, so step aside,” he says to her. “I plan on tying him to that chair and using him for ransom. His father and I go way back.”
I should’ve known it would be something like this. The show of making me kneel was a power play more against my father. I easily rise and sit back on the chair.
“Stand behind me, amore mio,” I say to Jewel. “Please. Trust me.”
Torture and ransom, I can survive. But I can’t survive her being hurt.
“I’ll let you tie me up and use me against my father as you please, as long as you let her go.”
“No,” she hisses defiantly.
“You trust me, right?” I say to her. So much emotion runs through her features, and she bites her lip as she steps to my side obediently.
I sit still while one of his men ties me up as the boss says, “Well, I never said either of you would make it out alive. Sometimes vengeful lies are the best type of motivation compared to ransom.”