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)
My heart falters as the man signals to his men to point their guns. I’m trying to tear loose from the restraints, trying my hardest to shield Jewel, but I can’t stand up.
It all happens too quickly. Before I can get to my feet, Jewel throws herself against my chest as if to shield me. “What the fuck are you doing?!” I yell, panicked, as gunshots ring through the empty space. “Get behind me!” I scream wildly and furiously as I fight against my bonds.
“I love you!” she whispers into my ear as she curls herself around me. I buck and pull at the ropes, a storm raging within me. Pure panic and dread grip me with the thought that I’ll lose the only person who has become the sanctuary for my inner beast.
My heart is pounding, and it’s only when I realize in the now total silence that any type of reality seeps back in. Tears run down Jewel’s face as she slowly pulls away from me. She looks around, confused, and then we both look over her shoulder at the man who has signaled for the men to stop shooting.
I frown, only realizing then that the guns were pointed up at the ceiling instead of at us.
“I’ll ask for your apology while you’re still tied up,” the boss says as he removes his mask.
“What the fuck?!” I demand as my father reveals himself.
“Crue Monti?” Jewel exclaims, shocked.
My father brushes off a piece of non-existent dust as he takes his seat again.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I demand, wanting to break from these restraints and snap my father’s neck.
“It was a calculated gamble,” my father says calmly. I should’ve known the old fucker was far from done playing games. “You might consider this as a pairing or matchmaking of sorts.” He waves his finger from Jewel to me.
“What?” My heart is racing, and the pump of adrenaline is doing nothing to let through any rational thinking. I thought only a moment ago that I was about to lose Jewel. That I’d made a miscalculation ending with my greatest loss.
“You wouldn’t take a wife, so I chose one for you. When I was informed that a hitwoman had arrived in New York, I was curious. I met your father once, Jewel, and I hated everything about him. He was righteous, worked legitimately, and by a code. Opposite to everything I’d built my own business on. But he was a hell of a shot,” he says, which is high praise coming from my father.
“When I discovered you’d taken a different path with a nature that much mirrored my son’s, I considered it was a likely pairing. So I offered you money to toy with Eli. I gathered you’d either intrigue him or he’d kill you. What I didn’t expect was my son to take matters into his own hands and use you as a fake fiancée, which I now know is anything but fake.”
My mouth is dry, and my mind is whirling. “You set all of this up?”
“Well, of course. What better way to teach my son a lesson about depending on his men and not being so reckless as to head straight into an unknown situation, as well as test my future daughter-in-law to make sure she would give her life in exchange for my son’s?”
The man who tied me up approaches and undoes the rope, but when I go to stand, Jewel puts her hand on my cheek and shakes her head.
I lick my bottom lip, rage still consuming me.
“Had you looked at the folder where I provided you with suggestions of potential brides, you would’ve seen she was the only one in the folder. Your mother might be upset about this, but I only ever have your best interests at heart.”
He adjusts his suit jacket and stands.
Jewel slides off me as I stand, and I’m doing everything within my power to not lose my shit.
So, Dutton never told my father after all. My father was applying pressure to both of us all along and waiting to see how we’d react. This man and his mind fuckery.
“If I’m being entirely honest, it was fun to play one more game before my retirement,” he says, coming to stand by my side. “I might’ve played you both, but what you created together is genuine.” He glances around the abandoned warehouse. “I look forward to seeing what you do with the place.”
He walks out, and I see the hint of a smile as he does. His men follow behind him.
Motherfucker.
I let out a shaky breath, closing my eyes as I tried to push away all the fears that just devoured me. My father’s lesson has been learned because I never want to suffer through something like that again.
“Eli,” Jewel says, drawing me back to the here and now with her.