Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
“Of course this has something to do with you.”
“So, there is something...”
“Huge trade deal went wrong, fucking guns and death everywhere. They all turned on each other, and it became an all-out war. All our men are currently on scene. It’s a mess. We have handfuls of girls that were going to be sold, and an investigator dead who was running the whole show, but I don’t need to tell you that, do I?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I appreciate the information. Are you able to tell me, were there any left alive?”
“As far as we can tell, only the women. The men are all dead. As I said, they turned on each other. Clearly one betrayed another, and it blew up. You care to share anything about those men with me?”
“All I know is that one of them is responsible for the death of Constable Bennett and set the man who is going to trial up for it. If you dip a little deeper, you’ll find that and be able to close the case. That’s all I can offer you.”
“I’ll take that with me. Anything else I can do for you, Benedict?”
“Not right now. I’ll be in touch soon, though.”
“I’m sure you will.”
He hangs up the phone, and my heart is racing as Benedict turns towards me and says in a calm and rather cocky voice, “Satisfied?”
“I will be when I know Lilian is returned safely.”
Cohen reaches for my hand, taking it and squeezing it.
“Give him time. He’ll return,” Benedict says casually. “Then, you can let me and my daughter go and get the hell out of my city.”
“You’re hardly in a position to be calling the shots right now,” I scowl at him.
Benedict grins and then turns back to watch the television playing in the background. I press against Cohen, closing my eyes and trying to keep it together. I want this to be over, so we can all finally be free. I know this club needs it so much more than I do.
“It’s goin’ to be okay,” Cohen says to me, pulling me into him, his big arm wrapped around me.
“Yeah, I know.”
Alarick’s phone rings, and Zariah’s number flashes across the screen. He answers it, his voice tight. “They’re not here yet, but we have confirmation that the mission has been carried out, and they’re on the way back.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Zariah says, her voice seemingly panicked. “That’s not why I’m calling.”
Alarick glances at Cohen, his face suddenly going a shade lighter. “What the fuck is goin’ on, Zariah. Speak to me now.”
“Samson...he said he was going to the bathroom and...he never came back. I was hoping you’d call and say Lilian was returned and Samson had come over there. He’s gone, Alarick. I didn’t want to bother you, but...”
“Fuck,” Alarick barks. “Fuck me. Where the hell has he gone?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m going to hang up and call him. I’ll get back to you.”
He hangs up and immediately dials Samson’s number. It goes to voicemail.
My heart lodges in my throat, and I feel like I might just vomit from fear. Samson wouldn’t miss the return of his daughter, which leaves only one option...he went to retrieve her himself. Perhaps he doesn’t trust Benedict. Perhaps he just wanted to make the people who hurt his little girl suffer, either way - it’s so dangerous. So incredibly dangerous.
“He went to find her,” Cohen says, his voice gruff. “I know him. He would have wanted to make sure she got back safe. Fuck. He’s so fuckin’ stupid.”
“Fuck,” Alarick growls, rubbing his face. He looks to Kendric. “Take Bohdi, go and see if you can find him. Mykel, ring the hospitals. See if anyone by that name has shown up. If he went to that scene, he’ll be fuckin’ killed. What was he fuckin’ thinking?”
“He’s smart,” Kendric says, but I can hear the hesitation in his voice. “He wouldn’t do somethin’ stupid when he’s so close to havin’ her back.”
Wouldn’t he, though?
Before we can say or do another thing, Benedict’s phone rings with the confirmation we have all been waiting for. He has returned, and he has Lilian. Benedict instructs him to come to the room, and I swear to god, we all stare at the door, holding our breaths, waiting for the moment he brings that girl home. To her new family. To the people who are going to take care of her.
A knock sounds out. Alarick pulls out his gun and walks over, opening the door.
His gun lowers. He makes a pained sound.
In steps Benedict’s man with a girl by his side. One look at that girl and there is no doubt she is Samson’s daughter. She is just like him, and oh, she’s absolutely beautiful. She’s also crying, big heavy sobs that make my heart immediately sore for her. I rush over before anyone can say or do anything, Briella and Merleigh both stand and follow, no doubt feeling the same way I do.