Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
What the hell?
I lean forward, tapping on Philip’s shoulder, my heart in my throat. “I think we might have a problem.”
CHAPTER 8
Troy
“He’s threatening a war,” Henry says in a low tone.
I shake my head in disgust. “Over an investment insult? Come on, that’s fucking ridiculous. The man knows this is a money game. No one goes in with their highest offer.”
“He thinks his business is worth a lot more than we do.”
“Sure he does,” I growl as Henry taps his index finger on his desk. “So this is what we get for trying to befriend our enemies. I said this was a bad idea from the beginning. We thought we could team up with the Vitali family, but they’ll always be hot-headed bastards.”
Henry purses his lips. “I know that.”
“They’re going to start picking off my fucking men one by one. Just like they did before.” I can barely contain the fury welling up in my chest. In theory, it seemed like a good idea. We thought we could partner with my family’s rival, solving a longstanding issue, but I should’ve known better.
“That won’t happen,” Henry says, though his voice lacks confidence.
“He isn’t taking anything we offer?”
“He just doesn’t know what’s good for him yet.”
“Well, we’re gonna have to figure out how to get this through his head.”
I take a deep breath and let out a sharp sigh, my mind wandering back to Liz. I left today without even bothering to tell her. She was head-deep in reading about the case I had given her, which was somewhat of a test. I want to see how serious she is. I already have a feeling she is very serious about her work. Meanwhile, all I could think about today was taking her clothes off.
Before we can continue the conversation, Henry’s phone rings. He picks it up off his desk, a frown instantly forming.
Uh oh.
“Philip?” he answers, his voice concerned. I listen closely but can’t hear what Liz’s bodyguard is saying on the other end of the line. However, I quickly realize it’s not good as Henry jumps to his feet and motions for me to follow him out of his office.
“No, don’t go to her apartment if someone has already been there,” I hear him say as I trot to keep up. Henry punches the elevator button, all the while shaking his head. “You need to take her to a safe place. Just make sure you don’t have a tail.”
What the fuck is going on?
I don’t bombard Henry, but I’m already feeling the urgency, even without having the other piece of the story. My foot taps rapidly as we wait for the elevator to reach the parking garage.
God, I hope she’s okay.
“We’ll meet you there in forty-five minutes.” Henry hangs up and turns to me as we enter the garage. “I can’t believe they picked up on her so fast. Vitali had men trailing them. Gerard recognized one of them.”
Shit, shit, shit.
“You want me to follow you?”
Henry shakes his head. “No, just get in.” He hits the engine start button as we make it to his Lamborghini.
I trot around the car and slip into the passenger seat, grabbing the seatbelt and clicking it in place. Henry zips out of the parking lot before I get fully adjusted in the seat.
“They broke into her apartment.” Henry’s voice is flat. “I don’t know what they’re after, but they’ve connected the two of us. I find it interesting that it happens right after she’s let go by Hudson.”
I raise my brows. “You think he snitched? Really? He’s a straight-and-narrow kind of guy.”
“Yeah, sure he is,” Henry grunts. “That’s how most of the world sees me, too, but here we are.”
“Touché,” I laugh, though it’s somewhat devoid of humor.
It’s merely a distraction from the concerns I have about Liz. Is she scared? Did she get hurt? Obviously not. Henry would have told me if she had. He has no idea that I’m in this way deeper than just a family friend. Liz Massino is all I fucking care about anymore.
“I’m thinking she should stay at the safe house,” Henry comments as he makes a hard right, heading north out of the city. “I think you should stay there, too.”
“Why can’t you just stay with her?” I shoot back, already knowing how big of a risk it is for me to stay with her, and it has nothing to do with her safety. I’m just not sure I can keep my hands off her.
“You know I can’t do that,” Henry mutters. “I don’t… I’m a businessman. I can’t protect her the way you can. You can call the shots from anywhere.”
I don’t argue with him. I’ve gone into hiding multiple times, especially after the death of my mother. Now, no one pays much attention to me. I have no heir. My fortune dies with me, and my parents are no longer yelling in my ear to fix that problem.