Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Maybe he had a quick fling with this woman and decided not to tell me. Perhaps he thinks he’s protecting me by keeping it secret like he’s always protected me.
I go into the bedroom, try to relax, and not to think. My body feels tired, my eyes heavy, but my thoughts won’t settle and let me rest.
My phone suddenly starts to ring. I leap on it, expecting Landon.
It’s Maddie.
“Hello?” I answer.
When I hear the voice, I know it’s all over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
LANDON
Ialmost reject the call when my cell phone rings and I don’t recognize the number. I don’t give out my number easily, so when I get a call like this, that’s usually the best policy. But considering the circumstances, I quickly answer. What if it’s them? What if the security team is calling from a different number? What if it’s Lily?
I answer the call. When I hear the terrified female voice, I sit up, tension flooding me. Sitting cross-legged in front of the TV, Grace even turns around and looks at me like she can sense it.
I smile at her in the kindest, most calm way possible, then stand up and go into the bathroom.
“Say that again,” I say.
“My name is Maddie Scott. I’m Lily’s best friend. We met in the fifth grade when she helped get a mud pie out of my hair. Damon O’Connell has kidnapped me and … and …” She sniffles. In the background, a man’s voice, low and steely, “Get on with it …”
“Lily’s here too,” she says, coughing out a choked sob. “I didn’t want to do it, but they made me call her. They made me bring her here.”
“Where’s here?” I growl.
“Another one of their bars. They’ve told me to text you the address.”
“How do I know any of this is true?”
Maddie says something to the men, and then I hear Damon laugh. I’m sure it’s him. His tone is ugly and specific like the rat bastard knows he’s about to do something horrific. He’s happy about it. Maybe that’s what this has all been about for him—getting to torment people.
“He wants proof?” Damon growls. “Give that here.” Suddenly, his voice is louder in my ear. “Are your security buddies listening, big man? It would be a mistake if they were. I hold all the cards now. Every fucking one.”
“Nobody’s listening,” I snap.
“You should be. Go on. Tell him to save you.”
Lily’s voice tears through me like an accusation. It forces me to realize everything I’ve done wrong—number one being not getting her out of the city and just to Ethan’s apartment. Fuck. “Stay away from here, Landon. Don’t give him—”
“The satisfaction, presumably,” Damon says, taking the phone back. “What about that, Landon? Do you find that logic persuasive? Just know, if you did what she said and purposefully withheld my satisfaction from hurting you, where do you think I would have to aim my aggression? A man gets bored, after all …”
“Text me that fucking address,” I growl.
“Do you think you’ll make it out of this alive?”
I grin like a madman, catching sight of myself in the cracked bathroom mirror. I look deranged and ready for whatever comes. “Are you telling me there’s another option, Damon?” I say bitterly. “You’re right. You’ve won. My only job now is to mitigate the damage.”
“You know if you trick me and try to bring those security assholes along, it’s going to go very, very bad for these women. You understand that. I hope you do, at least.”
“I get it,” I snap. “What do you want … money?”
“Money,” he laughs grimly. “We’re far past that. You tried to make a fool out of me last night.”
Tried? He looked like a jackass, but I’m not going to tell him that. I’m not going to rub it in. Knowing he has Lily has lit a fire in me like nothing else ever could. As twisted as it is, the fire is even fiercer than when I fought for the kids and their families. It’s more vicious than the apple tree case.
“Nothing to say, Landon? No apology?”
“I just want to get this over with,” I snarl. Truthfully, I want to put him in the dirt, make him pay, make him bleed, and make him scream. The protective impulse is so damn clear that I know I’ll never be able to fight my feelings for Lily again. For the rest of my life, however short it will be, I know she’s mine.
“Then you better hurry, lad,” he says. “If I see even a single security motherfucker, I’m going to make use of these two little sluts and then dump them in the sea. A cement-boots type of deal, understand?”
“That couldn’t be clearer,” I say.
“Good. See you soon.”
I hang up. A moment later, a text arrives. The address is on the other side of the city, conveniently situated next to the water, so he can make good on his threat. Outside the bathroom door, I hear Lex speaking with Grace’s mother. He must ask where I am because Grace says, “In the bathroom, Mister …”