Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Classy as expected. My daughter and the nanny, both alive?"
"Of course. Unlike you, we take care of our women."
Kane literally growls. "Prove it. They’re the only ones that could’ve given you this number, but a little torture would be easy for animals like you, wouldn’t it? Proof of life before you get one more word."
Jessica visibly flinches. She pulls Anne closer, and turns to Ghost for support. He puts a hand on her back, and it makes me feel… jealous isn’t quite right, but it ain’t wrong, either. I don’t know what happened between them after he took her back to his room, but feels like there’s something building there.
Hellfire nods to Jessica.
She nods back. Her hands are shaking enough that Anne is starting to look scared. "I’m here. So is Anne. We’re both safe. They haven't hurt us." She nudges Anne.
“I’m here, Daddy.” Anne’s chin wobbles, but she’s a tough kid. I guess growing up with Kane as a father would make you that way.
"Anne was your responsibility, Jessica. If anything happens to her, I’m holding you personally accountable."
"I'm sorry, sir. I’m doing my best." Jessica doesn’t even look surprised. She flinches like a fucking dog that’s used to getting swatted.
I didn’t like the guy before, and he’s not exactly winning me over now. What the fuck did he expect her to do? Ghost frowns, and Tex looks pissed.
“Jessica’s taking good care of me,” Anne blurts out.
“Not good enough.”
Hellfire holds up a hand, signaling for everyone to shut up, and pointing to Jessica and then the door. Ghost nods, leading them back out of the office. "There you go. Maybe not happy, but safe and sound. Your turn. Put Cooper on. I want to know where we stand before we go any further."
"He's on his way. I haven't kept him in my office just in case you'd call,” Kane sneers. “Besides, all the bitching and crying gets old. Blah blah blah. Maybe I let the wrong idiot fall."
"He’s not the only one that keeps bitching. Just get him on the fucking line." Hellfire's tone is even. Unbothered. There's a reason Hellfire was General's second in command.
A minute, maybe two, pass while we wait. No one says anything, but each passing second raises the tension in the room. Give me a fight any day over sitting around waiting. If I could reach through the phone and choke the life outta Kane, I would.
"Hellfire? It's me. I—I’m fine."
Hellfire has to let out a little sigh. "You okay?"
"A little worse for wear, but all ten fingers and toes. Service and food could be better, though." He's trying to keep a light tone, but there's a note of embarrassment that's easy to pick out, even for me. I don't blame him. I'd feel like a dumbshit, too.
"Take him back," Kane snaps to someone on the other side. "There, are you happy? You showed me yours so I showed you mine. Now tell me how you see this going."
"Easy. Cooper for your little girl.”
“And Jessica.”
“We'll let the nanny go as soon as your kid is out of our hands. I'm sure she's dying to get back to her life."
Kane chuckles darkly. "No deal. I’d be trading you a man who wants me dead and has proven he’s willing to pay for it. The girls are a package deal. I want them both. That's non-negotiable."
"Why does the fucking nanny matter?" I ask out loud before catching myself. That does get me an annoyed glare from Hellfire, but I already opened my big mouth. "What? I can’t be the only one wondering."
“Because she’s mine, that’s why,” he snarls. “But I have a counter-proposal for you."
"Alright," Hellfire says. "Let's hear it."
"Whatever Cooper's paying you, I'll double it if you'll work for me." The fucker sounds so smug it makes me wanna rearrange his face.
What the fuck?
Hellfire raises his eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Why the fuck should we work for you?"
"Same reason you took this job. Money. Forget Cooper. He's an old idiot with a grudge. You can’t seriously care what happens to him. You bring Anne and Jessica to me, and we’ll draw up a contract. You’ve shown that in spite of everything, you have promise. I’ll let you keep your little club, but you work for me. Think about it. How much time do you waste doing odd jobs for whoever’s paying? I have access to some of the best gear in the business.” There’s a creak in the background. Chair maybe? I picture him leaning back and rubbing his hands like the villain he thinks we are. “Even if we manage to avoid killing each other long enough to do the hostage exchange, neither of us could afford to stop looking over our shoulders. You know it as well as I do. But if you worked for me, well… then we would know where we all stand.”