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)
“I can destroy your whole fucking club, you know that, right? I’ll blow you off the fucking map. Your compound will be the newest beachfront property.”
Savage makes a ‘blah blah blah’ motion with his hand, mimicking a mouth talking.
I stifle a laugh and lean in so he hears me clearly. “We’ve decided that since your man didn’t seem to care if Jessica made it out, that she must not be very important to you. We’re not total assholes, so you’ll get your daughter back, but the nanny’s ours for now.”
Anne twists in her seat, looking at Jessica with wide, desperate eyes. Jessica puts her finger against her lips and mouths ‘shhhhh’.
I wonder what the girl is more afraid of. Us? Or going home to her monster of a daddy alone. I didn't get the impression that he's been knocking his little girl around, but can't imagine he's much of a father either. He left her behind to save his own sorry skin, if nothing else.
“Out of the question,” Kane snaps. “Both girls, and if we’re reduced to making stupid threats, then this negotiation is over. We’ll exchange the hostages tomorrow.”
“And if we don’t?” Riot asks with a deadly growl. Ever since he found Jessica in that dead guy’s grip, he’s been a little blood thirsty.
“Then this is war. And in war there are casualties.”
I doubt he’s actually seen action. Not the kind he’s alluding to, but I have. Enough that I won’t lose a second of sleep over his death. And he will die. There are a lot of souls on my conscience, and many that I’d undo if I could.
His won’t be one of them.
Hellfire takes over. "Don’t be a melodramatic idiot. We can both keep waving our dicks around, or you'll get your daughter back when we get Cooper. The nanny goes wherever she wants once all this is done. If she doesn’t go back to you, then maybe you need to look into a better benefits package for your employees. That’s not my fucking fault. Now get Cooper on the line. I wanna hear that he's alive. I don't trust a fucking word you say anymore."
"Say hello, Cooper," snaps Kane, obviously annoyed as fuck.
"Hello, Cooper," Cooper jokes, voice shaky. "The food sucks, but they've been keeping their hands off me. Christmas party 2004 was worse."
"There you go. Now let Anne and Jessica speak so I know you animals haven't ruined them."
“I’m fine, Daddy,” Anne responds. “But I want my own bed again. My pillows are way better. Has anyone watered my—”
“Where’s Jessica?” Kane interrupts, not even letting her finish.
“I’m here. And I quit. I’ll take care of Anne until this is over, but I’m done. Do you hear me? Done.”
Anne gasps. “Jessica! No!”
“You don’t get to choose, Jessica,” Kane says, menacingly. “And to prove it, you said I could only have one of them. Give me her. Jessica for Cooper, and then when it’s over, you give me Anne. I don’t think even you people would hurt a child.”
The fuck? "You want Jessica before your own daughter?"
Anne looks like someone has physically hit her. We’ve all assumed that his daughter is going to be the most important to him, but now we know more about Jessica’s background, sure, we get that she’s not just the nanny? But wanting her before Anne is fucking psychotic.
"What the fuck are you playing at, Kane?" Riot growls deep inside his throat.
More to the point," interjects Hellfire. "While Jessica is here, there's someone to keep track of Anne. We're not gonna send her to you, and then play babysitters for a twelve-year-old. What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Dad!" Anne yells, her voice cracking. "I do everything you tell me. What are you doing?"
“It’s just business, Anne. One day you’ll understand.”
“I will never understand,” she growls, sounding like an angry kitten compared to when one of us does it. “Never.”
Jessica tries to pull Anne in for a hug, but Anne pushes her away.
"Here's the fucking deal.” Hellfire holds up his hand in a signal for the rest of us to shut up. “I’m running outta patience. You fucked with the wrong club, so you're gonna have to do some thinking. Accept the trade as we've proposed or we're fucking coming for you. I'll let you think about that for a bit. Let’s start that forty-eight hour timer again, but this time the ball’s in your half of the court. If you don't have anything for us by then, we're coming for you." And with that, Hellfire taps to end the call. “Take the girls outta here.”
Tex nods, guiding them out the door. For once, Anne isn’t even looking at Jessica. I don’t know that I blame her. I’d be pissed if my father chose the nanny over me, too. Not that I know who my father even is, but if I did, I’d probably feel the same.