Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Ivan gives his chin a silent, contemplative stroke prior to proclaiming, “I assumed between having their files marked and Britt using her resources to do in office monitoring would continue to cloak our technique. I never would’ve imagined that a clerical fuck up would put such a dent in our operation or worry our investors.”
An attempt to yank my wrist completely free fails, prompting me to bide myself more time. “Why poach from the same company you left?”
He glances off at the ocean for a minor moment before changing the subject. “What do you know about Wahl?”
“Everything.”
“Cute.” He flashes a mocking grin. “What do you know about his kidnapping?”
“Enough.”
“Well, aren’t you full of all the precise answers.”
“Would you like me to go back to ignoring you?”
An impressed smirk precedes the resuming of his questioning, “Are you aware that Haworth was the company hired for his rescue and recovery?
“Of course.”
“Are you aware of the team that handled the assignment?”
“Bannon, Kaut, and Heuton.”
“Are you aware that Bannon was not a part of the original team?”
His question successfully stops my motions. “What?”
“Rosenkrantz was.” My kidnapper tips his head slightly forward. “Nicolas Rosenkrantz.”
“Your father I’m gonna guess.”
“Correct.” Confirmation convinces my discreet writhing actions to restart. “My father got replaced last minute as lead operative on the assignment when a paperwork princess like yourself crunched some numbers and decided that Bannon was a better candidate because his risk assessment was slightly more favorable.” His jagged letters slice mercilessly through the cold afternoon air. “It didn’t matter that my father had years on Bannon and had done nothing but show loyalty to the company since the day he was hired. No. Someone in a cushy office chair, with no idea how the field actually works, did a little bullshit math, and decided it would be better if Bannon took point while my father ran second on a completely different operation.”
I wiggle the knot a little more receiving almost no resistance.
Yes!
I’m close!
So close!
“Wahl’s rescue became national fucking news. The shit they wrote books about and made shitty unauthorized movies over. Bannon, Kaut, and Heuton’s reputation landed them much more than just the pick of the litter at HE. They did interviews. And sold exclusive rights to their version of the events under Haworth’s approval, as long as they agreed to not slander the company during their media tours. Their lives soared, yet my father’s? It went in the opposite direction. He received less of the top tier assignments. Was repeatedly passed over for one of them. Started drinking more. Eating less.” Another headshake is presented. “You have any idea what it’s like to watch the decline of Superman right in front of your eyes?”
Sympathy requests access to my veins only to be instantaneously denied.
Perhaps I would be if he wasn’t trying to kill me.
Had he not fucking kidnapped me based on a grudge that has nothing to do with me.
“I honestly couldn’t wait to leave for the Marines when I turned eighteen. Just to get away from watching him waste his life like that. Unfortunately for me, between him becoming a raging alcoholic and my mom’s death, I was forced home. Decided I’d apply to the private sector. Join HE like him – despite how dirty they had done him – and restore the Rosenkrantz name. And I did.” The prideful hand wave occurs at the same time mine finally slips free from the rope cuff. “He let himself get to the bottom of the food chain, taking on low risk PS gigs for elderly celebs while I climbed the charts. I ended up having some of the best numbers in the whole fucking company when I quit. I was in the top five of hot saves – those in an active gunfire situation – protects and kills of all time. I had done so well and accomplished so much and made them so much fucking money that I just knew they would give me a number.”
The thick restraints fall lifelessly to the space between me and the back cushion.
“And then when the rumors about a new number being filled began, again, I knew it was me who would be getting that offer. That call. That this would be the moment I proved to my father we had lost a battle, but we were going to win the whole fucking war. I knew it. He knew it.” His frame slides to the very end of the seat to waggle a finger. “But then…someone who knows how to read papers and not people – much like yourself – decided that Lenkov would be a better fucking fit.” Seeing his spite sizzle its way to me has me wanting to scoot elsewhere. “Lenkov? Harvey Lenkov? Middle fucking management Lenkov?! That was a better fit to assist in running this company than someone who had had boots on the fucking ground?! Than someone who was basically a fucking general with information his can’t fire straight ass couldn’t even dream of?!”