Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“You’re hurting me,” I gasped.
“After everything I’ve done for you, you spread your legs for that piece of shit, spin me a bullshit story, and betray me.”
He raised his hand and, reflexively, my free hand came up to block my face. Fortunately, the man next to me caught and held Robert’s hand before it could connect with my face.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Do you think we’re going to sit here and let you hit a woman?”
“Thank you, Steven. I’ll take it from here,” said a cold hard voice.
Six pairs of eyes swiveled towards Max as he stood a few feet away from the table. He held my gaze for a few moments and I felt calm sweep over me. Then he looked at each of the men, except Steven who had stood up for me, and was obviously in Max’s employ.
“Was it worth it, gentlemen? I could have told you it wasn’t, but why take my word, I’m just an ex-convict.” The men had the grace to hang their heads shamefully.
Max turned his derisive gaze on Robert. “Hello, Robert.”
“Well, well, well. Come to rescue your girl?” Robert asked. He was trying to appear cool and sarcastic, but his voice came out shill and desperate.
“Of course,” Max drawled.
I cried out when Robert’s fingers bit suddenly into my forearm.
Max held up a flash drive similar to the one he had given me. “Let her go, Robert, unless … you no longer want this, of course.” His voice vibrated with anger.
You could have cut the silence with a knife. It seemed to me as though the strange hush had fallen over the restaurant too. Beyond Max’s shoulder, I could see a tall man speaking quietly to what seemed to be the restaurant manager. The manager looked worried but the tall man patted his shoulder and kept speaking softly. I assumed it was another of Max’s men. I looked back at Max who was staring at Robert. He moved the little device in his hand as if it was a fan.
“Do you want it or… nah?”
Without a word, Robert released my hand and stood. I wasted no time in dashing out of the booth away from him. Max pulled me to his side and instantly, his warmth flowed into me.
“Perhaps you’d like to ask your monkeys to leave so we can get down to business.”
Robert made a dismissive move and his men scrambled out of the booth in record time and made their getaway, not one looking back at us.
“Want me to stay, boss?” Steven asked.
Max shook his head. “No, but good work. See you at the office tomorrow morning.”
As Steven left Max spoke again. “Have a seat, Robert.”
Robert sat and Max slid into the seat opposite and left enough space for me so I slipped in beside him. He dangled the flash drive in front of Robert, but as Robert reached for it, he pulled it back and laughed softly.
“Not so fast. There are a few things that I want as well.”
“I knew it. Money.”
“I don’t want your dirty money, Robert. All I want in exchange for the damn software is for you to stay out of our lives for good.”
Robert’s laugh was brittle and humorless. “That’s it? You could have at least asked me to throw in a vacation for two.” He turned his gaze on me. “Maybe one day you’ll tell me what he’s got in his pants that’s so damn addictive, huh?”
“Fuck you, Robert. What part of stay out of our lives for good do you not get?” Max snarled.
“Jeez. Calm down. I was just messing with her.”
“And if you ever cross our paths again, there will be hell to pay. This I promise.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Robert put his hand out, his voice was deliberately bored and dismissive.
Without another word, Max handed him the flash drive. We watched as he inserted it into his own laptop and tapped the keys. He frowned at the screen for a few moments. Then I saw his face light up. He grinned maniacally and tapped the keys a few more times. I heard a few chimes and he laughed, before looking up at Max.
“You always were the whiz kid with code, but I was the moneybags with the real plan, and you forgot that. We made a great team until you got in my way. No hard feelings, bro, it’s a pity you didn’t stay out of the way when you got out of prison. No. You had to try and get revenge. Now, I have you where I want. This,” he gestured to the laptop screen, “together with my secret Gennie software is going to put my business back where it belongs. So, say goodbye to all those clients you’ve been stealing. They’ll come running back to me with their tails between their legs, begging me to take them back. It’s going to be sweet!”