Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Including her.
And now, Victor was really losing his shit. He picked up the closest object in Regent’s office, which was probably worth more than most people’s mortgages and threw it.
Thankfully, Maxim managed to catch it before it could smash into a wall.
“Victor, calm down,” Regent said sternly. “We don’t have time for you to freak out.”
“She’s not going. No. Fucking. Way.”
“If I don’t go, he might kill Anita,” she said frantically. “I can’t live with that, Victor.”
“Come on, brother. We talked this through,” Maxim added.
“Yes, but it’s not your woman walking into a dangerous situation,” Victor roared. “Not your heart.”
Maxim winced.
Gracen knew that only she could get through to him. Walking over, she reached up on her tiptoes to place her hands on either side of his face.
“I have to do this, Victor.”
“No.”
“Yes. We’ve gone over and over this. And I’m not worried. Know why?”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll be with me and you’d never let anything happen to me.”
He closed his eyes, then opened them. “Nothing better happen to you, not even a fucking scratch.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I love you too.”
26
Despite the fact that she’d argued to be here, Gracen was nervous as hell.
She reminded herself that they were prepared. Regent’s men were all in place, ready to strike. They had people on the inside.
Nothing was going to go wrong.
Well, she hoped it wouldn’t.
Regent climbed out of their vehicle, leaving his crutches inside. She knew that he didn’t want to walk into this abandoned-looking warehouse showing any sign of weakness.
But she just hoped he didn’t do more damage to his leg.
If things went to hell, Maxim was to grab her and keep her safe. She hated that Victor would still be in the line of fire, but she knew he needed to do this. He’d pulled Maxim aside and lectured him for an hour on taking care of her.
Poor Victor, he really wasn’t happy that she was here.
Nerves filled her stomach. As they stepped into the dimly lit warehouse, three men strutted toward them, full of attitude. The warehouse was cavernous with glass windows set up high in the walls. Most of them were broken. There were empty crates seemingly positioned at random around the place.
They stopped in front of them. One of them reached out for her, and she spotted a familiar tattoo on his forearm.
A viper twirling around a huge V.
Victor grabbed his hand before he could touch her, spinning him and pressing his arm up his back until something snapped. The man howled in pain.
“Do not touch her.”
Suddenly, two guns were aimed their way. Maxim and Victor stepped in front of her. Was this it? Were they going to be shot before they even saw Santiago?
“Hey, what the fuck are you guys doing?”
She glanced toward the voice, recognizing the man who’d spoken as Snake.
“This asshole broke Rat’s arm!” one of them complained.
Rat? Really? That was the name of the guy who was now sobbing pitifully?
“Just search the guys and leave the bitch.”
It was a dumb move. Seemed Snake wasn’t any smarter than Santiago since she was carrying a knife in a scabbard in the small of her back. It was there in case things didn’t go as planned.
Please let them go as planned.
After patting Victor, Maxim, and Regent down roughly, they followed them further into the warehouse and around some crates that had hidden the rest of the warehouse from view.
In the middle of the room stood Santiago, smiling at them maniacally. Snake moved up to stand behind him. Beside Santiago, her hair a matted mess, her clothes torn, looking drawn and pale, was Anita.
Gracen sucked in a sharp breath and had to remind herself to stick to the plan. She couldn’t go to her. Couldn’t talk to her. She had to stay close to Maxim.
“Aunty G!” Anita called out with a cry. She tried to run to her, but Santiago cruelly grabbed hold of her hair and dragged her back. The younger girl fell to the ground with a cry of pain.
Gracen had to work hard not to show her anger or fear. She’d been warned that Santiago would be looking for a reaction from her.
“Please come in,” Santiago called out cheerfully. “Welcome. You’re on time. I do love punctuality.”
Was he insane? He was acting like they were coming for dinner or something. They moved forward, stopping about fifteen feet away from him. And that’s when Gracen noticed that Lilia was here. She stood off to the side, with a guard on either side of her. Gracen didn’t make eye contact. Didn’t stare at her.
The last thing she wanted was for Santiago to find out that Lilia was on their side.
Santiago scowled as he took them in. “Where’s the other brother?”
“He’s out of town,” Regent said smoothly. “You know he has nothing to do with the family business. What do you want, Santiago?”