Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Baston had three nephews, and Jasper now knew the approximate locations for two of them. It was kill or be killed as far as he was concerned.
Klyde twisted his leg out in front of him and popped his ankle back into place. “I’ll go after Vester, Dax will kill Wallace, and you can take Leah home. Baston has yet another nephew out there, and we don’t know where he is.”
“I expect one of you to find him after interrogating Vester and Wallace.” Jasper forced himself to his feet. “Then I’ll deal with him.” As soon as they could isolate Baston, they could take him out—before the bastard tried to kill their grandfather, Cathal. Their feud had lasted for more than three thousand years. It was time to end it.
Jasper’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket. “What the hell?” He didn’t recognize the number, but picture after picture of Leah with a date stamp of that afternoon showed across his screen. She’d gotten out of the zip ties.
“What is it?” Klyde asked, not moving.
“It’s Leah. She escaped the penthouse,” Jasper said slowly.
Dax threw his head back and laughed. “I told you that you couldn’t zip tie and rope her in place. She’s too smart, and she’s older than you think. You keep forgetting that.”
Jasper frowned. “She’s still human and hasn’t developed additional strength. How’d she get out of the zip ties?”
“I don’t know.” Klyde shoved himself to stand and looked over Jasper’s shoulder, letting blood drop onto the screen.
“Hey.” Jasper tried to wipe it off.
“Whoa, that’s a nice dress,” Klyde said. A picture showed Leah running into the convention center dressed in a sequined blue ball gown. “Who sent those to you?”
Jasper shook his head. “I don’t know, but it looks like I’m going to the convention center.”
Dax stood and wavered on his feet. “You know it’s a trap, right? It has to be.”
Jasper straightened his shoulders. “Of course, it’s a trap. All right, you two execute your missions, and I’ll go on mine.”
“You want backup?” Dax asked.
“No,” Jasper growled. “If anybody needs backup, it’s Leah after I handle whatever threat this is.”
He was done playing around.
Chapter Five
Leah found the coatroom and walked inside, noting the high-end wooden hangars—all unused for now. She turned and waited patiently for several long moments until footsteps echoed on the heavy tiles outside the room. Placing her clutch on the shelf of the partial door, she shut it. Some barrier was better than none. At least her bottom half was secure.
George Contingent approached slowly, handing over a lightweight rain jacket. “I heard it was supposed to rain today,” he said, giving her the line perfectly.
“That’s not for two more days,” she said evenly, remembering her part.
“The weatherman’s usually wrong,” he countered.
She forced a smile. “Not if you’re married to him.”
He leaned closer. “It’s good to finally meet you in person, Mrs. Patterson.” As a false name, it was a good one.
“You, as well, Mr. Contingent.” She shook his hand and tried not to throw up. He stood to a good six feet, had broad shoulders, reddish-brown hair, and a matching beard. His green eyes sparkled in his ruddy face. He shouldn’t be somebody who had sparkling eyes. She removed her hand from his larger one as quickly as possible.
“Call me George, as I hope this is the beginning of a profitable relationship for us both.” His gaze wandered down to her breasts and then back up to her face, lingering for a bit on her lips.
Her fake smile made her jaw ache. “How kind of you. I’m Leah.” She suddenly wished she hadn’t decided to use her real first name again.
“Do you have the money?” He lost his leering gaze.
“I do.” She removed her phone from her clutch, leaving the recording pen safely in place.
He unfolded a piece of paper and handed it to her.
She read the numbers and keyed the bank account number into her phone, effectively transferring the required five million dollars into the account. Unfortunately, the fake funds would disappear in about four hours. Her computer squad was the best in the world, but even they couldn’t keep fake numbers in place for longer than that. If George discovered the fraud, he’d move the children at the very least. She didn’t want to think about what he’d do at his very worst.
He straightened his brown suit that even included a vest. His tie was cherry red. Her dislike for him defied imagination.
“Where’s the product?” she asked, trying to force her voice to sound bored.
He took out his phone and stared at the screen. “The money’s been transferred.”
“I’m aware of that,” she said curtly. “We’re here to do business, right?”
“Of course, and everything you ordered is in a safe location. The address will be sent to you one hour after the charity auction—after I’m clear and gone.”