Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
The car started with a quiet purr, and I slipped out of the gate without anyone noticing, at least as far as I could tell. The drive was long and tense. Every mile that passed felt like ten. Traffic was thick in the city this time of day, and it took me forever to get to the address.
I frowned when I realized it was a warehouse. There wasn’t much around us, and I’d be highly surprised if the Jag was even still sitting on the street when I came back out. But none of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was that my husband might be in there. Or at least, Brayden might know where he was.
Still, I hesitated. I didn’t have a good feeling about this.
What the hell was Brayden doing in a warehouse in this part of the city? Everything about this screamed trouble. I tried to think of what was logical. What was best for me to do. I could call the detective and tell him I was here. But what if Brayden was right? What if someone was holding Ryland and they hurt him when they saw I’d called the cops?
I didn’t know what else to do. So I sent Brayden another text.
I’m here. Is it safe to come in?
My phone chimed almost immediately with an affirmative answer. It didn’t reassure me in the slightest. I wasn’t a complete idiot though. I knew there was no way I could go in there without some kind of backup plan, just in case.
So I texted Mick. He was due to land right about this time if I remembered correctly. I didn’t know what to tell him, so I forwarded Brayden’s texts to him and told him I was going to check it out. And then I decided to leave my phone in the car and turned on so he could track it if he needed to.
I stepped out of the car with clenched hands. It was broad daylight, and still, the thought of going into this warehouse scared the crap out of me. I wanted to demand that Brayden come out. I decided that I wouldn’t actually go inside until I saw his face. So I started for the front doors.
They wouldn’t open, and there was no response to my knock.
I sighed in frustration as I walked around the building, looking for another way in. I found another door, just as a chilling voice spoke from behind me.
“Hello, Brighton.”
I spun around to be met with cold, black eyes. Eyes that were familiar, and it took me a moment to realize why. They were from the photographs in Brayden’s file. Alfredo Zucco.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
He smiled, revealing a gold tooth.
“We haven’t met yet, you and I,” the man answered. “But I’m sure you might have heard of me. My name is Alfredo.”
I felt like I was going to throw up. I wanted to run, but somehow I knew I wouldn’t get very far. So I tried to stall while I came up with another plan.
“I know who you are,” I said coolly. “Where is Brayden?”
“You’ve created a bit of a media spectacle here,” he said with an amused laugh. “So it’s been a little difficult to get in touch with you until now. Brayden’s just inside.”
“I want to see him,” I demanded. “Tell him to come out here.”
Alfredo took a menacing step forward and grabbed me by the arm with a painful grip. “You’re just like your father,” he sneered. “Don’t know your fucking place. But you will before the day is through you Irish cunt.”
He raised his hand and backhanded me, completely shocking the hell out of me. I didn’t have time to fight before he started dragging me towards the door. I tried to scream, but he put his greasy hand over my mouth and grabbed me by the hair.
I clawed at his face with my free hand and raised my knee, aiming for his groin. I missed, and his eyes flared with hatred so fierce I couldn’t help but cower.
“I will punch you right in your fat fucking stomach,” he threatened. “Just try me, bitch.”
I shook my head and pleaded from behind his hand, dragging in what little air he allowed me. I realized that it was already too late. I’d fucked up coming here, and now I needed to be smart. Or he was going to hurt my baby.
The door opened, and he shoved me inside where I met the eyes of another man I recognized. The same one that had been on the street the day Nicole and I went shopping. I’d thought Ryland had sent him, but I was obviously dead wrong. They each grabbed one of my arms and walked me through the dark warehouse, leading me to a stairwell.