Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 94834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Zade indicates to a pair of cuffs on the table behind Nikolai, and he reluctantly swipes them off the table before cuffing his own wrists, pain in his eyes. “I should have your head for this right now,” Zade tells him. “However, out of respect for Sawyer, I will allow this to go to trial in front of The Circle.”
Nikolai’s head whips up, his eyes wide and filled with horror. “No,” he rushes out. “A trial is a guaranteed death sentence.”
“Yes,” Zade agrees. “It is. But a trial allows you the opportunity to say goodbye to your children, your wife. You have been a great role model in my life, Nikolai, and I will not deny that this betrayal hurts me, but I’ll show you the respect you have shown me over the years and offer you this one kindness. I suggest you take it.”
Nikolai nods and with that, Zade pulls out his phone and makes a quick call. Within seconds, a large man who looks like some kind of hired security barges through the room. He strides right up to Nikolai, and I can’t help but notice that even in the worst of situations, Nikolai is still polite.
“Harrison,” he says with a nod. “How are the children?”
“They’re doing well, Nik,” the guard says before gripping the back of his arm. “Come on. I’ll take you down to the cells.”
As the man escorts Nikolai out of the murder dungeon, Zade’s tight grip clutches onto my arm. He pushes me in front of him, quickly making his way out of the dungeon and up the stairs, much like we’d done the other night. Despite how terrified I am of being here, I’ve never been so happy to see Zade DeVil.
He doesn’t speak a word as he leads me out of the Empire compound, through the long walkways, and back to the gold-plated gate. It’s not until our feet hit the pavement of the old train tunnel that he throws me up against the wall, his rock-hard body pressed against mine. “What the fuck were you thinking coming here?”
I scoff and shove him hard, and I’m surprised to find he actually takes a step back, allowing me space to come back at him. “Me? Get fucked, Zade. You knew I was the fucking heir of Empire and you didn’t say a damn thing.”
He laughs. “Why the hell would I say anything?” he questions. “Thirty fucking days and it’s all mine.”
I step into him, ignoring the way he towers over me with that intimidating stare. “One problem, big guy,” I murmur, raising my chin and letting him see the challenge in my eyes. “I’m the rightful heir. I could take it all away.”
Zade scoffs. “You’d have to prove it first.”
“Honestly? That’s what you’ve got?” I question. “Someone stands before Empire and makes a bold claim like that and you don’t expect an organization like this to take a DNA sample? Really now, I’m disappointed.”
“In the real world, yeah. That’s exactly how it would work, but not here. I dare you, walk back into that compound and tell them exactly who you are. Tell them what Nikolai told you and see how fast you get a bullet between your eyes.”
I clench my jaw, anger burning through me. “Hear me when I tell you, Zade DeVil. I will take Empire from you. I will take your power and destroy you with it.”
He grins at me, taking my waist and pulling me in hard against his wide chest. He stares into my eyes, my defiance making something come alive within his dead eyes. “Go ahead,” he challenges. “But the only way you’re getting it is if you take it from my cold dead hands.”
Chapter 27
SAWYER
Leaning forward, I brace my elbows against my knees as Dalton, Cross, and I stare at the numbers on the elevator, impatiently waiting for Zade to bring Oakley back to us.
None of us could have seen just how hard it was going to be to keep this chick alive. The way she keeps escaping us . . . It’s as though she’s asking for someone to slit her throat. Does she not understand just how brutal this will be? Our world is not for the faint-hearted. It’s vicious, cold, and powerful, and she’s shitting all over it as though they’ll never be able to touch her.
I swear, Oakley Quinn is fucking hot, but if she tries to escape us like that again, I’ll make her remaining days hell on earth. Sitting in that bar and waiting for her to finish her shift, not knowing she’d slipped out the back door . . . Fuck, she made a fool of us all.
We split up. I went to the apartment complex, Dalton and Cross checked the streets, and Zade went to the compound.
We received a text from him forty minutes ago stating he’d found her, and now I’m itching for her to show up so I can give her a piece of my mind. I don’t know why I’m so worked up about this. I should’ve been able to calm myself by now, but the frustration keeps building. Keeps blasting through my system like a fucking hurricane.