Empire of Pain (Torrio Empire #3) Read Online J.L. Beck

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Crime, Dark, Mafia Tags Authors: Series: Torrio Empire Series by J.L. Beck
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Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 131455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
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I can't believe I'm asking this question, “What will it take to make things right?”

He lifts a shoulder encased in a dark suit. Nobody looking at him for the first time would have a clue as to what he's capable of. “I'm not quite sure yet. Amanda wanted to dangle the baby over his head to squeeze every cent she could out of him, but I'm not particularly interested in cash.”

When I raise my eyebrows, he chuckles. “You've got me there. Money is good. But making a man regret his choices is much better. And I intend to make Callum regret insulting me to all of our business associates.”

“How are you going to do that?”

He sighs as he tips his head to the side. “You'll find out when the time comes. For now, you have nothing to worry about.”

“Why is that?”

“If he loves you as much as he supposedly does, he won't hesitate to give me what I want. I'm sure you'll be out of here in no time.”

He's loving this, savoring it like a fine wine. Watching my every reaction and barely bothering to hide his glee. “And I know that I said this didn't have to do with my son, but since you brought it up, maybe the next time you want to stab a man for brushing his hand over your leg, you'll think twice. Look at what your actions have set into motion. All of this because you couldn't control yourself.”

I know this is nothing but an intimidation tactic, and I'm feeding right into it by responding. Only I can't stop the words from coming out.

“Your son was groping me, and I told him to stop.”

“So you say.”

My skin grows hot as blood rushes in my ears. I can't let him get to me. I can't make it that easy for him, but damn it, there's not much that gets under my skin easier than being deliberately misunderstood. I doubt he even misunderstands me—no, he knows what his son did. However he doesn't care. It's all the same in the end.

“Now that you mention it.” He lowers his arms to his sides, and from the corner of my eye, I notice his hands tightening into fists. “I'll have to see to it that you regret your decision, as well. You both have a habit of reacting without thought.”

This son-of-a-bitch. How fragile must your ego be to make you do something like this? The bitter heat in my chest threatens to crawl up my throat and flow out of me like lava.

Go fuck yourself, you piece of shit. I want to say it, snarl it, scream it. But this isn't only about me. I believe Callum loves me, no matter what Jack thinks. He's going to find a way to get us out of this, and the least I can do is stay alive until he does.

I can't give this guy a reason to lose his temper.

“Anything more to say?” He waits but gets nothing while I bite my tongue hard enough to taste blood. “I didn't think so.”

Jerking a thumb toward the man behind him, he continues, “You'll get food and water. Eventually. Do yourself a favor and don't bother screaming or yelling for help, nobody here cares and the walls are thick. All you'll do is annoy my men, and we can't have you upsetting yourself. Not in your condition.”

Do not react. Do not.

Somehow, I manage to keep it together while he saunters from the room and lets his thug close the door. I even wait until the shadows under the door disappear before I allow myself to break. Soon there's deafening silence shattered only by the painful thumping of my heart.

He wants to use the baby against Callum. It's not easy to believe anybody could be so cruel, but then I witnessed him possibly killing a girl in front of her mother, so I guess he's capable of a lot of things.

What if he wants to keep me hidden until the baby is born? What if he takes the baby—

Stop it. Tatum's voice rings loud and clear in my mind, almost as if she's in the room with me. She'd be screaming, kicking, and threatening to flay these guys alive if she was here. I can't do the same if I want to protect my baby and stay alive for the people I love, yet that doesn't mean I should drive myself crazy by letting my thoughts wander in such an awful direction.

I have no choice but to keep it together. Callum will find me, us. As I lie down again, curled in a ball, the coldness seeping into my bones, all I can do is hope he doesn't take too long. Because with each second that passes, I find myself cracking just a little more.


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