Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
“You know what I have to do.”
“I will never hurt her,” I snap. “Not in a million years. Do what you think you need to. But don’t bullshit yourself, Red. You could help me solve this. Talk to the client. Tell him I’m willing to pay to settle this.”
“This client is…unreasonable,” Mr. Red says after a careful pause. “What they want goes beyond money.”
“What do they want, then?”
“I can’t say.”
I laugh gruffly, letting my head fall back but keeping my eyes on the bar the whole time. My senses are on alert as if seeing Freya has woken forces inside me.
Primal, possessive, fiery forces that will never let anything happen to my woman. Or to our family, once her gorgeous young body gives me a child.
“Then we’re done here,” I tell him. “But you need to know something, Red. If you break the terms of our deal – if you go after my sister – I will personally execute you. Do you understand?”
Despite the fierce feelings raging through me, I manage to keep my voice calm and cold.
“I understand,” Mr. Red says, his voice shaking again. “But it won’t come to that. I’ve never broken a deal. Your sister’s safe. But the woman, Felix…she has to go.”
“If you’re smart, you’ll find a way to get your client to back off. I don’t want this to end with more blood. Even if those men deserved it, it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, all this killing.”
I tighten my grip on the phone, sitting up as a violent vignette of Freya punches into my mind.
There’s crimson and pain and so many things I can’t let myself think about. I can’t even imagine it happening to Freya.
“But don’t make any mistake,” I go on. “If you send men to hurt her, I will stop them. I’ll defend her, no matter what it takes. And I’ll be forced to find out who this client is, Red.”
“If you do that, you’re voiding the deal,” he says. “You know what happens after that.”
“I’ve already told you what happens if you touch my sister,” I snarl. “But if you force my hand, I’ll have to find you. I’ll have to make you stop. I’ve tolerated this because it was the only way without waging an all-out war.”
A way to keep my sister and my niece safe.
“But you’re not leaving me with any choice,” Mr. Red says. “My business….”
“It’s a sick business,” I cut in as harsh feelings cut through me.
I meant what I said about taking those men out. They deserved it and needed to go, considering what they’d done and were doing to innocent people.
But it’s still murder-for-hire. It’s still operating in the criminal underworld, something I never wanted to do.
“If your business relies on an innocent woman’s death, then it’s wrong, Red. It’s fucked. I’d have no problem tearing it down.”
“I’m sorry it’s come to this,” Mr. Red says. “If I get confirmation that the target has been eliminated by midnight, you can go on with your life. You can forget I ever existed.”
I hang up the phone, biting down so hard my teeth hurt, and my jaw pulses.
As if I’d ever kill any innocent woman.
But my woman, Freya, will give me children, happiness like I never dreamed…
Freya, who’s going to give me the privilege of making her as happy as she can possibly be.
To suggest I’d ever harm her is monstrous.
She’s my woman. It’s my job to keep her safe.
I quickly call Kenny, one of my friends on the West Coast. He’s ex-military, like me – we served together – and he currently works for a protection firm.
“Felix?” he says, answering.
“It’s time for Operation Red,” I tell him. “Make sure Yasmin and Felicia are safe. Then, you can bill me for the hours.”
Kenny snorts. “You’re not paying a dime. After everything you did for me….”
He trails off, and I know he’s thinking of the same thing.
The bullets and the screams. At first, we thought people were confused, giving conflicting reports in battle heat, but we were surrounded. Kenny says he owes his life to me, but any of us would’ve done the same. I carried him physically, fine, but we all carried each other.
“We can sort the money later,” I say. “Just get them to the safe house. Then, update me the second anything suspicious happens.”
“I will,” Kenny says.
“Thank you.” I sigh. “I have to go. I’ve got lots to do tonight.”
After hanging up, I call Yasmin.
When she answers, my heart clenches in my chest at the sound in the background. It’s Felicia’s voice, raised in happiness.
“Hey, bro,” she says, sounding the happiest she has since this all started.
Ever since I told her today was my last job, she’s been more upbeat. She hates that I have to do this and blames herself, but there was an end in sight.