Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“Oh my God,” Landon said. “Is that my little brother?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir. I saw him on the monitors and grabbed him.”
Carter began to struggle again. I yanked him back against me, but Landon pulled a gun and aimed for his chest.
“I’ve got this,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “Let’s get him in a cell and tie him up.”
“Or we could end this right here.”
Carter stilled against me. He had to be scared, but I hadn’t come this far to lose now. “Would that really be the best move? Don’t you want to question your brother and find out how much he knows? Shouldn’t you figure out how much his interference is going to cost you?”
Carter tried to turn toward me, but I wouldn’t let him. I couldn’t look him in the eye and still be able to do what I was doing.
I wondered how Landon had planned to manage Carter if I hadn’t shown up. I doubted any of the incompetent goons he’d hired could take out Carter, not even as a group. As it was, there was only one way for me to secure him. I hadn’t wanted to go this route, but Landon had fucked everything up.
Clamping my arm tighter around Carter’s neck, I slid my other hand into my pocket, pulled out one of the extra tranquilizer syringes, and jabbed it into the side of his neck. I pulled it out quickly as he thrashed against me, not wanting to let the full dose deploy. Considering I’d drugged him hours ago, that small amount should be enough to knock him out while I dealt with Landon.
Carter struggled for a few seconds, then his movements slowed, and he slumped against me. I wanted to throw him over my shoulder and run, but that wasn’t possible. I was going to have to put him in a cell.
33
CARTER
When I woke up, it took ages to get my brain online again. I tried to turn over and realized I wasn’t even lying down. I was sitting in a chair, and—oh fuck, my arms were bound behind me, which made the old wound in my shoulder ache. My feet were also bound to the legs of the chair, and the room was spinning around me.
Matteo had fucking drugged me—again!—and now I was restrained exactly like he’d been when I’d take him prisoner. Was I supposed to believe he’d really come here to kill Landon and that he was going to come save me? He’d told me to stay still and everything would be okay, but what had that really meant? He couldn’t be working with my brother, could he?
I remembered the way Matteo had looked at me earlier when we’d lain in bed after he’d utterly surrendered to me. Could he really have faked that?
No matter what Matteo’s true role was, I needed to get the hell out of here for a number of reasons. He’d clearly convinced my brother he was on his side. If Landon realized he’d been played, Matteo would be I trouble. If he was working with Landon, then I was a dead man if they came back. Eventually, the rest of the security team would come for me along with Miles, Ford, and maybe even Worth. There was no telling how long I had to get out of here before they put themselves in danger.
I started working with the rope around my wrists and discovered it wasn’t nearly as tight as it needed to be to keep me restrained. Had Matteo been the one to tie me up? Had he left the rope loose on purpose? I had a vague memory of him lifting me in his arms before I’d completely lost consciousness.
I freed my hands with only minor abrasions, and I’d just freed my feet when I heard footsteps and the jangling of keys. I hurriedly repositioned myself to look as if I was still tied. A second later, my brother’s face appeared at my cell door.
Landon unlocked the door and stepped inside. I was in the clear for now. He would never stand there so casually if he knew I could tackle him at any time. “Hello, Landon.”
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” He pulled out a gun and held it by his side, as if I thought he’d walk in here unarmed.
“Not long enough.”
He scowled. “How did you figure out my role in all of this?”
“You mean your attempt to have me branded as a traitor and your work with the cartel my unit was sent to eliminate? Or do you mean how you killed our mother? Did you enjoy watching her fall down the stairs? Was that fun for you? Is that how sick you are?”
Landon’s face paled. “It was an accident; I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Sure. You weren’t jealous she might have more children? That one of them might replace you? You knew Dad didn’t give a damn about you being the oldest. All he wanted was a clone. For all you knew, a better one would come along. He would throw you aside in a heartbeat if he had a child he liked better.”