Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“What if I told you I think I love her?”
He turned toward me and raised a brow. “Then I think I can’t help you.”
“Stop.” I reached out and put my hand on the door before he could slam it in my face. “Not think. I do love her.”
“You love her?”
“Yes, I really do. She is infuriatingly stubborn, and kind to a fault, and I love her. Tell me what it will take. I’ll do anything. You don’t like the deal we made last night. Fine. I’ll shred that contract with your father’s signature if that’s what you want. You can make that other deal.”
“What other deal?”
“The one with Dubois. It’s fine, I won’t stand in the way of you making a deal with him if that is what it takes to prove to you I love your sister. I don’t give a fuck that you are the DA and her brother. She is more important. I don’t give a rat’s ass that your empire can bolster mine. I want my bride back.”
My chest ached, my heart was beating so fast, and my lungs burned as I held my breath, waiting for him to say something, do something.
“If she wants you, no one here will stand in her way. But if you pursue her after she tells you no, I will personally bring you and your father down on every single charge I can come up with, regardless of whether or not they have merit. I will tie your family and your businesses up in litigation so long your lawyers are going to bleed you dry.”
“How do I find her?”
“If you knew her as well as you think you do, you would already know where she is. Or you can call her, see if she picks up.”
Harrison glared at my hand, still on the door, and I took a step back. Before slamming it in my face, he turned to face me. “Regardless of what happens next, I won’t be doing business with Dubois, like I won’t be doing you any favors. The contract you signed with my father was fair. It can stand.”
“Okay.” I started scrolling through my phone, looking for her number.
“I’m serious, Luc. I don’t care who you are married to. It will not protect you or your father from the law. Not now, not ever.”
“Understood,” I called over my shoulder as I ran back to my car. The driver was already waiting for his next order.
Amelia’s phone rang twice and went to voicemail. I tried again. Same thing.
Harrison would want me to leave it at that. Maybe try again in a few hours once she had calmed down. He said that if I knew her as well as I should that I would know where she was.
I called my security team and had them send men to the Met to look for her. Others went to the cafés along Central Park, and to cover my bases, I sent a few to Saks. My gut told me she wasn’t there, but I wanted to be sure.
Then I remembered her friend. Marco, the one she had cozied up with to make me jealous. Like I didn’t already know he was gay.
The dossier Henry had made for me was still in my home office. He had expanded it to include the names and numbers of all known associates. With any luck, Marco’s number would be there. Maybe he’d help me.
Two phone calls and many threats, begging, and bartering later, I was still nowhere. Worse, Marco hadn’t narrowed my search, he’d broadened it.
Olivia took pity on me and called Rose. She didn’t know where her sister was, only that she had given Amelia enough jewelry and purses to fund a trip anywhere in the world, and she had left on foot.
Within minutes, I had travel alerts set for her across the country, using pings from her cellphone, and my men were tracking her movements on CCTV.
Even I had to admit it was creepy and underhanded, when I saw her on a grainy black-and-white screen boarding a train. Had I taken things too far?
Then I realized when it came to her, there was no distance I wouldn’t go.
My beautiful bride was boarding a train heading to Los Angeles. The newer trains also had cameras, and I watched as she sat down in a row by herself and looked out the window.
Standing alone in my home office, I watched her stare out the window as she left her home, tears running down her face.
I had done this to her.
She was running from everything she knew and loved because of me.
The entire time we had been betrothed, I had been focused on what the marriage meant for me, for my business, and how she would fit into my goals.
I’d never even thought about what she wanted. What would her days look like being my wife? I had simply assumed they would be spent going to charity events, representing me at different luncheons and galas. Eventually raising my children and managing my house.