Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Gracen’s phone rang. She frowned. “Speak of the devil, it’s Anita.”
“Are you going to answer it?” Victor asked. “You could ignore it.”
She could, but she wouldn’t. With a sigh, she answered the call as she walked into the hallway.
“Hello?”
There was silence. That was odd.
“Anita?”
“A-aunty G.”
Gracen frowned. There was clear fear in her niece’s voice.
“Anita? What is it? What’s wrong?” She moved back into the office and Victor stood, looking at her with obvious concern.
“Aunty G, I’m s-so sorry. But, p-please, you have to h-help me.”
“What’s going on?” Gracen stared at Victor, worry beating at her.
“Hello? Is this Gracen Stall?” a smooth, male voice asked.
Her heart skipped.
“Put the phone on speaker,” Victor demanded quietly.
She fumbled with the phone, getting it on speaker. “Who is this?”
“Am I on speaker?” the voice asked, not sounding perturbed at all.
Regent frowned and Victor came over to get her, leading her back to a chair. She set the phone on Regent’s desk.
“Yes, you are,” Victor replied. “Who is this?”
“I’m so upset you don’t recognize my voice. This is Carlos Santiago.”
Her breath came in stuttered gasps. “Why do you have my niece’s phone? Is she all right? I want to talk to her again.”
“Oh, I’m afraid I can’t allow that right now. But she’s fine. I’ll send you some photos of her. I’m afraid I can’t say the same about her boyfriend. He suffered an unfortunate accident.”
Unfortunate accident?
Was that why Regent had been unable to locate Ice? Because Santiago killed him?
“Ice is dead?” she whispered. “Why? He was working for you! What are you doing with my niece?”
“Did you know that your niece got a job with me?” Santiago asked instead. “Good little stripper she is too. Nice, perky tits.”
She was going to vomit. That was Anita’s new job?
Oh, Anita. What have you gotten yourself into?
“Too bad she doesn’t know how to keep her mouth shut,” Santiago said.
She heard someone weeping in the background. Was that Anita?
“She’s not very loyal to you, is she? In fact, she was rather angry at you when she came to me and told me that her aunt was dating Victor Malone. She even explained how she burned down your bakery. How must it feel to be stabbed in the back by family?”
Oh, Anita. You idiot.
She’d obviously thought that Santiago would value that information. And he did. What he didn’t value was the person who brought that information to him.
“What do you want?” Regent asked coldly.
“I want a meet. You’ve been creating a lot of problems for me and my associates,” Santiago replied. “I’ll send a location and time when I’m ready. Oh, and daily pictures of your little bitch niece. Don’t worry, I’ll treat her really well.”
The call ended and Gracen placed her hand over her mouth, sobbing. Victor pulled her against him.
“What do we do?” she asked. “I can’t . . . I can’t let him hurt her.” Or worse. “She’s still my niece.”
“We need to get in touch with Lilia,” Regent said. “I’ll also check in with my informant. He might be able to get your niece out. Or at least give us a heads-up about the location and time for the meet ahead of Santiago telling us. He won’t give us any time to prepare.”
“Don’t worry, baby,” Victor whispered to her soothingly. “We’ll get her back.”
She just hoped it didn’t cost her everything.
Gracen took a seat in the busy café at the back of the bookshop. She’d chosen the place and the others had agreed. Nerves filled her stomach. She hadn’t slept a wink last night or eaten since Santiago’s call. She’d been too worried about Anita.
Victor was in complete overprotective mode, fretting over her. But she knew that she wasn’t going to feel better until they saved Anita.
Her foot bounced up and down. Where was she? Would she come?
She’d texted Lilia last night after Santiago’s call asking her to meet her today but hadn’t given her a time or location. Then about an hour ago, she’d sent her details for their meeting. Luckily, the other woman hadn’t seemed fazed. Finally, she spotted her dark hair coming through the crowd. Was it a wig?
Lilia slid into the table across from Gracen.
“Hi, Lilia,” Gracen said. She had to stop herself from immediately asking her if she’d seen her niece. Or knew what her evil stepbrother was up to. “Would you like something to drink? Eat?”
“No, I don’t have much time, sorry.” Lilia looked around worriedly.
Okay, this was a good chance to bring things up. She had a recording device on so the others could listen, but she couldn’t hear them.
“Are you all right?”
“What? Yeah, fine. We’re here to talk about you. Do you want help leaving that asshole?” Lilia asked.
“Actually, Victor isn’t an asshole. We’re getting married.” She held out her ring to show her, aware that her hand was shaking.