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)
“Oh, girl. If he’s hitting you—”
“He’s not. I promise. Really.”
Lilia leaned forward. “Then why am I here?”
“Because you were willing to help me when you didn’t know me. And I kind of got the feeling you were the one who needed help.”
Lilia looked surprised then resigned. “Who are you?”
“What?”
“FBI? Local police? DEA? Something else?”
“Uh, no. None of those.”
“I’m not here because you’re worried about me. I’m here because you want something from me and if you’re not going to tell me then I’m gone.” Lilia stood.
“Wait, please!” She knew Victor would kill her. But she had this feeling that she was right about the other woman.
Lilia paused.
“You’re right. I do want something. But I’m hoping we can help you too.”
“We?” Lilia glanced around then sat.
“My family. We . . . Lilia, are you safe? With your stepbrother? Is this where you want to be?”
“You do want something from me. Because of him.”
“Yes, but not like you’re thinking. I’m not law enforcement.” She lowered her voice. “I’m engaged to Victor Malone.”
Lilia went pale then sat. “Shit, girl. Do you really know who my stepbrother is?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m here. He . . . he called me last night.” She sucked in a breath. “He has my niece.”
“Oh, fuck.” Lilia bit at her thumbnail, then seemed to realize what she was doing and set her hands down on her lap. “He has my mother.”
“Oh, no.”
“He’s holding her captive to keep me in line. He’s always . . . he’s always wanted me.” She shuddered. “My mom is ill. She has cancer. Anytime I do something he doesn’t like, he threatens to take away her care, the drugs she needs to keep her comfortable.”
“Lilia, I’m so sorry.” She wished she knew the other woman better, she really wanted to hug her.
“I escaped him a while ago with help. But he kidnapped my mom and forced me to return. He’s a terrible person.”
“A monster,” she agreed. Who threatened to withhold a person’s medical care? “But we can help you get away from him. You and your mom.”
Lilia chewed her lip. “God, I’d be stupid to trust you. I don’t know you. At the same time, there’s something about you that tells me you’re genuine.”
“I feel the same about you. Victor won’t be pleased I just spilled everything to you like I did.”
Lilia’s gaze narrowed. “Sure you’re safe with him?”
“I’m sure.”
“Well, if anyone can help me, I guess it’s the Malones. Carlos is power hungry, but it wasn’t until he started working with Patrick McMahon that he figured out a way to build his empire. Patrick is the brains. Carlos isn’t smart enough to go against Regent Malone. Then they brought in the Ventura gang, mainly for the manpower.”
Gracen was kind of surprised she knew all of this.
“Carlos likes to have me with him at most of his meetings. I think he likes to show off or something. He doesn’t realize I have a brain in my head. He thinks I’m not paying attention. But knowledge is power.”
Gracen nodded. She got that.
“I haven’t seen your niece, though. I can try and find where he’s hiding her.”
“That would be amazing. But only if you can do it safely. The thing is . . . he’s told us he wants a meeting, and he’ll give her to us.”
“He won’t do that.”
“We know. It’s obviously a setup. You’re right, he’s not that smart.”
Lilia made a scoffing noise. “I wonder if Patrick knows what he’s doing. He’s out of town at the moment.”
Shit. Regent would be upset.
“If I find out any information about the meeting, I’ll tell you.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve got to go. I had to slip away from my minder.”
“Is that why . . . are you wearing a wig?” she whispered.
“Oh yeah, my natural hair color is too easy to spot. Don’t worry, I slip away all the time, so no one will be that worried. But eventually, I have to let him find me or he’ll tell Carlos. Be safe.”
“You too.”
She didn’t hear from Lilia for another two days. She was nearly a complete wreck by that time. And Victor was close to breaking. He’d actually threatened to tie her to the bed and force a sedative on her.
Thankfully, a message had come through from Lilia giving them a time and location.
Regent had quickly set things into motion to protect them. He’d stuck Jardin and his family on a private jet out of the city. Victor had wanted her to go with them, but they’d already had this argument.
She had to stay in case Santiago insisted on her being at the meeting. Of course, he’d argued about that too. But both Regent and Maxim agreed with her.
When Santiago’s message came through, it was with the same details. But with an order for all of them to come. Unarmed.