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)
“What? Straight into negotiations? No pleasantries?”
He’d kidnapped her niece and held her for days, and he wanted to exchange pleasantries?
“What do you want?” Regent repeated.
Gracen knew that Regent’s men had eyes on the inside of the warehouse. They would wait for Regent to give them a signal and then they would attack.
“That’s no way to talk to me when I’ve got a proposition for you,” Santiago told Regent.
“What kind of proposition?” Regent crossed his arms over his chest.
“I heard you’ve got a real hard-on for Patrick McMahon,” Santiago said slyly.
“I think that’s common knowledge by now. I heard you’ve been working with him.”
“Not for much longer if you agree to my offer.”
This wasn’t what they’d been expecting.
“Snake and I are tired of working with Patrick. He seems to think that we should take all the risks and he gets all the rewards. So, our proposition is this, we will work with you against McMahon.”
Gracen was aware of how Victor had tensed, although she doubted that anyone else would notice. Would Regent take the offer? She didn’t know. She knew he wanted this Patrick guy. But surely he knew he couldn’t trust Santiago and Snake.
“As tempting as the offer is,” Regent said slowly. “I’m going to have to decline.”
Santiago’s face tightened in anger. He drew out a gun, aiming it at Anita’s head. “Then I’m sorry, but the girl is going to have to die.”
Anita let out a frightened squeak. Gracen thought she was going to vomit. She forgot about everything Regent and Victor had told her and tried to run toward her. Maxim wrapped his arm around her tightly.
“No, wait. Stop!” Regent held up his hand.
That was the signal. Maxim picked her up, throwing her behind some empty crates as bullets smashed through windows.
There were screams. Cries of pain and fear. Maxim drew out his gun then crouched over her, one hand on her back.
Please keep everyone safe. Please.
Was Victor okay? Was Lilia all right? What about Regent?
And what about Anita?
The shooting seemed to go on forever. Then she heard more men yelling. Some more shots. She whimpered, terrified that at any moment that Victor would get hurt.
“Fuck! She’s shot!” someone yelled.
“Get a vehicle close!” Regent ordered.
Who was hit? She moaned. Who? Oh, God. Who? She tried to wriggle her way out from under Maxim, but he held her down.
“Stay down, Gracen. We need to wait.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she sobbed.
“Maxim, let her up.”
Relief filled her at Victor’s voice. Maxim stood and she scrambled up onto her feet. Victor stood in front of her, his gun in one hand, his eyes filled with cold fury. He looked intimidating and mean.
She didn’t care. She went to throw herself at him but he held up a hand. “I’m covered in blood.”
“Is it yours?” she asked hoarsely.
“No.”
“Then I don’t care.” She flung herself toward him, and he caught her with a grunt, holding her tight.
“Maxim! Get over here and help us!” Regent yelled.
“Victor? Are you sure you’re all right? Are you hurt?” She pulled back so she could pat his body, searching for injury.
“I’m fine, baby.” He drew her against him again, holding her tight.
“What about everyone else? Regent? Lilia? Anita?”
“Regent is good.” Victor pulled away from her and nodded to something behind her. “So is Lilia.”
Lilia stood there, talking to one of the guards who’d been with her earlier. Was that the guy that Regent had turned to their side? She looked pale but unharmed.
“Lilia? You’re all right?” She tried to walk to the other woman, but Victor wouldn’t let her move.
Lilia came to her. “I’m fine. Just a few scrapes and bruises.”
Yeah, Gracen likely had the same. But she couldn’t feel anything. She was numb.
“Lilia?” Regent called out. “Some of my men will go with you to get your mother and clear Santiago’s house.”
Lilia nodded. Then she turned back to Gracen. “I might not see you again.”
Gracen wrapped her arms around the other woman. “Call me if you need anything. At all.”
With a shaky nod, Lilia walked away with several men accompanying her. Regent said something to her, then pressed a card into her hand. With his phone number? Maybe.
“What about Anita? Santiago?” she asked, looking around frantically. A number of people were gathered in the center of the room.
“What’s going on? Anita?”
Victor gave her a look filled with sympathy. “I’m so sorry, Gracen. Anita’s been shot.”
Gracen sat in the waiting room chair.
She leaned her elbows on her thighs and tried to breathe. Her entire body was trembling. The shock was almost too much. She could feel herself shutting down.
Just stay with it a bit longer.
It didn’t help that she hadn’t been sleeping or eating properly. And that she’d just been through something horrific.
Just as well that the Malones owned this hospital or else they’d be dealing with the cops right now.