Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
“I’ll deal with this. And if you so much as speak of this to my father or mother, I won’t be lenient with you.”
“Need I remind you that I don’t work for you?” Dutton all but snarls.
“No, but you sure as hell like to get up in my business.”
Dutton smiles, actually fucking smiles, like a wild man. “Fucking pussy whipped already.”
I grab him by the collar of his shirt. “What the fuck did you say to me?”
“I don’t repeat myself,” he says, placing his hand over mine. “And as much as you’re being an asshole right now, you’re still my cousin, and I will always protect family. Even if you can’t see clearly right now.” He breaks my grip on his shirt and pushes me away.
I don’t have to answer to anyone, but I remind him, “Someone has a hit on me. I’d rather unravel which family is behind pulling the trigger, not the woman behind the scope. I can handle her.”
“Keep your enemies close, huh?” Hawke says, trying to dissipate the tension. I adjust my suit, and Dutton brushes his light-brown hair back, not that any of it is out of place. His square golden ring shines in the light, and I remember the last time he clocked me with it. That ring has certainly busted my lip more than once.
“Besides, we’re here for business,” I remind Dutton, who cracks his neck to one side and then the other. This is a personal matter for him, too.
We enter the office space, which is a large twenty-story building filled with agents. I don’t even spare a glance for the receptionist as we stride to the elevator and hit the button for the top floor.
It’s a tight fit with all four of us, and I adjust the cuffs of my suit out of habit.
“I like her,” Hawke blurts randomly from behind me. Dutton side-eyes him, and Ford nudges his brother. This fucker never knows when to shut his mouth or leave something alone.
“You can never read a room, can you?” Ford shakes his head in disapproval.
“What I’m saying is maybe you should marry her so your father can finally hand everything over to you, and once you’re done with her, knock her off if you’re already planning on doing that.”
“That’s a fucking stupid idea, Hawke. Eli isn’t going to marry a woman who puts fucking rats in his drawers and stalks him,” Dutton barks back.
Ford cautiously asks, “So why does he look like he’s thinking about it?”
And I do everything to refrain from smirking. Hawke’s not the brightest guy, but sometimes that motherfucker is a genius. But I’m not sure if I want to deal with the hassle.
The elevator doors open, and I see Edward grappling with the phone. Most likely it’s the receptionist advising him we’re on our way.
“M-Mr. Monti, what a p-pleasant surprise,” he stutters. The last time I saw Edward was at Michelle’s party, and I had my arms wrapped around his throat after he tried to assault one of the women there.
I’m no hero, and I’m not here specifically for that. What I want is my money.
“I have the money. It’ll just take one more day to transfer. Or I can give you the cash right now.”
Hawke and Ford take either side of the door to ensure no one interrupts us, and I step toward his desk, evaluating the large room. It’s flashy for a corrupt accountant, and it’s good to see the money he owes my family has been going elsewhere.
Dutton stops at the edge of the desk, but I walk all the way around and look down on the fat little man whose eyes are black and swollen from the broken nose my tigress gave him. My upper lip twitches. She broke it well.
He scampers out of his chair and presents it to me. I sit, kicking my feet up onto the desk. I pull out a cigar and light it. Edward doesn’t seem to know what to do with himself and stands awkwardly to the side, a foot away from me and Dutton.
“I have the money.”
I smile and look at the boys, as if imploring them to get in on a joke. “The problem is, Edward, I shouldn’t have to come in here personally to receive it or remind you. I only do reminders once.”
“If this is about the woman from the party, I didn’t know she was yours…” he says nervously.
I give nothing away. “Everything in this city is mine, Edward. Including you.”
I’ve done my research on Edward, and he’s a disgusting piece of shit who is underhanded and especially grotesque toward women. “Everyone and everything are replaceable, though, aren’t they?” I add, and I swear the motherfucker is about to piss himself.
I find the button to the window shutters and press it, the slow pace of them dropping, agonizing the man in front of me as he turns a noticeable shade paler.