Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Please.” He goes on with his begging.
“Nick. Pliers.” I hold my hand out. A whimper leaves Micky.
“My brother.”
“Is none of your concern.” No, Reggie is now mine. A few days ago, that wasn’t true. I cloned Ace’s phone that first night. When I saw her texting someone named Reggie, jealousy took over until I started reading through their texts. He’s a kid. Only fifteen years old.
With him being so familiar with my wife, I had Noah dig. He’s a crafty kid. One that helped my girl along the way. She wouldn’t take too kindly if she found out I’d done something to him.
Micky doesn’t respond.
“The hard way it is.” I grab him by the hair on the back of his head and yank it back. Nick plugs his nose so Micky has no option but to open his mouth.
It only takes me pulling one tooth to get Micky to spill it all. Kind of disappointing, if you ask me. I thought I would at least get two. But the quicker the better. I have a wife to get back to.
“Did you get those names?” I ask Noah, who has been standing behind me the whole time.
“Yes, sir.”
Micky sobs, hoping I’ll show him some compassion now that he’s given me the information I was after. He should know better by my reputation that that’s not my strong suit.
He will get no pity from me. Micky sold out Ace’s true identity. She’d put herself on too many radars. It was only a matter of time. It didn’t help that Easton Ledger had been spotted landing in Vegas snatching a girl from a coffee shop. Whispers started to spread.
“Handle him.” I drop the pliers. That’s all Nick needs to hear.
“What do you have?” I ask Noah.
“One of the men Aaron Monroe ratted on.” I already knew it would be, but I wanted to be sure.
“How many more are there still alive?” I know Ledger had handled a few to send a message. He’s a better man than I am.
“Two others.”
“I want them all gone. Get me the information. I’ll likely have to make a few calls myself.” He nods.
“The news is already out about the Monroe family.”
“Fuck.” I knew it was coming. “I need to get back to my wife.”
I pull out my phone as I make my way back to our room, checking the news. I see the pictures. At least they showed Ace with me and mentioned my name. That should get the word out. So will the fact that Micky has now disappeared. Now I need to break it to Ace without her freaking out on me.
When I step off the elevator into my home, I see the TV on in the living room. The news is playing. Motherfucker.
“Ace,” I call out, not seeing her. I go straight for the bedroom and nothing. I do notice her purse that had been sitting on the chair is gone. My body grows tight, knowing something is wrong. Did she freak out when she saw the news and went to warn her father? I go to check her phone with mine and curse myself. She doesn’t have it. I do.
I hit the button for hotel security.
“Sir,” Jared answers.
“My wife left. Pull up the cameras. I want you to track which exit she used.”
“Got it.” I stay on the phone as I head back out but pause when I see my office doors wide open. Papers are scattered all over the floor. I pick up a few of them, realizing what they are. I drop my head, knowing what this looks like. She’s running. From me. This must be what it feels like to be tortured. To have a knife stuck in you and twisted. Because that’s the only way I can describe the way I feel, thinking that my Ace is scared of me.
My initial reaction quickly turns from hurt to anger and fear. Does she really think she can get away from me? WITSEC wouldn’t be able to keep her from me. Neither of those things are the reason for the feelings which are coursing through me. It’s the fact that I haven’t gotten a chance to deal with anyone that might be a danger to her. She’s vulnerable to all of her father’s enemies.
“Tell someone to pull my car around,” I tell Jared, who relays it to someone else while I head back down.
“She took the elevator down to the casino floor and went out the front.” I hear him clicking away. “Passed the rideshare line.” More clicks. “She’s now going around the building.”
“How far behind are we in time?”
“Three minutes.”
Fuck. I barely missed her. I should have let Nick handle Micky. But it was personal, and I needed that message sent properly.
“What’s happening?”
“She is making her way around the fountain. I think she is heading for the side alley.” I pick up my pace on a full run. I could catch her.