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)
She is taking the same path as when she ran from me before. I’ll have to teach her not to be such a creature of habit when it comes to doing something you shouldn’t be. Your enemies count on routines. They use them against you.
“Update!” I bark into the phone.
“She stopped. I’m speeding up the footage.” More clicks. “I think someone is following her, sir.” Those few words send my fear into overdrive.
“Stop fucking pausing. Tell me everything you see.” My heart pounds, and I know it’s not from running. If anything happens to her, I’ll make this whole city pay the price.
“It’s a woman. Your wife is moving again. She’s in the side delivery alley.”
“A woman?”
“Sir, she has a gun pointed at your wife.”
Blind rage unlike any I’ve ever known fills me.
“Cut the footage and get Noah out here,” I order Jared as I round the corner to the alley to see my worst nightmare.
It’s really ironic since I’ve always been considered most people’s worst nightmare.
16
ELSA (ACE)
I stare down the barrel of a gun, my heart pounding in my chest. WITSEC told us to keep a low profile. That we always had to be extra careful because my father’s enemies were still out there. Ready to come for us any chance they got. There is no shortage of men that would jump at the chance if they found us. It could be someone my dad snitched on or someone he’d stolen millions from. The most heartbreaking thing in all of this is that the man I love sold those secrets. He’s why I’m here right now.
Only this has nothing to do with my father. It’s not one of his enemies that has come for me.
“Did you think I’d let you have him?”
“You can have him.” I hold my hands up. “He’s all yours.”
“Liar!” she hisses at me. I try to remember her name, but it’s kind of hard to think with a gun pointed right at you. In the broad daylight, she doesn’t look as pretty as I remember. Nikkie! It finally comes to me.
“Nikkie, I swear. I’m sneaking out of here to get away from him. I’m leaving town.” I try to reason with her, but I think she might be in crazy mode. Her hair is a mess, and her makeup is smeared on her face. Under her eyes, there are dark circles. I don’t think she’s slept for days.
“It’s not going to work.” She shakes her head frantically. She looks exhausted. And by the way her hand is shaking, I wouldn’t be surprised if she were on some sort of drugs. “I’ve seen him with you. He’s in love with you. He won’t let you go. Bowen always gets what he wants.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to correct her to call him Knight because I guess I’m crazy too! I decide to keep my mouth shut because she looks even more crazed than she did a few seconds ago.
“He used me. It was all a trick to get what he wanted from me.” Her brows pull together like she’s trying to think. I really wish she’d put the gun down. The longer she holds it on me, the more her hand shakes. I’m not sure if I’m more afraid she is going to shoot me out of anger or by accident. What I do know is that the odds are not in my favor here. I need to remain calm.
“He married you!” How does she know that?
“It was fake.” Damn it hurts to say that. “It was all fake.” A few tears slip free. I wanted it to be real. I may not have wanted to admit it at first, but it’s true.
“No.” She shakes her head. “Years! I waited for him and then you...” Her hold on the gun steadies.
“Nikkie, there are cameras everywhere.”
“Oh, that’s the plan.” A wicked smile plays on her lips. “When he comes for me after I kill you, he’ll meet the same fate, and I’ll follow soon after.” She gets a dreamy look in her bloodshot eyes.
“It doesn’t have to go this way.” I try to plead with her again. This is going to kill my father and sister.
“If he can’t be mine, he’ll be no one’s. You’ll—” She screams as her head is yanked backwards by her hair. I watch as Bo grabs her arm at the same time. The gun falls to the ground. A loud crack of bone has me cringing, my hands going over my face. Nikkie lets out another blood-curdling scream.
“Deal with her,” I hear Bo say. “And I’ll deal with you.” I gasp when my feet leave the ground, dropping my hands from my face.
“Hey!” I try to wiggle and push out of his hold. How the heck am I in trouble when I was almost just murdered?