Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Hellfire is quiet. Too quiet if you ask me. "Interesting suggestion."
I look at Tex, who’s looking right back at me, neither of us happy.
Hellfire gives us a glance, then continues, "That's not the kind of thing I can say yes to right away. Give me a day or two, and your word that Cooper is safe while we negotiate."
"Done, as long as the same goes for Anne and Jessica. Hurt either of them, and the deal's off. I want regular updates. Think hard, Hellfire. You could stand to make a lot of money here. I make a dangerous enemy, but a generous employer."
Bull-fucking-shit.
"I'll call you back in two days," Hellfire says.
"Forty-eight hours. Not a minute more. I'm not going to let Jessica and Anne just sit and rot in that dump. And I swear, if they're not returned to me in the same condition they were in when you took them, I'm not going to be merciful. You know I have the means."
Hellfire cuts the call.
“You can’t be fucking serious about listening to him. He—”
“Give me a little fucking credit.” He cuts me off sharply. “Cooper’s an idiot and a liability, but we took the job. That fucker is treating us like we’re the same as him, no loyalty. He doesn’t understand shit, but this gives us a little time.”
I blow out a sigh of relief.
“But you asked a good question.” Hellfire’s fingers drum on his desk as he thinks. “Why does he give a shit about the nanny? You said she hates the fucker, right?”
Tex nods. “That’s what she says, and I don’t get the feeling she’s lying. But…”
“But what?
“He’s got a hold on her, and it’s not just because he’s her boss.”
Hellfire takes the phone off the table and slips it into his pocket. “I don’t like unknowns. I know she looks all cute and innocent, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. Find out what her deal is.”
17
TEX
"Did Victor say something? What's going on?" Jessica asks. Her eyes dart between us, looking for reassurance.
As much as I want to tell her that everything will be alright, I can't. If she's been holding back something that could get our men hurt or fuck up the plan, her stay is about to get less comfortable. "We just have a few questions, and we know you can't speak freely in front of Anne. We're using one of our meeting rooms."
I really fucking hope my gut is right. We all do.
Ghost leads the way into the dorms. The whole building is a mishmash of whatever we need at the time. Most of the old classrooms have been converted to private rooms for the brothers, but the old cafeteria is still used for eating and hanging out, and the old gym has been stocked with workout equipment on one side, leaving the other free for shooting hoops.
You can hardly even see the blood stains from the executions anymore.
Other rooms, like the old teachers’ offices are mostly used for storage, or meetings or interrogations. Which is exactly where we’re taking Jessica.
Her steps slow and she hangs back. "I'm not on his side. You know that, right?"
I nudge her forward, rubbing her upper back as she walks into the room. "Relax. We're not trying to freak you out. We just need to clear up a few things. Nobody's going to hurt you."
It's an old break room, with a round table in the center and some chairs. Riot pulls one out for Jessica. She takes it, but she’s looking real skeptical. Don’t blame her.
Riot and I take either side of her, with Ghost across the table. He's being real fucking quiet, which a lot of people might not see as unusual, but I know him better. He's no happier about this than we are.
Jessica’s thigh brushes against mine, soft and inviting. I put a hand on her leg, trying to give her a little connection. I know what it's like to feel like everyone is against you.
Jessica lets out a shaky breath. "Okay. What do you want to know?"
"Before we start, there’s cameras in this room. I can't turn them off, but I don't want you to think we're trying to trick you into anything." Ghost points to two spots in the room where tiny lenses are watching, hidden where they aren't obvious. "Tell us your full name and how you came to work for Victor Kane."
She shifts in her chair, uneasy. "Um… Jessica, Jessica Ainsley, and… it's complicated."
Shit. Not what we wanted to hear. Complicated usually means a whole lot of bullshit. "We got time, honey. Start at the beginning."
"It's not—" Jessica's face crumples. She takes off her glasses and stares down at them, her soft brown eyes sad. "I don't really work for him. Not exactly. Ugh. That's not true. I do work for him, but it's not by choice."