AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The leader of the Four Seas or whatever?”
“Qian, I think.”
I told Qian I needed to think about it. Nico’s words echo in my mind from the phone conversation I overheard when I first moved into the penthouse. I’m also not going to jump into an arrangement that would be extremely difficult to extricate myself from.
No. It can’t be… Nico wouldn’t lie to me about this, would he? My heart kicks at my ribs, and all the air squeezes from my lungs.
“Maisy, are you okay?” Rose reaches for me, but I stagger back and hit the wall.
“It might not be true.”
“It is.” The confession bursts out. “I overheard him on the phone one night—I didn’t know what he was talking about, but it all makes sense now.” I lean against the wall, a crack racing across my stupid, stupid heart. “How could I have trusted him?”
“Mais, maybe there’s some explanation.”
I swallow hard to keep the sob down. Hot tears burn my eyes, and I need to get out of here immediately before I have a total meltdown. “I—I have to go,” I stutter.
“Okay, let’s get the guys and we’ll go back?—”
“No! I don’t want them to see me like this.” The dam breaks, tears streaming down my cheeks despite my best efforts.
“Okay, then we’ll just go out the back.” She opens the door a crack and ticks her head at the rear exit.
I nod quickly and follow her out. Rose weaves her arm around my shoulders and pushes through the door. The bright light streams into the dim hallway, temporarily blinding me. I squeeze my eyes closed and allow Rose to lead me outside. The back exit spills out into a narrow alleyway.
“It’s going to be okay, Maisy,” Rose whispers as she tugs me down the alley. “As fucked up as this sounds, Nico must love you, or else why would he have ever agreed to the stalemate with the Kings?”
It doesn’t make any sense, none of it. I just need to talk to him and find out what the crap is going on.
A door whips open, and I stagger back just before the metal barrier nearly breaks my nose.
“Hey! Watch it!” Rose shouts.
Four hooded men spill out from the doorway and surround us.
CHAPTER 43
ANOTHER TROPHY
Nico
I’m going to string that piece of shit up by his toes. Not only did Jasper try to scare my little fox, but he also fucked with my cars. And now he’s trying to flee the country? I stand outside the crappy hotel just a few miles from the airport. For a man who’d managed to remain untraceable for so many months, he’d made a piss poor decision booking a commercial flight out of JFK. He must have felt the noose tightening this past week to get this sloppy.
The moment his name popped up on the fly list, my tech guys had him by the balls. Then it was only a matter of finding the right hotel. Jimmy had been quick deploying the troops, I’d give him that but if he doesn’t get his ass here soon, I’m going in by myself.
At least I’ve got Max to watch my back in case the asshole gets flame happy again.
My phone vibrates, and Jimmy’s text comes through.
Jimmy: I’m five minutes out. Traffic is a shitshow.
It always is.
Me: Hurry the fuck up. I’m going in with or without you in five.
The last thing I need is this fucker getting away again. I promised Maisy his head on a platter, and I would deliver. I want a life with Maisy, with all the fucking bells and whistles. I want peace, and I want happiness, things I never thought I deserved. I’d made the difficult call to Qian this morning to break the news about the betrothal to his sister. There is only one woman I want in my life, and I’d have to deal with the consequences of backing out on the arrangement with the Four Seas later. With Qian and Jasper out of the way, we could finally start a life together.
I stare at my pocket watch and scowl. I can’t wait any longer. Untucking my gun from my waistband, I tick my head at Max who stands across from me. His eyes are fixed on Jasper’s room, just around the corner. It’s time to end this.
