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“Yes, that should work.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course, sir. I’m—I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “Tell her I love her, alright?”
He hesitated before he answered. “I will.”
I tapped the button on the earbud and ended the call. Now, all I had to do was give myself up and hope that would be enough of a distraction for Scarlett to get down to the safe room. It was hidden inside the house, impossible to find, and unless they had a bulldozer, they wouldn’t be able to get into it.
I came around the front of the stairs and tossed my gun on the floor as the soldiers approached with their guns pointed in my face. But none of them fired, so at least their orders were to keep me alive.
Alive to torture me, no doubt.
They circled me and yanked my wrists behind my back like I was under arrest and secured the zip tie in place.
I wanted to ask questions, but I knew it wasn’t their place to answer them.
They marched me forward toward the front doors, and just then, they swung inward, and the man Aldo had described stepped through, one hand in his pocket, a carefree energy about him. Instead of looking at me first, he got a lay of the land, looking at my floorplan before he was directly in front of me.
Then he finally looked at me.
Brown eyes in a hard face. In just a look, I could tell he was confident but not arrogant, that he was smart even though he hadn’t spoken a word. Everyone possessed an energy that you could just feel—and I certainly felt his.
I bet he felt mine.
“I apologize for the fanfare. But you know how it goes.” His voice was deep and possessed a hint of a French accent.
My blood started to boil because I knew who he was without knowing his name. “What do you want?”
“Let’s start with an introduction.” He looked away and scanned the room again. “I’m Draven—and I’m here to take the business.” He turned his gaze back on me.
I needed him to focus on me, not the stairs. “I quit a while ago. I have nothing to offer you.”
“Yes, I’m aware. Chosen to settle down in a quiet life with your lovely bride.” He studied my expression, waiting for the rise of my anger. “And she is lovely, by the way. And her cooking…” His hand moved to his chest. “Phenomenal. And that means something coming from a French man.”
I tested the zip ties, but they were locked tight.
His eyes lifted again.
I did what I had to do and decided to charge him.
He anticipated it and sidestepped me.
I lost my balance and hit the floor.
Two of his men lifted me and forced me upright.
But now his back was turned to the rest of the house, and the timing couldn’t have been better because I spotted her making her way down the stairs. I yanked my gaze away and locked eyes with Draven, knowing any shift in my stare could give her away.
“That was elegant,” he said with a slight smirk.
“I told you I’m not in the business anymore, so what the fuck do you want?”
“And I heard you the first time. But I need you for something.”
“What?” I snapped. “Just tell me, and I’ll do it.” I couldn’t care less about it, especially now that Dante wasn’t a part of it. Draven could have the damn thing. The rest of us would be just fine without it.
