Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 129676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Tierney let out a piercing cry. Luca muttered an exasperated “for fuck’s sake,” and I contemplated killing all these assholes right after I secured Gia.
The Escalade stopped an inch away from the metal framing the concrete. Smoke erupted from the engine, curling skyward. “Fuck.” I slammed my fist against the steering wheel. I didn’t want to be late because the evil twin from hell decided to rile up American Psycho over here.
Achilles threw his door open, strode outside, opened the back door, and plucked Tierney out as though she weighed nothing. He tossed her over his shoulder savagely, breezing his way to the edge of the bridge and flinging her kicking and thrashing body out over the barrier. For a moment, my heart stopped inside my chest. I couldn’t give half a shit about Tierney’s life, but she was my currency to get my wife back.
I unbuckled and threw my door open.
Luca clamped a hand over my shoulder from behind. “Trust the process, Blackthorn.”
“He threw her into the fucking Hudson.” And now I had to jump in and retrieve the mouthy bitch.
“No, he didn’t.”
Sure enough, I noticed Achilles was leaning over the edge, holding Tierney by the…
“He’s sustaining her by her heel.” I punched the steering wheel again. “Goddammit.”
“It’s a good heel. Those Jimmy Choos are sturdy as fuck,” Enzo mumbled.
Luca threw him a look.
“Or so I heard.” Enzo raised his palms innocently.
“He just wanted to look up her skirt,” Luca reassured me. “She’s probably wet from the foreplay, and he’s taunting her for it.”
“Why would he do that?”
“This is his idea of flirting.”
These people were far too messed up, even by my standards.
Achilles and Tierney seemed to be doing some negotiations. He seemed calm, and shockingly, from what I could tell, so was she. The entire ordeal took no more than five minutes before he tugged her back up, hurling her across the asphalt. She fell flat on her ass. Rather than help her up, Achilles walked briskly back to the car, slipped into the passenger seat, and slammed the door.
“Problem solved.” He wiped his palms.
Tierney steadied herself on her heels, limping to the car.
“What’d you tell her?” Luca drawled.
“It’s a secret.” Achilles smirked.
Tierney got back inside.
She didn’t say a word for the rest of the journey.
Ten minutes later, we were standing on a cliff overlooking the Hudson River. The wind whipped at my face. Tierney wasn’t wearing a jacket, and although I would have liked nothing more than to toss her off the cliff, I wanted her in pristine condition when her brother arrived. Her lips were a little blue, her eyes pink-rimmed.
“Here,” I barked, tearing off my peacoat. “Cover yourself.” I handed it to her.
Tierney took my coat without saying thank you and stomped over to the edge on those impossible heels, no doubt to piss everyone off.
“Stay close to us.” My tone bore no room for argument.
Ignoring me, she balanced herself on one leg, peering down the cliff. She still hadn’t uttered one word since Achilles almost flung her off the bridge.
I wasn’t in the mood for this bullshit.
“I’m not liable for the next thing I do if she doesn’t listen.” I pointed at her, turning to the Ferrante brothers.
“Tierney,” Achilles barked. “Get the fuck back here.”
She stopped twirling along the pebbles, shooting him a murderous look. She didn’t move.
“Sit.” He pointed at the ground. “Or we’re gonna have a problem.”
“I’m not your bitch.” She finally opened her mouth. “So don’t treat me like a dog. If you want me to come over, say please and say it nicely. If you make it convincing enough, I just might meet you halfway.”
“Being my bitch is an accomplishment too prestigious for you to reach,” Achilles drawled. “Come here now, or I’ll make good on my threat on the bridge.”
I had no idea what they were talking about, and fuck if I gave a shit. I just wanted my wife. Luckily, the sound of tires rolling over pebbles assaulted my ears. Callaghan was almost here. The Ferrante soldiers who drove behind us were also strategically scattered along the route. They alerted Luca they were coming.
“Oh, look.” Tierney raised her zip-tied wrists, checking an imaginary watch. “If it isn’t I-don’t-give-a-shite o’clo—” Then she purposefully threw herself right off the cliff, the fucking banshee that she was.
I pounced toward her, but Achilles was quicker. He leapt through the air, reaching her just in time, and yanked her back in record speed. Tierney fell on her face and knees, laughing at the two panting men above her.
Crazy obviously ran in the family. I hoped they weren’t going to reproduce.
I was about to stop Achilles from kicking her in the gut—he looked like he was about to—when an armored Mercedes-Benz AMG G 63 parked next to my Escalade. First, two Callaghan soldiers came out. Following them was Tiernan…and Gia.