Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Gadiel bit his bottom lip and gave a tight nod. “Okay,” he said quietly, pulling away and slipping off Will’s lap.
Will’s hands twitched. He pursed his lips, disconcerted by how empty his lap felt.
At that moment, his phone went off, and Will pulled it out of his pocket.
It was Gadiel’s brother.
“My property has been attacked,” he said.
“What?” Will said, sitting up straighter, fully alert now.
“My private island was attacked after Gadiel and I left it,” Zain said. His voice sounded strange even over the phone. “All of my staff is dead, and—and someone in my house was kidnapped.”
“Who?” Will said.
“That’s irrelevant,” Zain bit off. “You have to take Gadiel away. I’ve just received a message from the mob that if I don’t do as they say, they’ll kill my brother.”
Will’s stomach twisted into a knot. He shifted his gaze to Gadiel, who was blinking at him curiously. He looked soft, vulnerable, and so very young. And someone was threatening to kill him. Probably the very same people who had put a bug on him.
“What do they want from you?” Will said.
“That’s none of your business,” Zain said. “I’m not yet sure if I’ll comply with their threats, but Gadiel is leverage they can use, so I want you to take him away, somewhere they can’t find him and use him against me.”
“Take him where?”
“Preferably far from here. I’ve already transferred a substantial sum to your account. Use it. Don’t let Gadiel use his credit cards. Keep a low profile until I contact you.”
“How long do you expect us to lie low?”
“I don’t know yet,” Zain said, sounding distracted. “Probably a few weeks at least, until I know more. Keep him safe.”
“I will,” Will said, already thinking of where he could take Gadiel.
“Oh, and Summers?” Zain said. “When I have time, we’re going to have a talk about your conduct. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that the kid was practically clinging to you earlier.”
Will grimaced.
“He was just upset,” he said stiffly.
“I hope that’s all it is,” Zain said before hanging up.
Will pinched the bridge of his nose, gathering his thoughts.
“Will? What did Zain say?”
He got to his feet. “He said your life is in danger. Go pack. We’re leaving.”
“Where?” Gadiel said after a moment.
Will met his gaze. “New York.”
Chapter 19
Gadiel had always wanted to see America.
But he hadn’t thought it would happen in such circumstances. Not that he was complaining, per se. He was glad they were leaving Dubai, even though they probably didn’t need to cross the ocean to lie low for a while. They could have stayed on the outskirts of Dubai with the same result. But going somewhere far away felt safer. After what happened, he no longer felt comfortable at home.
Gadiel still had no idea why someone had put a bug on him, but considering that it was most likely the same people who had brutally killed Zain’s staff ... the thought made him shiver and clutch Will’s sleeve like a lost child.
Will had barely given him time to pack before rushing him to the airport. There was a private jet waiting for them there courtesy of Zain, and before Gadiel knew it, they were in the air, flying across the ocean to New York City.
New York City.
“Why there?” Gadiel asked.
“It’ll be easy to lose any pursuers in a city that big and lie low for a while.”
“We could have gone to Moscow or Beijing, for example—they’re closer.”
“Yes,” Will said. “But I don’t know the languages and we’ll stick out like a sore thumb. It will be easier to disappear in a city like New York for English-speaking, white—or white-passing—men. Plus, home turf advantage.”
Gadiel perked up. “Are we going to your place?”
Will gave him a look. “Of course not. That would be too obvious.” When Gadiel deflated in disappointment, Will said, “Besides, I don’t really have one.”
Gadiel frowned, confused. “You don’t have a home?”
Was that discomfort in Will’s eyes?
“I grew up in Scott’s parents’ house and went straight to college. Then I was in the army, and later moved around a lot as a bodyguard. It didn’t make much sense to get a place if I was never there, especially in this economy.”
“Oh,” Gadiel said. The explanation did make a lot of sense, but it still made him a little sad. “But don’t you want to settle down?” he asked, touching Will’s arm.
“I was going to, before taking this job,” Will said with a rueful smile. “I’ve been saving up for years, and I finally have the financial cushion to start my own private security firm. I’ve started looking for a place too.”
“That’s—that’s great,” Gadiel said sincerely, but his heart dropped as he realized what that meant. Will was returning to the US for good, which... was to be expected. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. But somehow, hearing Will talk about it made it real. And it made the idea he’d been toying with for the past few hours impossible.