Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
It was Malcolm Kilpatrick.
Ocean’s father.
HUNTER
“My apologies for the interruption,” the Boss of the Fola greeted as he regarded Coby. “But considering what my son has been planning right under my nose, I’m afraid it just couldn’t wait.”
He smiled, and I stretched my fingers toward my gun.
It was my first time being in the same room with Malcolm Kilpatrick, but Coby had already warned me that he and Ocean were not on good terms. That was putting it lightly. It made me question why we were living in the man’s house if he was such a threat to us—that is, until I caught on to what Ocean was doing. And why he’s been so busy the last couple of weeks.
He was seizing the throne while his father was away.
Marrying Coby was just insurance—to make sure the rest of his family didn’t have a reason to challenge him once he was Boss.
It would have been the perfect plan if Malcolm hadn’t caught wind of it.
He glowered at Coby now like she was the ruin of his kingdom, and I wondered how mad Ocean would be if I shot his father in the face.
“If you’re done here,” Malcom said in a polite tone that I didn’t buy for a moment, “I’d like to escort you back to my home so I can have a chat with my son.”
“I’m sorry, but we’re not allowed to get in the car with strangers,” Coby said with equally false sweetness. I swallowed my snort.
Malcolm clearly didn’t find Coby as funny and clever as I did because his polite expression darkened with displeasure.
I didn’t care if it was wise to threaten the mafia don. I unholstered my gun.
Malcom’s men did the same.
“I’m afraid I wasn’t asking. If you want to marry my son, you’re going to have to learn that refusing an order from me comes with severe consequences. Starting with her.” Malcolm jammed a thick finger at me.
Ocean had carefully chosen Coby’s bodyguards—men only loyal to him, which meant they could only be dead. I was only still alive because I’d been in the dressing room eating his bride’s pussy.
Coby must have come to the same conclusion because she gave the man a gracious nod that threw me off guard. I’d been so focused on Malcolm that I hadn’t noticed her posture. Her spine was ramrod straight, her shoulders thrown back, and her hands were clasped dutifully in front of her. Coby’s poised but meek pose made my gaze narrow.
Someone had been in her ear, and I had a good guess who.
Effie.
She carried herself the same way.
“In that case,” Coby said, “lead the way, sir.”
Some of the violence rolled off Malcolm as if he was pleased with her sudden submission. Not having received the same lesson in surviving Malcom, I stepped forward to tell her she wasn’t going anywhere with this man when Coby cut me off with a quick, pleading glance.
“Trust me,” she whispered.
Coby started forward before I could argue, leaving me with no choice but to follow her and the Boss of the Fola out the door.
A black and chrome Bentley Mulsanne was waiting at the curb when we stepped out. The sidewalk on the far side of the street seemed overcrowded, while the one we occupied was terrifingly deserted. Eight more goons kept a perimeter, their faces grim as they watched for threats. At least half those eyes were locked on me.
I forced myself to appear unthreatening as I waited for Coby to climb into the chauffeured car. Malcolm hadn’t killed me yet when I should have been just as expendable as the others. It meant Ocean’s father knew more than he let on, so I calmly walked around to the other side of the car, but my steps faltered when I spotted a familiar figure lingering in the crowd.
Kellan had a phone plastered to his ear, and I could see the tense lines around his mouth from here as he spoke. Our eyes met, and for once, he didn’t look smug or amused as he blended back into the crowd.
The sheer alarm in his eyes told me that Ocean had no idea his father was back in town. Malcolm had clearly flown back from Ireland and immediately sought out Coby and me.
Exhaling, I climbed into the car and steeled myself.
I could do this. I could get Coby out alive. Nothing else mattered.
The Bentley had rear-facing seating with diamond-quilted leather hand-crafted to make you feel like royalty. I felt like dog poo, and it only made me think of Coco, who was at Glamis waiting for me to come home.
I knew as soon as the car door closed behind me that I never would.
“Coby, what the hell was that?” I whispered. We only had seconds before Malcolm joined us.
“Just trust me,” Coby whispered back. “He’s dangerous.”