Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“We’re all gonna die if we don’t do something—”
Ivan’s amplified voice came from the speaker system of one of the Hummers, loud as a megaphone. “Butcher.”
The gunfire ceased on both sides.
“They say to look both ways before you cross the street,” he said. “And they say never get in cars with strangers. I guess your parents failed you.”
I felt my neck tighten and the cords stretch. Felt my face burn red from the rage I couldn’t express in any other way. I was hiding like a fucking rat, while my girl was who fucking knew where. I’d risen to the top, but now I came tumbling down to rock bottom—six feet under.
“All regimes fall, Butcher,” he said. “Now it’s your turn.”
I looked at the room full of men who remained loyal to me, and that loyalty was about to get them killed.
“Surrender—and I’ll let her go.”
I sucked in a hard breath and felt my hands tighten into fists. I’d walk out there, and he’d shoot me in the head for everyone to see, to know that he was the one who had executed the Butcher and usurped his regime. He’d probably piss on my body once he was done.
And I would be okay with that if he really let her go.
Luca looked at me. “You know he won’t do it, Bastien.”
I swallowed.
“She might not…” He didn’t finish the sentence, didn’t make me listen to it. “Don’t do it.”
Ivan spoke over the speakers again. “Come on, Butcher. My patience grows thin.”
I stared at Luca, but I saw Fleur’s face. “I have to.”
“You know he’s lying—”
“Even if he is, he’s going to kill us all anyway. At least I can save you and everyone else in here who’s stood by me all these years. I go out there, and afterward, you get Fleur. Promise you will not rest until you get her back.” I hated to think what Ivan would do with her if Luca didn’t get her back. I couldn’t bear it. Otherwise, it would bring me to tears.
Ivan spoke again. “Come out here, or I’ll shoot her in her pretty little fucking head, asshole.”
A flash of pain hit me, enough to make my eyes flood.
My phone rang in my pocket, and the only reason I fished it out was for the ridiculous hope that it would be Fleur telling me where she was. But it was Godric’s name on the screen, someone I hadn’t thought of since all this had started.
Luca stared at the screen. “What does he want?”
“I don’t know. Too much of a coincidence.” I took the call. “Godric.”
Ivan spoke over the loudspeaker. “You’ve got ten seconds to walk out here, or she dies, asshole. Ten…nine…”
But it wasn’t Godric at all. “I’m okay,” she said as she cried. “I’m okay…”
Tears immediately flooded my eyes at her voice, and I clenched them shut.
“Eight…seven…”
“Sweetheart, Jesus fucking Christ…” I sniffled and swallowed the tears as best as I could. “Where are you?”
“Godric is driving me back to Paris. He saved me.”
“He did?”
“Six…five.”
“Yes,” she said through her tears. “He—he saved me.”
“Four…three.”
“I have to go. I love you.” I hung up before she could say anything else.
“What are you—”
I slid open the panel. “I’m coming out.” I shut the panel again.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Luca snapped.
“I walk out there, and you throw the grenades.”
“You’ll die, Bastien.”
“Whistle before you throw.”
“This is suicide.”
“Just fucking do it, Luca. I trust you.”
“And I’m telling you not to—”
“Well, I still fucking do.” I shoved him in the chest. “Now, come on.” I went to the door and cracked it open while I still stared at Luca, telling Ivan I was about to come out. “You’ve got this.” I stepped out and slammed the door, stepping into the low light from the sunrise because the darkest part of the night had passed.
When Ivan saw me walking toward him, he tossed the intercom aside and came closer to me, wearing that smug stare he’d had at the restaurant just hours ago. He stopped a couple feet away.
I stopped too.
I knew Fleur was alive, and that was enough to give me back the sense of calm that accompanied me in every situation. The adrenaline was like a drug, and I was higher than a kite, even when I was just seconds away from death. I really didn’t care about myself at all, but I cared for her with my whole being.
But I had to pretend that call had never happened. He obviously didn’t know Godric had betrayed him and taken her. My brother had probably killed all his men, so there was no one left to rat him out. “Let her go. She’s got nothing to do with this.”
“It got you out here, didn’t it?” He was shorter than me, by at least six inches.
“I want proof that she’s alive.”