Arranged love

We enter Bones’s office to find her sitting in a chair. Nigel had let her in. Her back ramrod straight and staring straight ahead. Bones sits down at the desk, and I lean up against the far wall, not in the mood to sit. No one says anything.

Her watery eyes go from mine to Bones’s. Then she drops her head and looks down at her nails. “He’s not gonna pay you.”

We say nothing.

She lifts her head to look me in the eye. “He wants to give me to you. Like I’m some fucking object that can be traded.” She fists her hands in her lap. “I tried to explain it wouldn’t work. George-”

“Are you sleeping with him?” I interrupt her, unable to wait any longer. I need to know what she is to him and why.

She sniffs and adjusts herself in the seat, looking even more uncomfortable. I look at Bones, then back at her. “Does he rape you?” Maybe what I thought I saw and what they have aren’t the same. He physically abused her, so forcing himself on her isn’t a far stretch. And that thought makes me want to kill him. I may have told her to get on her knees for her phone, but I’d never force myself on her.

She flinches. “You can’t take what is freely given.” She recalls Bones’s words.

“So what? He’s your sugar daddy?” I ask, not liking that idea either.

She shakes her head. “My mother is sick. Dying. I came back after my dad passed to be here with her and help take care of her. But after meeting with my father’s attorney, I was informed that George has access to all of my family’s money. That house is in the company’s name; my father left him the company.” Bones and I exchange another look because that doesn’t seem likely. “He told me if I gave him what he wanted, he would cover my mother’s medical bills. Although she doesn’t have much longer to live, I want her to be comfortable. He said that he would pay for it as long as I …”

“Spread your legs for him,” Bones finishes.

She reaches up and wipes a single tear from her face.

I run a hand down mine. “What’s wrong with your mother?”

“Cancer,” she whispers. “Stage four. Lymphoma. She’s got four months left. Maybe.”

Bones sits back and crosses his arms over his chest. This is news to us. And it makes things even more complicated.

She straightens her back. “I have a proposition of my own for you.”

My brows rise.

“No offense, Emilee, but your pussy isn’t worth five hundred thousand,” he tells her even though he just tried to sell the idea of me taking her.

“The house.” She ignores him.

“What about it?” I ask.

Her watery eyes meet mine. “There’s insurance on it. It’s paid up to date.” I frown. “Burn it to the ground. You can have the insurance money as long as you give me enough for my mom to be taken care of.”

I open my mouth, but she continues. “I have no job back in Chicago anymore. I quit. And I put my apartment up for sale the moment I found out she was sick so I could move back here to be with her. But my father died before I was able to get rid of it. My account has been frozen. Right now, I’m at his mercy,” she growls. “You guys showing up gave me an idea. You take care of my mother, and you can have the rest.”

“Emilee-”

“It’s insured for over two point two million,” she interrupts Bones.

He looks up at me. I shake my head. “Too risky.”

“I’ll set it,” she growls. “No one will ever know about your involvement. I’ll wait. Three weeks. Give it some time, then I’ll do it late at night.”

“What’s in it for you?” Bones asks. “Two point two million is a lot of money, and all you want is for us to take care of your mother. What about you?”

“I can go back to Chicago. Find a new job. Get back to my life.” She takes in a deep breath. “I want him to be there. I want his body to burn.”

So that’s it. She doesn’t care if she gets a dime; she just wants the fucker dead. Can’t say I blame her after what she just told us.

EMILEE

THEY BOTH STARE at me.

Titan frowns. “You said it’s in the company’s name and he owns the company right now. What if he were to die? Then who is next?”

“I am,” I lie. How the fuck should I know? Like George is going to share any of that information with me.

“You sure? He doesn’t have kids? A wife?”

I nod. “Positive. I’ve seen the paperwork.” Another lie. I’ll deal with this after that motherfucker is dead! I just need them on my side. The Kings can destroy him. “And no, he’s never been married and no children.”

Bones eyes me. “Everything would have to burn. You’re willing to lose everything?”

“Yes.”

“Everything, Emilee,” he reiterates. “You can’t rent a U-Haul to pack up all your sentimental shit and then set it on fire. All your memories. All your clothes. Shoes. Books. Pictures of you and your mom. You and your family. In order for it not to look suspicious, whatever is in that house will have to be gone. We’re not willing to take that risk for you.”

I let out a long breath and look down at my hands in my lap. “I’ve already lost everything,” I say softly, making my chest tighten. “After my dad …” I pause. “George moved in and took everything that ever meant something to me.”

I swallow the lump in my throat and look at Bones. His blue eyes stare into mine. Then at Titan. “If I have to run out of that house naked while it’s up in flames, I will.”

“Well, then you gotta think about the size of the house,” Titan adds, running his fingers over his chin in thought. “It will take hours to completely burn one at that size. The fire department will be there long before it’s all destroyed.”

“Give me a diversion,” I offer, not thinking of that until now.

Bones snorts.

I fist my hands. “There’s only one road in and out to the private neighborhood. Block it off …”

“You want us to what? Cause a wreck?” Titan asks, already shaking his head. “We’re not gonna give you a diversion. That makes us involved.”

“It’s an option,” I say through clenched teeth.

“No, it’s not,” Titan states.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Bones speaks. “How you gonna make sure he’s there? He’s going to run when he finds out we’re not gonna take you as payment.” He looks me up and down, and my face flushes.

“Tell him you will,” I argue. “If he runs, that defeats the plan and it’ll all be for nothing. I need him dead.”

“How will we make it believable?” Bones asks.

Glancing at him, I see he’s relaxed back in his chair. He’s got his right elbow on the armrest and his tatted fingers run along his bottom lip. His other hand rests on his thigh. He looks like a demon ready to swallow my soul. Asking what I’m offering in payment.

Titan pushes off the wall and I watch him walk over to me. My heart picks up when he comes to stand behind my chair, out of my line of sight. He pulls my hair off my shoulder ever so gently, but it feels like a threat.

“He’ll want proof,” he says just as softly.

I close my eyes and whisper, “I’ve done far worse.”

Titan chuckles. “I bet you have, baby.”

I open my eyes, and Bones’s blue ones stare at me. Titan’s hand lands on my shoulder, and I jump. “Five hundred thousand is a lot of money, Em.”

I swallow.

“You can have it all.” My voice shakes. “I just want …”

“Your mother taken care of,” Titan announces.

I look back at Bones, and Titan’s fingers crawl along my neck, and my body shudders. “Please.” I hate begging. Especially to him of all people. After all this time.

“I don’t do charity cases,” Bones states, and my stomach drops.

I shove Titan’s hands off me and stand, leaning over his desk. “I’m not a fucking charity case. I’m offering you more than you are owed.”

He waves it off and stands to his full height. I have to look up and instantly feel like someone he wants to squash. “We’ll get it one way or the other,” he says simply and then walks around his desk.

“Dillan!” I growl his real name, turning to watch him walk to the door. He’s gonna dismiss me. “He’s gonna run. I know he has the money to pay you, but he’s just refusing to. With the kind of resources he has, you’ll never find him. I’m your only option.”

He smiles at me. A cruel and lethal smile that makes me remember just how cold this sorry bastard can be. “No one can hide from the Kings,” he states.

I turn to face Titan. He always was a fucking dick too. “Weston …”

“It’s Titan,” he corrects me.

“Seriously?” I snap

He crosses his arms over his hard chest.

“Fuck, you guys are still the same ole Kings! Self-absorbed and a pain in my ass.”

Titan’s eyes drop to my legs. “I’m more than willing to fuck your ass, baby.”

I growl, turn, and storm out the door with my chin held high, but tears burn my eyes.

I’m so fucked!