Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
My heart sinks. It’s stupid. I knew he left to go work, but it still burns. It’s a reminder of my childhood. Work always comes first. It was something I told myself I’d never allow in my life. But here I am, falling for and having sex with a man who is a workaholic. Go figure.
My phone vibrates, reminding me that I’m supposed to be trying to get out of here. The text is a response from my dad that he’s waiting. His message gets me moving. I head toward the garage, deciding that’s my only option. When I get there, I flick the light on, bringing an array of vehicle choices into view. Holy crap. It looks like a car dealership.
I quickly glance around, praying that the keys are accessible. Bingo.
“I’m not stealing it. I’m borrowing it.” I grab a pair of keys and hit the button. The gray SUV’s lights flash, letting me know which it goes to. I pile all my stuff inside, placing Sassy’s crate on the floorboard before I open the garage and pull out down the long driveway. When I make it to the bottom, I have to stop at a gate. I start hitting all the buttons I can, trying to figure out how to open it. Finally, the gate opens.
I pull forward past the gates but stop when I realize I don’t know where I’m going. I grab my phone to get directions. I let out a scream when someone knocks on my window. It’s a man in all black. He’s probably security or something wondering why I’m lingering at the gate. I roll down the window to tell him I’m leaving.
“Cadence Fraser?” the man asks.
“That’s me. I was just—” He slides a needle into my neck. The last thing I hear is Sassy hissing.
21
VARGAS
“The deal doesn’t matter.”
“What?” Cat gawks at me, incredulous. “What the fuck, Vargas? That’s why you called me back here? I was on the hunt for the Caesars.”
“I’m serious.” I run a hand through my hair. “I won’t risk Cadence over it. I can’t.” I’ve never seen Catarino look so surprised. I think for a moment his eyes might pop from their sockets.
“But …” He clears his throat. “You only wanted to get close to her to seal the deal. This isn’t part of the plan. You can’t–”
“Can’t what?” I almost growl it.
A long sigh escapes him. “You can’t fall in love and tank everything you’ve worked so hard for. You’ve got Fraser right where you want him, and now you’re going to throw it all away.”
I wave a hand through the air dismissively. “Fraser still has cards to play. It isn’t cut and dried.”
He pulls out his phone. “It is now.”
“How’s that?”
“I called in one of our big favors. Dr. Snead at Mercy General.”
I cock my head to the side. “You what?” I’d gotten him out of a jam a few years ago over a missing shipment of Fentanyl. It worked out well–he kept his license, I kept the Fentanyl, and I only had to threaten the head of the hospital and a few admin suits.
He shrugs. “I’d heard some whisperings about a health scare. Something about a lot of house calls to Fraser’s place by his personal doctor.”
My heart stammers. If something were to happen to Cadence’s father, she’d be devastated. They might not be on the best terms or always on the same page, but I can sense the love between them. “What is it?”
“He’s got cancer. Pancreatic. It’s treatable. They caught it early. His chances aren’t perfect, but they aren’t worst case scenario. All the same, he’ll have to go in for chemo and–of course–take a leave of absence. Once the shareholders find out–”
“The company will be as good as mine.” I feel that truth settle like a weight in my chest. I’ll have what I wanted, but Cadence will suffer. So I won’t have what I want after all.
“Boss!” A voice echoes down the hallway.
Cat draws his gun, and I have my pistol out of my drawer when a sharp rap sounds at the door.
“Boss!”
Cat points his gun at the door jamb and slowly opens it, then swings it wide. “What the hell, Leo?”
Leo is panting, his eyes wide. “It happened so fast. They were waiting just out of sight, and when the gate opened, they-they-they took her. She was in your car, and she got past the gates before I could make it there to stop her. The Caesars–”
I grab him by the shirt and jerk him toward me. “The Caesars have Cadence?”
He gulps and nods. “I’m sorry. I tried to–”
I shove him aside and hurry into the hallway. Rage pounds through my veins, adrenaline pulsing and speeding my steps. I have to get to her. I have to get to her now.