Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 141385 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141385 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
“I’ll make sure that’s engraved on my tombstone.” Hattie gently removes my hand from her chin and lightly squeezes my fingers before letting go. “Well? Get on with it. My day might have opened up, but I have better things to do than look at their ugly faces.”
Alec narrows his eyes. “Are you set on marrying him? He comes with a lot of strings. I can’t help but think I’d be a far better choice for you. The palace would stifle that personality of yours, you know.”
Harriet turns to him and blinks flatly. “Get on with it.”
“As you wish.” His lips curve to one side, and he winks at me, then walks over to the guy on the right. He drops to a crouch in front of him. “You look like the smart one of the group.”
The guy opens his eyes, staring warily at Alec. “How’d you figure that out?”
“You’re the only one who doesn’t look like he needs an ambulance.”
“Maybe I’m just a better fighter.”
Alec pauses, then laughs coldly. “I’d believe that if my men had more than one broken nose from a lucky punch. I’ll think you’re really smart if you start talking.”
Nothing.
He presses his lips together and doesn’t say a word.
“See, that’s the problem when people don’t get hurt enough before they get here,” Alec says, standing up. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a lighter, along with a cigarette again. “They think I’m soft. That I’ll let them off lightly. But, like I said, you seem smarter than your friends.”
He sparks the lighter, setting the end of the cigarette alight. The momentary flare of light gives me a proper glimpse at the guy’s face—tough, scarred, and bloodier than I thought it was.
I glance at Hattie. She hasn’t moved a muscle, and if the scene before us bothers her, there isn’t a single hint in her body language.
No.
She looks like someone who sees this every day.
Alec drops to one knee in front of the guy and slowly twists the cigarette. “Who hired you?”
“Dunno,” he replies. “Never said their name.”
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
He shrugs the best he can, given the restraints. “I didn’t get the email, man. I just tagged along.”
“Ah, see, now we’re getting somewhere.”
“Are we?” Hattie mutters, leaning towards me. “Seems like a lot of unnecessary faffing.”
I lay my hand against her lower back, taking a step closer to her. “Shh.”
Alec moves to the guy on the left with the swollen eye. “You’re an ugly bastard, aren’t you?”
He responds by spitting at him.
“Lovely.” Alec wipes his face with his free hand, then draws back his fist. The crack of his knuckles against the guy’s nose rings out through the cavernous room, and I almost wince when I look at Harriet.
She doesn’t flinch.
She’s completely unbothered by Alec’s carefree show of violence.
“Nice shot,” she says.
Nice shot? Nice fucking shot?
Jesus Christ, who is this woman? What has she seen that a man getting his nose broken right in front of her warrants such a response?
“Thank you,” Alec says brightly. “Not sure he agrees.”
“You fucking—”
“Ah, ah, ah.” Alec turns his attention back to the guy and holds the lit cigarette out towards him. “There’s a lady present. You should watch your language.”
The guy glares at him as blood pours from his nose. “Fuck you.” He spits again, and this time, the blood mixes in and splatters across Alec’s face.
“Ah, see, now you’ve pissed me off,” Alec says, wiping his cheek and smearing the guy’s bloody spit. Before the guy can do it again, he takes the lit cigarette and presses the hot end to his bare chest.
The guy clenches his jaw, but he barely makes a sound. Unlike his flesh—it sizzles under the heat of the cigarette, filling the air with an arid scent.
“All right,” Harriet says, stepping away from me. “You. Ballsy prick in the middle.” She steps up in front of the guy whose foot she stabbed with her shoe earlier. “Start fucking talking. Who hired you?”
He leers up at her. “What makes you think I know?”
“Righty over there genuinely doesn’t know, and Lefty is too dumb to admit he doesn’t. Which leaves you, the gobby fucker with one working arm and a wandering eye.” She stares down at him. “So? How much did they offer you?”
He holds her gaze.
“No dice?” she asks. “That’s fine. I already know. A hundred grand, wasn’t it?”
‘Righty,’ as she just dubbed him, jerks his head up. “A hundred grand? You were paying me five!”
“Oh, dear,” Harriet says, cocking her head to the side. “Seems you’re underpaying your lackies. Oh, and thanks for the confirmation of your ringleader,” she adds, flashing a look towards Righty. “You really are the smart one.”
I’m a little impressed.
Little scared.
Little turned on.
Shit, she even has Alec’s full attention since Lefty has passed out, and that I do not like.