AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No woman is that important to John Vincent,” he snickered. “It’s a proven fact, Agent Serborne.”
“Until this woman.”
Bailey’s eyes flew to the door where John stood. At his sides were Raymond Greer and John’s rarely seen bodyguard, Travis Caine. Behind them were three of Greer’s security personnel.
“I kindly ask you to release Ms. Serborne,” Greer gave a grade-A impression of arrogant superiority with a commanding sneer. “You’ll receive a six-hour head start before Warbucks sends a man after you.”
Roth stilled behind her. The knife seemed to tighten against her throat and she could almost feel Roth’s intent behind the blade. If he was going to die anyway, he might as well take her with him.
Her gaze connected with John’s then. His gray eyes swirled with fury, his body was taut, controlled, his fists clenched at his side.
“Don’t do it, Roth,” John stated quietly.
“Warbucks would kill over this?” Anger vibrated in Roth’s tone. “His rules are fairly simple, Greer. There are no rules in business. Isn’t that the message he sends out when he begins his competitions?”
“No message was sent other than an invitation to appear and to be considered for the contract,” Raymond informed him coldly. “You have stepped over the line. Release Ms. Serborne, or I promise you, you’ll die hard.”
The knife wavered at her throat. Bailey didn’t dar
e swallow, she could barely breathe. She had assumed Roth wouldn’t attack her here, she had been wrong. Perhaps fatally wrong.
“Release me, Roth, and I’ll discuss this with Warbucks,” she stated. “Perhaps a small fee for my trouble can be arranged rather than your blood.”
“I’d listen to her if I were you,” Greer informed him. “Because only she could convince him to rescind this order.”
“Whore, your time will come,” he hissed in her ear before jerking the knife from her throat and pushing her roughly in Greer’s direction.
Turning, Bailey’s foot flew out and up, the heavy pad of her boot striking him in the jaw, sending him careening across the room before he tipped over the back of the couch and landed on the coffee table with a resounding crash. The legs buckled, toppling him to the floor as a heavy groan spilled from his lips.
“Stay back,” she ordered Greer and his men before moving to Roth, jerking the knife from the floor and gripping his hair, pulling his head back and letting him feel the blade on his throat for a change.
“You’re fucking messy,” she snapped as she stared into his suddenly horrified gaze. “A brainless little viper without the means or the ability to perform reliably on any job. I wouldn’t let you walk behind my dog and clean up its shit, let alone handle a contract that I direct.”
She let the knife bite into his neck enough to draw blood, to have his eyes widening in fear.
“Let me see you again, and I’ll make certain you’re skinned before you die. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.” The word was barely a breath.
Sneering back at him, she pulled back, still holding the knife, and tossed him a contemptuous glance. “You’re not worth killing. Get the hell out of here now and make damned certain I don’t ever have to look at your plain little face again.”
She turned her back on him, this time confident, knowing he wouldn’t dare move on her.
As she neared John, she tossed her head to dislodge her hair as it threatened to spill over her face, then nearly gasped as his fingers gripped her arm.
“Raymond, take care of this,” he snarled back at Greer. “I expected better security and I sure as hell expected better taste in the candidates chosen for this game your boss enjoys playing.”
“It will be taken care of . . .”
“And don’t kill him.” She glared back at Raymond. “Don’t make me break my word. That son of a bitch will give me his prized Monet he stole last year if he wants to live.” She turned back to Roth and smiled in triumph. “You have two weeks to arrange delivery or you won’t have to worry about it any longer.”
She didn’t have a chance to say much more. With great subtlety and no small amount of fury, John directed her out of the library and through the foyer to the stairs that led to their room.
“Ease up,” she muttered, jerking at her arm as they started up the stairs. “What the hell is your problem?”
“Not another word.” His voice cracked like a whip despite the quiet tone. “Not one more, Bailey. Don’t argue with me, don’t struggle against me. Just keep your damned mouth shut.”
She glanced at him in disbelief before being forced to watch where he was dragging her as they went up the stairs.
