Page 52 of High Reward

Victor stands, digging his boot into Phineas’ ribs as he does. “I see what you mean, Spitfire. Well, come on then. Let’s get this bastard out of here.”

He pulls out a radio and clicks a button. “We’re bringing Phineas and Liliana out. Have someone meet us in the tunnel.”

He wrenches the knife from Finn’s hand and tosses the bloody weapon away. “Let’s go, asshole.”

Phineas stumbles as Victor pulls him up by the arm. He pats him down, sticking his hands in his pockets, socks, under his shirt, basically anywhere he could be hiding something.

“I checked for weapons. Found the gun and two more knives besides the one he cut me with.”

Victor’s eyes storm as he glares at Phineas. “He cut you?”

Before I can stop him, Victor flicks open a knife from his own pocket and slices it across Finn’s cheek, causing a deep laceration. Phineas screams as blood rushes from the wound and down onto his shirt. “You bastard. You’ll die for that.”

Victor laughs. It’s wicked and sends a cold shudder down my spine. I’ve fallen in love with a man just as dangerous as the one I married. “Doubtful. You hurt the wrong woman. Your days are numbered. Now, where is the detonator for the explosives?”

“Up my ass,” Phineas snaps.

“I’m not above a cavity search, if that’s what it takes,” Victor says icily.

My husband must believe him because he points to the counter in the small kitchen. “Phone.”

“Grab it, Spitfire. And let’s get out of here.”

In the tunnel, two more armed men are waiting to guide us out, and we emerge a few hundred yards away from the cabin.

Victor hands the phone to Phineas. “Blow it.”

The wild look in his eyes has tamed a bit, but he’s still not in his right mind. His hand shakes as he takes the phone and taps a button. The ground beneath us shakes as an explosion rips through the cabin.

I wince, and Victor squeezes my hand. “You’re safe, sweetheart.”

“I hate to interrupt, but we need to get Phineas out of here before the cops arrive if we’re going to convince anyone that he’s dead.” A tall Black man, who seems to be in charge, emerges from the group of security along with Hunter.

I blink. “You’re faking his death?”

Hunter shrugs. “It seems your husband has some information we need, and I’ve been convinced against my better judgment not to hand him over to the police. Yet,” he adds, pointedly looking at Victor. My guess is he’s implying that Victor should not kill him.

I still haven’t decided which side of that argument I’m on. If he dies, I can slip into the shadows and rebuild my life a lot faster than if we go through a lengthy and undoubtedly public trial and divorce.

“Warehouse?” Owen asks Victor with a raised eyebrow.

Victor shrugs. “Or the bottom of Lake Mead. I’m good with either.”

We walk a little farther until we get to a group of vehicles. Victor shoves Phineas towards a pink sports car, but Hunter stops him. “Like hell that bastard is riding in my wife’s favorite car. Shove him in the trunk of one of the sedans or the back of the SUV.”

Of course, the pink car is Trinity’s favorite. I’ve heard rumors about Hunter’s car collection. This must be one of them.

Owen puts a hand on Victor’s shoulder. “I can handle getting him settled at the warehouse. You and Lili should get to Grace. She’s blowing up my phone again.”

Victor looks at me. “Are you good with that, or do you want to go to the warehouse?”

“Home. Please,” I whisper, suddenly overcome with emotion as I realize how close to death I came. Maybe dying does scare me after all.

Hunter steps forward, his phone to his ear before Victor can respond. “I would like to suggest that we all go to your club. I’m having my wife taken out of the hospital. If the mayor has anything to do with this, she could want Trinity eliminated, and our media stunt today means everyone knows where she is, including the mayor and anyone who works for Draven. I’m not taking any chances. What do you know about Amarjit Singh?”

I raise an eyebrow as Victor’s gaze turns icy. “Where did you hear that name?”

Hunter smiles. “My network will always be better than yours, Serrano. Get used to it. I’ve heard she’s one of the best doctors in the country. I’ve also heard she frequents your club.”