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Deep in the shadows, I pulled out my phone and made a hasty call. Thankfully, Grant answered. It wasn’t the best time to make a call, but someone needed to know what was happening.
“What’s up, bro?”
“Grant,” I said, but the connection was bad.
“Liam,” he said, and I feared we’d lose the connection.
“I can’t talk for long,” I said. “I’m in trouble.”
The static crackled in my ears as I thought I heard him say, “Where are you?”
“I’m not in New York. I’m still in Chicago. I’ve been found out. Can you come get me?”
The connection died and I pocketed my phone. They were coming. The two heavyweights were a lot slower, or they were taking their time, not knowing if I had backup.
I positioned myself and waited for the dumb and dumber duo to show up. I clotheslined the first as he came thumping through, leaving him sputtering on the ground. I spun and cold cocked the second, sending him stumbling back into a tree. Both lost their guns, evening out the playing field. Thing Two was the first to recover and was surprisingly agile. He dodged my first few punches while I dodged his.
Thing One got to his feet and I had to employ martial arts to evade two attackers at the same time. I caught one with a right hook and the other with a foot to his solar plexus. I was just beginning to enjoy the work out when out of nowhere a third person caught me square in the face, cracking the visor that still shielded my eyes. Not expecting it, I went down to one knee.
“We had him,” Thing One protested.
The third man said, “He had you.”
Adrenaline drained as all their gazes fell on me. The third removed my helmet and Thing One was the first to react. “I know you.”
He raised a fist, but the third man caught it. “You know what happened the last time you messed up his face. We take him to Mr. Cortez.”
The two assholes flanked me on either side, hooked their arms around mine and literally did what the third man said, dragging me out of the woods.
I didn’t fight it and they’d yet to relieve me of my weapon. Though once we were in the house, the smarter of the three did.
“This here is Romeo,” Thing Two said proudly.
Nicolas who’d been facing Natalie and David turned.
“Ah, Romeo, Romeo, where have you been hiding? Two little birdies told me of your demise.” Though at first he wore a smile, the longer he spoke anger replaced it and it wasn’t directed at me.
“You two,” he pointed at the meatheads. “Take care of this.”
“Wait,” David said, marching forward. “If you’re saying what I think you are, it’s not happening here.”
I got to my feet, despite the two doing their best to hold me down. “I have a solution for us all,” I announced.
Nicolas narrowed his eyes. “And what’s that?”
“Let me marry your daughter.”
You would have thought I’d spoken the best punch line ever the way Nicolas laughed. “You have balls.”
David eyed me. “You know them.”
Nicolas’s sardonic grin was flashed at the other man. “He didn’t tell you.” He didn’t give David time to answer. “He fancies himself in love with my daughter.”
David whipped his head in my direction. “Is that true? You played me?” David asked.
“I came to protect you and talk to her,” I admitted.
David tossed up his hands. I doubted he believed me in this moment.
“Kill him,” Nicolas ordered.
In the second it took for the two muscle heads to raise their guns, Natalie dove into my arms. “No,” she cried.
“Step aside, Daughter.”
“Hear me out,” I began. “David, I know you don’t think you can trust me, but you can. You don’t want to marry her. Not right now. I do.”
“You can offer me nothing,” Nicolas yelled.
“I can. My name is Liam King.” It was a stretch of the truth but the easiest way to get my point across. “My father is sometimes referred to as the King of New York.” That got him quiet. “I can offer you the same thing that the Royal name could offer.”
Natalie had said something interesting a day ago. She’d said her father would have a good reason why he’d chosen David Royal as her future husband. Add to that his purchase of several legit companies and I came to one conclusion.
“Marrying your daughter would give you the same benefit in society as her marrying David,” I said.
“Hold up,” David said.
I spoke to him next. “What was he offering you? Money to help your failing business. But how were you going to get that money into banks? The Feds frown on things like that. And if anyone ever found out, they’d assume you were partners in all his businesses, legitimate and illegal ones.”
Now that I had both of their attentions, I spelled out my plan. “Mr. Cortez, you can pay me. David, I’ll offer you the same deal he would have but as a loan. Coming from me will not only keep your good name clear, but it will also allow you to earn your families’ respect by saving your business in a legitimate way.”
