“Interesting.” Boss stared at me. “Ever since Nurse Graham arrived here, James Washington has been blowing my cell up. Who is Washington to you?”
“Me? I don’t know anyone called Washington,” I gasped as three sets of gazes turned on me. Two were vaguely threatening, and one curious—the Boss. Fear trickled down my spine.
The cell went silent once more, and seconds ticked past before it began ringing anew. Boss put his hand out and beckoned to Seb for his phone. Seb passed it over, and Boss answered, putting it on the loudspeaker.
“Salisbury, you have somebody who belongs to Hellfire MC. Give her back unharmed,” a cultured, rich voice said with no preamble.
“Washington, you’re in no position to make demands. Not in my world,” Salisbury retorted.
“Your world was mine. Don’t mistake the fact that I gifted it to you as a weakness because I got clean. I want April Graham delivered safely to a public place. That is non-negotiable.”
“Washington, you’re forgetting who has power now!” Salisbury snarled.
“And you forget who gave you it. Do you want me to step out of retirement and reclaim what was mine? That can be arranged. You took Miss Graham because you heard she had links to Hellfire MC. Therefore, you assumed she’d donejobsfor them. Miss Graham hasn’t. The woman is completely clean and innocent.”
“Which means you just gave an innocent my name. What’s stopping Miss Graham from giving it to the police?” Salisbury said, keeping his gaze on me.
Dizziness threatened. Salisbury was right, I could identify him.
“Don’t play games with me. You’ve now created a very dangerous and awkward situation for yourself,” Washington retorted calmly.
“How so,James?” Salisbury drawled, not seeming bothered at all.
“If I need to spell shit out,Clive, then I handed my empire to the wrong man. Let me explain in terms you’ll understand. Miss Graham belongs to a Hellfire MC brother. Women and families are off-limits. If she’s harmed, Hellfire will call for blood. Your blood.
“Considering what happened in Rapid City, are you prepared for a war with the allies that Hellfire can call upon? Shit, theyhave a direct line to the President and the Vice President, with whom they fought side-by-side. April shall be returned unharmed to a public location. I hope I make myself clear, because Salisbury, retirement is becoming a little boring,” the man called Washington threatened.
Now that was a definite threat. Salisbury didn’t react well to it.
“I’ve been injured. As soon as your little nurse has stitched me up, she’ll be on her way. Washington, my men better not be injured, or there’ll be war,” Salisbury threatened.
“Don’t make threats you can’t follow through on. The combined allied MCs and their outside allies are a fight you should avoid. You’ve an hour to get April to my estate, then the gloves come off. April, can you hear me?”
“Yes?” I stammered.
“You won’t be harmed. Just quickly do what’s needed, and then they’ll set you free. Harlequin is waiting for you,” Washington stated.
“Okay.”
“April, I understand this is scary, but be as strong as I believe you can be. Salisbury will protect you as if you were his own. He won’t want the repercussions of not doing so,” Washington said. Somehow, I sensed that was a threat as well as reassurance, and Salisbury rolled his eyes.
“Two hours, Washington, non-negotiable,” Salisbury stated and cut the call.
“You’re a very interesting lady. Such a shame Hellfire have a claim. If they hadn’t, I might have been tempted,” Salisbury said.
“Time’s ticking, I’d better remove those bullets,” I murmured.
“Indeed.” Salisbury rose and undressed. I looked away from the muscled body as Seb held the gurney steady while Salisbury climbed onto it. “Please proceed. My men secured everything you should need.”
Hands shaking, I began opening packages and sterilising equipment. I just wanted to go home.
Chapter Twelve.
April
Tense and alert, I flinched as a tall man approached with a slight limp. “April?” he asked, and I nodded. “Honey, I’m Adam. I work for James Washington. James is over there in that car.”
“Where’s Stone?”
