“Half a million dollars,” Marker drawled, “is not an insignificant sum. Nobody would turn that down.”
“Nope. But looking at us won’t get you it. Plus, you already know I don’t have it. You’d have done your research. So why are we here?”
Marker stared and released a chuckle. “Very true, Vortex.”
“Why are we playing this charade?”
Marker tilted his chin. One of the thugs moved to the second car, and resignation swept over me as Kyleah was dragged out.
She was thrown to the ground, where she kept her head down, but she was sobbing.
“What should I do with a thief who spent my money? What would you give me for Kyleah?” Marker demanded.
Fuck. This was something I’d not seen coming. Despite what Kyleah had done, as much as I hated her, I didn’t want her dead. Hercules and I swapped glances. This was going to turn into a bargaining session over Kyleah’s pathetic life.
“Not half a million dollars. Dude, I dated Kyleah for three months, if that. We weren’t close, certainly not in love, and were just fuck buddies. Don’t know what Kyleah told you, but it’s lies. Shit, she even tried to pass your kid off as mine. But I don’t want her dead, twenty-five k.”
Marker smiled. “Kyleah, Vortex thinks you’re worth twenty-five k. That’s five per cent of what you stole from me.”
Kyleah’s sobs grew, but she glanced up with hope in her eyes.
“Fifty and no more. This isn’t my club’s debt, but we don’t kill women indiscriminately,” I growled out. My gut screamed how this was going to go, but I’d fight for Kyleah’s life.
“Now you’re worth fifty thou, ten per cent. Any higher?” Marker pulled his gun and aimed it at Kyleah’s head. “No? Then you won’t care if I blow this thieving bitch’s brains out?”
“Rather you not, Kyleah’s got your kid, and while she’s a greedy, lying cunt, she doesn’t deserve to die. Marker, work with me and come to an arrangement. I don’t like needless deaths,” I replied.
Marker sneered. “Greedy isn’t wrong. She attempted to blackmail me, saying she’d tell my wife about the brat if I didn’t look after her. The bitch was ready to blow my happy family life out of the water. That wasn’t allowed. When I informed Kyleah exactly what would happen, she stole my money and ran.”
“Still doesn’t deserve a bullet,” I argued. “If Kyleah spent everything, make her work for you, until it’s paid.” I knew any employment would mean Kyleah spending time on her back, but that would keep her alive.
Marker bit out a laugh. There was no humour in it. “Your world and mine are very different.” A gunshot boomed, and Kyleah collapsed in a heap. Two of his guards grabbed her body and shoved it in the trunk of a car.
“No need to leave evidence,” Marker stated coldly as his men poured bleach on the ground.
“Marker, that was unnecessary!” I yelled, stepping forward.
Guns snapped in my direction as Sabre and Hercules pulled their own. We moved back to our bikes. They would provide some cover. Marker calmly returned to his vehicle.
“Our business is done, Vortex. Stay out of my way,” he announced and climbed inside. His men followed suit, and the engines started. A thug got out of the second SUV, picked something up and placed it on the ground.
“Mr Marker says thanks for taking out the trash. He also said, the birth certificate was put into your name, so do what you want,” he stated and returned to the SUV. The moment he was inside, the SUVs drove off.
Angrily, I stared after them, wanting to pull my own weapon, but I wouldn’t risk my brothers.
“Vortex, got an issue,” Hercules called. Resigned, I straightened and headed for him. Sabre carefully picked up the bundle and handed it over.
“What the fuck?” a baby peered up at me. Blue eyes blinked, and a little rosebud mouth opened and closed. Considering his father was an ugly brute, the kid must have taken after Kyleah.
“What the hell happened?” Tracker demanded, jogging towards me. “How did that go so badly?”
“Don’t know. I think Marker planned this so he could dump the baby on Vortex. Kyleah was dead the moment she took the cash. Marker’s reputation just surged, the mother of his bastard son stole from him, and he put a bullet in her head. Asshole was providing a lesson for his own people. If he could do that to Kyleah, what would Marker do to them if they betrayed him?” Sabre said.
“Don’t disagree, but why leave the kid?” Bow demanded.
“Because he’s a bastard and Marker has legitimate sons with his wife,” I replied.
“What’s the plan, Veep?” Bow asked.
