Nikko scowled as if he hadn’t expected Glenn to sass back at him, which only proved he didn’t know Glenn at all.“Some people aren’t appreciative of the gift of eternal life.”
“What do you want?”Quentin wanted to demand his mother back, but then he would have to admit how he knew Nikko had her.
Nikko stood.“Like I told you last time.I returned with better bargaining power.”
Determined not to give anything away, Quentin folded his arms.“And what is this bargaining power you think you have?”
“Your mother.”
He refused to panic.He was saving that for later.
“I have doubts that Braed would just hand her over,” he said, trying to get as much information as possible.
“He was persuaded.”The way he said ‘persuaded’ led Quentin to translate it as ‘tortured’.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
“How do I know that you have my mother?”
“Don’t you trust me?”He batted his eyelashes.
“Ugh, no.”
Nikko laughed.“Fair enough.”He pulled a phone out of his pocket and dialed a number.
“Hello,” a male answered.
Quentin vaguely recognized Braed’s brisk tone.
“Put her on.”
“Hello?”
“Mom!”Quentin couldn’t help the outburst.Worry had dug deep into his psyche.
“Quentin, don’t give them anything,” she shouted.
“Bad advice, my dear,” Nikko crooned before he disconnected.“If you don’t hand over this house, I’ll send her back in pieces.”
“I can’t,” Quentin bit his lip.
“And why not?Don’t you want your mother back?”
He scratched the back of his neck.When he had told his mother he had almost sold the house, he’d gotten an earful about family legacy and the legalities of the land.“Because this property has belonged to my family for centuries.If I tried to hand it over, the land would rebel, and the ley lines would suck you dry.”
Nikko tapped his foot.“I’d say you were lying, but I can sense when someone lies to me.I guess I’ll be keeping your mother as collateral until I decide what to do.”
“I’ll give you four hours to return her, in perfect health.”There was no way he was leaving his mother with this psychopath.
“Or what?”Nikko’s eyes sparkled as if he were looking forward to a fight.
“Or I let the council deal with you.After all, unlike Glenn, my mother is a member of Jaks’s clan, and you’ve taken her captive.”
“Ooh, the little kitten has claws.I’ll see you later, darling.Feel free to come and play at my house.I have your pretty bounty hunter, too.Good try.”He vanished in a cloud of black smoke.
“Damn, I hate it when he does that,” Quentin said, trying not to sound impressed.
“I wonder if it is a bloodline skill?”Glenn’s eyes were lit with fascination.“I’d love to learn that.”
