Because I had no intention of forgiving him. Not now. Maybe not ever.
I was using him, his resources, and connections to help mum.
That was it. Nothing more.
This wasn’t some fairytale, and I wasn’t the damsel in distress.
A gentle sigh pulled my attention over, and I found mum curled on her side facing me. She clutched that bloody gun to her chest like it was a cuddly toy, her face relaxed in sleep.
Sitting up, I swung my legs off the bed, sleep now impossible. I had no idea how long I’d slept. My body felt exhausted, but my mind wouldn’t quiet.
The sky outside was still dark as I eased out of the room and slipped into the hallway, moving softly, not wanting to wake anyone else. But voices drifted from the floor below, so I followed the sound.
“How much?” Ryder asked, leaning forward over a desk, hands braced against the polished wood while I peeked through the open door. The glow from the phone screen painted sharp angles across his face, all focus and tension while Roman sat opposite, his eyes calculated.
“How much?”the voice echoed through the speaker, cold and detached.
“How much for you to leave Geraldine Hoffman and her daughter alone?” Ryder said. “I’ll buy out their contracts.”
“There are no contracts, Mr Finn.”
I paused in the gap, looking in. Maxim spotted me over Roman’s shoulder, giving me a reassuring nod as I stood there, silent.
“Then—”
“There is no‘then’,”the voice cut in sharply.“You were chosen for your reputation, but it seems you’ve gone soft.”
Ryder’s lips pulled into a sneer, but he didn’t have a chance to speak.
“You made a grave mistake double-crossing us. But all will be forgiven… if you hand over the package as promised.”
Roman frowned, scribbling something on a piece of paper for Ryder to read that I couldn’t see.
“I’ve already taken out two of your men,” he chuckled, the sound dark. “So tell me, what makes you think I won’t hunt down you and your boss next? You know exactly how good I am at finding what I want. That’s why Mr C hired me.”
“Threats won’t work.”
A muscle ticked in Ryder’s jaw. “You calledme.”
“To negotiate,”the voice replied, almost amused.“But it’s clear you’re unwilling to part with Miss Sonne.”
Ryder’s expression shifted, the anger draining from his face, leaving something far more dangerous behind.
“Youwillgive us what we want. If you do, you’ll walk away alive. Refuse, and the price on your head will continue to rise. How long can you hide, Mr Finn?”
Roman stiffened. Maxim’s jaw tightened, and I held my breath.
Finally, Ryder clicked his tongue. “That it? You must think I’m a right cunt to believe you’ll let me walk away from this. Shame I don’t negotiate with terrorists.”
“This is your last warning. Hand over Miss Sonne, with or without her mother, and the bounty will be removed. If you don’t, Mr C will use every resource at his disposal to collect what he’s owed.”
“I’m going to take optionfuck you.” Ryder clicked the phone, his shoulders hunched for a moment. “Did you get all that?” he sighed.
“Loud and clear,”Aeris replied through the receiver.“Though, your conversational skills leave much to be desired.”
“How confident are you with the information?”
“Confident after that call,”she said.“It seems both our instincts were correct. Those flowers are used as product names, and your friend Jürgen is the delivery boy.”
