I saw Klonis nod in agreement with the figure.
Malin put his hand in his pants pocket. He pulled out something shiny and threw it onto Jonah’s desk. “I got the fifty cents right here. Down payment.”
The coin bounced, then landed with a loud clink. Jonah jumped up. “Are you kidding me, asshole?”
Malin stepped toward the desk until the edge pressed the tops of his thighs. “There should be a further discount for the fact that he’s used.”
My entire body heated. My eyes filled. That statement shouldn’t have hurt me. This was already a conversation of absurdity. But something sharp sliced through my midsection.
Jonah made a nasty face. “Klonis, show Mr. Summit out, please.”
I felt a hot tear drop and burn the top of my cheek.
Malin stayed where he was. “You are refusing the rental offer?”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“I’ll have the money transferred from my trust. It might take a few hours.”
Jonah opened and closed his mouth like a dying fish.
This couldn’t be happening. Eight million? I couldn’t conceive of it. Why would Malin throw away a sum like that? He wouldn’t. Not for me. He was just fighting another alpha. He simply wanted to win. I knew that much about him.
Maybe I was still locked in solitary and dreaming all this. I blinked back more tears.
After that, things were confusing. Malin showed something on his phone to Jonah. Then, “I’m sending you a phone number.”
Jonah got up and left the room. Klonis went with him and shut the door.
I stood staring at Malin’s back.
Finally, he turned. “You look scared.”
I sniffed back my response.
He walked toward me and his hand came up. Then he was cupping my cheek, his thumb sliding against the burn of my tears. “Are you?”
I shook my head, his palm warm against my chin. My head spun. “Of you? No.”
“Do you want to leave here?”
My brow crinkled. “How can you ask me that?” I whispered.
He gave me a single nod.
“But you can’t do this.” I inhaled harshly. “Can you?”
“Don’t ask.”
I stood up straighter. “Are you bluffing them? And me?”
“I’m taking you with me. It doesn’t matter how.”
“They,” I gulped. “They won’t let you.”
He turned away.
“You don’t really have the money, do you?”
