Page 7 of Billionaire’s Cruelty

I knew she couldn’t have predicted what happened. No one could have. Jenny and Lucy had been taken in broad daylight—right outside one of the most high-profile hair salons in New York. A place crawling with the rich and famous and their bodyguards and security. We all thought it was safe.

The Japanese owners were probably still pissing themselves after my phone call—after I swore to sue their asses for losing my pregnant cousin and her best friend, two heirs to the most powerful billionaire families in China.

I’d been too easy with Clare. Too relaxed. Her bubbly, outspoken personality—completely wrong for a bodyguard—had made Dave’s life easier. And after everything he’d done, everything he’d sacrificed to keep me safe, I wanted him to have a break before he finally retired.

Look where that got us.

There was no way Clare didn’t know I was still angry—at her, at the whole damn thing. And I wanted to keep it that way. It was the only time I’d seen her this professional, this polite, and I had to admit—I kind of enjoyed it.

For once, there was no smart comeback. She just nodded and walked away, leaving me at peace with my own thoughts.

The truth? I had no plans.

I should have left for Shanghai the moment I heard about Jenny’s abduction.

Instead, I wasted time. Precious time.

I stayed in New York, getting my affairs in order—splitting my team and assigning each member to handle different tasks. Loose ends that didn’t matter as much as Jenny’s safety. I told myself it was necessary, but deep down, I knew the truth—I was stalling. And worse, when I should’ve been on a flight halfway across the world, I found myself standing in front of Mack.

I didn’t even know what drove me there. Fear? Maybe. Or the gnawing need to confirm he wasn’t involved. I could have sent Dave to do the dirty work, but I needed to see Mack’s face when I asked the question.

Did you take her?

The bastard smiled like I was some fool playing a losing game.

“I don’t know your cousin,” he said, leaning back against the cold concrete wall. His face bruised, swollen—still held that smugness I couldn’t stand.

I wanted to believe him. I did. Something about the way he said it—too calm, too casual—itched at the back of my skull. I pressed harder. Asked again. Then he dropped the bomb. “You’re asking the wrong questions. The real mystery is June.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

He licked the blood from his lip, eyes gleaming like he knew he’d hooked me. “She’s been keeping secrets from you. Big ones.”

I lost it. My fist connected with his face before I even realized I’d moved. One punch. Then another. Harder. And harder. I hit him until my knuckles split, blood dripping warm and slick between my fingers. Still, he laughed—low, hoarse, defiant.

Secrets. What the hell was he talking about?

For all I knew, he was just saying that to mess with me.

I’d had enough of incompetent, annoying people for the day. Anyone who dared talk to me during this flight would be testing both my patience and my temper. I shut my eyes and leaned back. Pretending to sleep had always been the easiest way to get people to leave me the hell alone.

I knew the Chens had been looking for Jenny—I just didn’t think they’d bother searching New York. Last I heard, they were chasing ghosts across Europe. I’d made sure of that. My guys planted a dozen false leads in Paris—restaurant reservations, fake addresses, even parcels addressed to Jenny. It was hilarious imagining Chen’s men combing through boutique hotels, only to find boxes of overpriced shoes bought with the credit card he’d given her.

That little trick should’ve kept them chasing their tails for a while. Someone must have tipped them off, there was no way in hell Chen figured it out on his own.

I didn’t want to leave New York. Not when Mark—or Mack, or whatever the hell his name really was—still locked up in a garage on the outskirts of the city.

I didn’t know the full story between him and June. I was waiting for her to tell me when she was ready. But I knew one thing—he wasn’t afraid to hurt her. When the police released him without pressing charges, it was clear he had friends in high places. I wasn’t about to sit back and wait for him to try again. So, I took matters into my own hands.

I had him snatched off the streets before he could get anywhere near her.

My only concern was how long it would take before his powerful friends came looking for him. It wouldn’t take much to connect him to June—and from there, to me. When that time came, I could call in my own powerful friends, including June’s brothers. But until I knew exactly who I was up against, I wasn’t making any moves.

For now, I trusted Dave to keep her safe. He’d spent most of his life protecting me—valuing my safety above his own. There was no one better.

The Shanghai skyline greeted us with a gorgeous golden sunset as we touched down.