Page 45 of Bound By Her

A self-satisfied grin grew on Callen’s face.

“But the alternative is so much sweeter. If he dies on the Federov’s watch, I’ll be able to take out two problems at once.”

Jonathan shook his head. “I can’t walk in there and kill them, people will know. The Triune will figure it out.”

“Don’t be a moron. We don’t kill them there. We get her to sell them to us and then kill them.”

Jonathan stared at his childhood friend, not sure what he was getting out of this. He wasn’t even sure that thiswas making any sense. Perhaps the hundred-year-old scotch was affecting them.

“I can see you are not following,” Callen said. “We arrange a false buyer for Adria to sell to. When Bryson doesn’t come back in a year, the fallout will be on her. It will be our word against hers.”

Jonathan opened his mouth to speak, but Callen continued, “You, of course, will step up and ask the Triune for her pardon in exchange for her indentured servitude. Which, under threat of death, she will have no choice but to accept. It will be perfect. You could take her place at the table. Russian for a Russian.”

The alcohol was definitely affecting Jonathan, because it sounded like Callen was implying he could be one of the Nine.

“Why would they choose me?”

Callen gave him a level gaze. “Why not? You know the business better than anyone. It would come to a vote, but I, and my ally on the Triune, will support you. Plus, you already have an heir.”

“Illegitimate,” Jonathan grumbled.

Callen waved his hands. “Not for long. When you were a Right Hand, you had to keep him a secret, but as one of the Nine it would be not only acceptable but preferable.”

“Who would be the buyer? Who would we want to take the fall for something like that?” Jonathan asked, liking the last part of the plan.

“That’s the beauty of this. The person doesn’t have to be real. You tell her you have an interested party, give him a fake name and rank. When they don’t come home after their required time, the Triune will have no choice but to knock at her door. After which she won’t be able to produce the buyer, making her look even more guilty. Nothing she says will sway them. Her word against yours.”

“I have no control over who she sells to.”

“We can ensure he is the highest bidder.”

Jonathan shook his head. He knew Adria.

“There is no guarantee?—”

“Then make it a guarantee,” Callen shouted into the room.

“If I could control her, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. She’s…”

Exquisite, beautiful, perfect.

“A cunt is what she is,” Callen spat. “What you see in her I’ll never understand, even after she blackmailed you with those ridiculous photos.”

“She needed some space,” Jonathan said.

“You are delusional,” Callen said.

Yes, Adria had insisted he stay out of her life, and she had gone to unseemly means to do so. But she was a complicated little flower, and Jonathan had plans to get her back.

“Get the Triune involved. Bend their ear. Do what you have to. Just get it done,” Callen said, settling the matter.

CHAPTER 13

NORTH CAROLINA

Three weeks in that room. Bryson had gone through the full gambit of emotions. The most prominent were deep depression and blind rage, which took turns wreaking havoc on the carefully curated space he was confined in. However, as time passed, he realized that destroying the room did not improve his mood. To make matters worse, no one seemed to care, and Bryson felt trapped in the chaos he had created.

Struggling on what to do to stay sane, he decided to channel his inner Kaydon and settled into a strict routine.

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