Page 96 of King of Cruelty

I took a deep breath, reining in the side of me that no one got to see—not even my family. If I learned anything from my father, it was that it was always better to be the calm, silent one againsta brash, loudmouth idiot. If they run their mouth long enough, they’ll give you the rope to hang them.

“I’ll tell you what difference it’ll make. If you refuse my generous deal and lay a finger on Sunny or Gen, I’ll take the meat tenderizer sitting one foot next to me, and smash this drive into a million pieces.” I beamed. “You won’t be shooting anyone then, will you? Because then the auction is the only payday you’re going to get.”

“You— You wouldn’t do that!” she barked. “You’d never break that drive. Without it, the Merchants are finished.”

“Let’s test that theory. Let’s switch to video call. You put the phone and your gun to Sunny’s head, and I’ll put mine up to my big, spiked, metal hammer. You’ll be able to see me smash this sucker to bits two seconds after harming an unarmed, unresisting man. Deal?” I taunted, voice as jaunty as hers. “Shall I switch over to video now?”

“No,” she hissed. “All right, Alexander, let’s both calm down. Thanks to your girlfriend, I’ve got an auction kicking off in an hour, and a splitting fucking headache. Let’s both of us not get off-track and do something we’d regret.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kenzie came into view, holding the weapons. “Do we have a deal or not?”

“No deal. No one leaves this building—including you. All of those fools who think they’re in my brotherhood will die. Your brainwashed thugs will die. Andyouwill die, Alexander. Right next to your mommy, your shared slut, and your tucked-away niece. You’re trapped in here with the rest of them—you’re trapped in here with me—and it’s only a matter of time until I find you and pluck that drive out of your bloody fingers.”

“It’s only a matter of less than an hour,” I corrected lightly. “You’re timing your explosion for the middle of the auction, yes? How else are you going to make your rich members believeyou’re dead? They’d have to witness it themselves, or they’ll hunt you and their millions to the end of the earth.

“I grew up in this place, Seward,” I said. “I know all of its hiding places, and believe me, I can hold out for a lot longer than an hour.”

“Do it, then.” She laughed. “Hide-and-seek was always my favorite game growing up. Or in your case, cat and mouse.”

I smirked. “Haven’t you ever watched Saturday morning cartoons? The mouse always wins.” I hung up, dropping my grin immediately. “She didn’t go for the deal. She won’t release anyone, not even for the sake of getting the drive without a fight. We’re moving to plan B.”

“What’s plan B?”

“Darling, may I have that ax?”

She handed it over. I took it, stood up, went into the living room, and swung on the hardwood—splitting it like a cleaver. I whacked it over and over, showering the floor and couches in splinters.

“I have a question,” she shouted, covering her ears and eyes. “Why?!”

I chuckled. “Because as much as I love the idea of beheading my enemies like a feudal lord”—clang!—“I’d rather not bring an ax to a gun fight.”

I got the ax under the floorboards and pried it up, revealing the floor safe Liam tucked away.

“Wow,” Kenzie said, dropping next to me as I typed in the combination. “Just when I think I scratched the top layer and found all of your secrets, you dig up a safe.”

I flipped it open, revealing my big bro’s stash of cash, gold bars, knives, guns, fake passports for him and Elizabeth, hard drives, and even a satellite phone. I loaded up.

“If only he was stashing another way out of here too.” I glanced at the door. “I’ve said so many times that the Fairfieldhas one security weakness—there’s only one way in and out of these apartments.”

“You think they could be waiting out there for us?”

“I know they are.” I jerked my chin. “Someone tried the door handle in the middle of my conversation with Debra. They were checking to make sure it was unlocked.”

“What!” Kenzie shot away, ducking behind the couch. “What do we do? Why haven’t they come in?”

“Because they don’t know what’s waiting for them on the other side. Wilson emptied my apartment of any useful weapons. They haven’t touched this place.” I jerked my chin. “Whoever is out there will wait until they’ve got enough backup to storm inside, which is why—“I dropped my voice—“you need to get into the panic room now.”

Her beautiful face crumpled into a stubborn frown, and I already knew what she was going to say before she spoke. “Not gonna happen, Alexander. I’m not leaving you to face that creep and hisbackupall by yourself.”

“May I remind you, my sexy protégé, that I am trained in all weapons and nearly every form of martial arts, and your only expertise is the plaited braid stitch.”

“Not true. I’m also an expert at knitting, and I’ll show you where I’m about to shove those needles!”

I snorted, grinning at her even with deadly threats outside the door. “Mackenzie Blaine, I would never dare underestimate you. You are more than tough enough to handle those bastards. Youdidhandle those bastards by yourself, with no weapons and no help on the way. I know you can face them...”

My grin melted away. “But I can’t face ever losing you again. Kenzie, when I thought she killed you, I fell so far, I planned to murder everyone in this building... and then myself.”

Her eyes widened. Lips parting, she made to speak, and couldn’t.

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