Page 28 of Alpha Queen
The assistant backed up, but Theo touched her hand and smiled.
"Please," said Theo. "We came all the way from Canada. We just need to speak to him for a moment. If there is any way you could help. Prince Ares'… wife's life could depend on it."
Amanda's eyes drifted to where Theo held her hand and then to his gentle smile.
Damn, he was good. If Ares weren't mated or so ready to shift at any provocation, he would have thought of using the same tactic. But since finding River, he couldn't even imagine touching another woman, let alone flirting with her.
"I… well… I could call him, I suppose…"
Theo's smile widened. "I appreciate that, but I wonder if maybe there was any way you could tell us where he lives."
She shook her head violently. "I can't do that, he would fire me."
"I'll pay you," said Ares. "A hundred thousand dollars."
Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. "I… Surely you're kidding."
"Two hundred." Ares' patience hung by a silken thread.
"I…"
"Three hundred."
The assistant pulled her hand from Theo's and blinked several times before swallowing hard.
"Five hundred," she whispered.
"Done." Ares held out his hand. "Give me your phone."
"You're serious?"
"If you end up getting fired, you call me and I'll have you employed somewhere else in twenty-four hours at double your current salary."
She handed her phone over with a shaky hand.
He used her phone to call his cell and then handed it back.
"Text me the doctor's address and your bank account number."
She looked between them like she couldn't tell if it was some kind of trap.
Ares sat back on the couch. "I'll wait here until you send me the information. I'll send the money immediately. You can watch if you want."
"I have to get the address."
Ares nodded. "Go. As you can see, I'm not leaving without it."
She turned quickly and headed for the elevator.
Theo sat next to him. "I'm sure she would have taken the one hundred if you'd waited."
"I would have gone up to five hundred million if it got me one step nearer to finding River. Five hundred thousand was a bargain."
The SUV stopped by a sprawling ranch-style house on the outskirts of Indianapolis. Ares exited, his senses on high alert as he scanned the area. The property appeared quiet, with no visible signs of activity or security measures beyond a few basic cameras.
He marched to the front door and knocked. After a few moments, he heard shuffling inside. The door cracked open, revealing a wiry man with thinning gray hair.
"Can I help you?"
