Page 37 of Sinner's Ransom: Taken
Chapter Eight
Stone rolled his shoulders and popped his joints. His neck was next, and the release of the tension there made him sigh.
“He’s not agreeing to pay the fifty mill?” George leaned back in the recliner and crossed his ankles. He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Ardan stood in the corner of the room, his body hidden in the shadows of the light, peering at them carefully with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked intimidating in his tailored suit, but it was his calm nature that made him appear deadly, like a lion waiting for his prey to make a wrong move.
“No. He’s outright refusing it.” Stone sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “His kid was right. He loves his money too much.”
“What about his image?” George asked. “The media knows about the boy’s kidnapping now. They’re watching Booker, and he thrives on his public image. How did that not affect him?”
Maybe he shouldn’t have upped the payout. The thought of Montgomery being right annoyed him. Stone liked taking charge, and that meant not listening to the guy he kidnapped, yet Montgomery seemed switched on, and no one knew Booker better than his own son.
“The boss won’t be happy about this,” Ardan finally said, his tone cold and emotionless. It almost sent a shiver down Stone’s spine.
Stone held up his hand to him. “We’re handling this.”
“It doesn’t look like you are.” He stepped out into the light. The sun filtered through the curtains, glinting off his black hair. “I report back to Sloan tonight, so have it handled by the time that happens because he won’t like this outcome.”
Stone fell back against the sofa. “I said I’ll handle it and I will.”
Ardan shrugged. “Make sure you do. You’re not a bad guy, Stone, but I won’t hesitate to slaughter you if Sloan asks me to.” He nodded toward the front door. “I’m going out for a few hours. I’ll be back later.”
He didn’t wait for them to say anything. He headed out the front door, and Stone rose to finger the curtains open, watching Ardan get into a silver BMW, similar to George’s. The engine roared to life and the tires spun on the dirt as he pressed his foot against the accelerator. The back of the car spun out as it shot forward.
Stone sighed. “I need you to do me a favor.”
“I’m listening.” George kicked the footrest down and stood. He shifted closer, his hand touching Stone’s shoulder.
“Rattle Booker’s cage. I don’t care what you have to do, but remind him we have his son and we’re not going away.”
George hummed. “I can do that.” He turned and then paused, glancing back at Stone. “Be careful.”
He frowned at him. “I can handle Killough’s assassin.”
“I’m not talking about Ardan, Nick. Booker’s boy. He’s messing with your emotions and it’s affecting your decisions. Deal with it.” With a final squeeze to Stone’s shoulder, George left through the front door too, leaving Stone alone.
Stone slammed his hand across a lamp and it clattered to the ground, the cover and lightbulb shattering against the wooden floors. He threw his head back and growled.Fuck.George was right. Montgomery’s presence affected him in ways other men didn’t. He couldn’t explain it. The way Montgomery gasped with lust as Stone’s hands clamped down on his throat caused a wave of heated desire to spread through him, straight to his balls. Montgomery loved it, and Stone craved to give him what he wanted. He wanted to be the one to make Montgomery gasp.
Damn it.
Stone grabbed his phone, tapping on the screen and choosing a number near the top. He pressed it to his ear, and a lovely, melodic voice he was familiar with answered.
“Hey, you free?”
Stone swung openthe door and leaned against the doorframe. He stared at the man in front of him and took a moment to appreciate the hard lines of a beautiful—and shirtless—body. Logan had an exquisite figure, with a hard stomach and strong upper arms. His skin was flawless, a pale porcelain that anytime in the past would have made Stone’s mouth water. Today, it felt dry.
“Hey.”
Logan lowered his eyelashes and studied Stone’s body, from the top of his head to his toes, pausing at his crotch area. He licked his lips. “Hi. I’m glad you called me. I hadn’t heard from you in a while.”
“I’ve been busy.” Stone shrugged and shifted out of the way. “Come in.”
“You got a guest?” Logan stepped over the threshold, his leather boots tapping on the wooden floors. He looked delicious today, with tight leather pants that left nothing to the imagination. He had his pale blond hair tied up in a manbun, his eyes highlighted with dark liner that made his green eyes pop. They were the same color as Montgomery’s, but they were also nothing like his. Montgomery wore his emotions on his face, and his eyes showed Stone everything he felt. He saw the anger, sadness, and excitement in that gaze, but Logan never showed anything. It probably came with being a rent boy.
“Kidnapped someone a few days back.” Stone shrugged. He trusted Logan because he knew when to keep his mouth shut. He wasn’t a saint, and he owed Stone a few favors.
Logan’s pale brows rose. “The Booker guy?”
