Page 42 of Sinner's Ransom: Taken
Chapter Nine
“Booker wants a live video of his son. He doesn’t believe he’s still alive,” Salvatore snapped from his spot at the table. “Fucking bastard is playing with us.”
“It’s what Richard does. He drags it out as long as possible, but he usually does it for a reason.” Montgomery shrugged and fell into the seat on the other side of Salvatore. Stone and the rest of their crew stood around the kitchen, each leaning on their part of the counter. Ardan hovered near the door, silent but watching them all calculatedly. When he’d returned, he told them Killough decided to give them another chance to get the money, which meant they only had another forty-eight hours. They were running out of time.
Salvatore glared at Montgomery and it put Stone on edge. Salvatore wasn’t stupid enough to touch Montgomery, but that didn’t put Stone at ease either. A part of him had decided that their captive—but not really a captive—belonged to him now, and he’d do anything to keep him safe.
“So how do we handle him?” Salvatore’s mouth twisted in disgust, like it hurt to ask.
Montgomery’s lips curved and he tilted his head, the smugness in his face a turn-on for Stone. He wanted to tie Montgomery down again, jam his mouth full of his dick until he couldn’t breathe.
Damn it. He couldn’t get a hard-on while standing in the kitchen in front of his crew, it wasn’t the right time.
“We give him what he wants, or at least make him think he’s getting what he wants.” Montgomery shrugged.
“But he’s not getting what he wants, right?” Jam asked. His rough voice seemed to surprise Montgomery. Jam didn’t speak that often, and Stone didn’t blame Montgomery for the wide-eyed look that he sent him. Jam hadn’t spoken once in front of Montgomery since they kidnapped him.
Montgomery shook his head. “No, he won’t.” He entwined his fingers on the table and stared at them. “Richard isn’t dumb, however. We need play this safe. We start by giving him the video he wants.”
“We don’t have the time to play it safe,” Salvatore growled, throwing his arms over his chest. His thick eyebrows bunched together. “If you have a plan, rich punk, now’s the time to put it in play.”
“You can start by not calling me that.” His gaze narrowed on Salvatore. “I’m here to help you.”
“You’re the one we’re ransoming. You shouldn’t be helping us.” Salvatore shot forward, his elbows slamming on the table and making its thin legs rock. “What’s your end game? You seduce our boss, let him fuck you, and what? Do you want a cut? It’s not going to happen. We’re already giving Killough some.” As if he thought better of saying that, he threw Ardan a quick smile. “Which isn’t a problem. You know, because he helped us and set this up and all.”
Ardan’s sneer was chilling. “It better not be a problem for you, Mr. Russo. I wouldn’t want to have to report your grievances to my boss.”
Salvatore held his palms up toward him and laughed nervously. “No problems at all.”
Stone sighed. If they didn’t nip this in the butt, this conversation would never end, and Salvatore would put them in the firing line of Killough’s pet killer. The last thing he wanted was to die a torturous death. He stepped forward, earning their attention.
“Like Monty said, we’ll give him what he wants.” He looked at Ardan. “Can you get someone to hide our location if we livestream with Booker?”
Ardan’s head dipped forward, only slightly, in acknowledgement. “That can be arranged.”
He spun on his heel and disappeared, his footsteps just as silent as they were before. It never failed to scare Stone a little.
Montgomery’s chair squeaked when he stood and pressed the length of his body against Stone, burying his face in the crook of his neck. It was an automatic reaction for Stone to curl his arms around the warm hardness of Montgomery, but he would have done it anyway.
He ignored the looks of disdain he got from Salvatore. George didn’t look impressed either, but he also had enough sense to hide his emotions.
“What is this?” Salvatore waved in their general direction. “How the hell did this happen? He could be looking for a way to deceive us, Stone.”
Montgomery snorted. “If I wanted to betray you, it wouldn’t be by getting fucked by your boss.”
“I’ve seen people do worse things to get what they wanted,” Salvatore snapped.
Stone sighed and stared up at the ceiling, praying for strength to a God he didn’t believe in. “Monty is helping us. We paid the price for not listening to him before, and I’m using his advice.”
“That’s not the only thing you’re using him for,” Salvatore muttered, but it was loud enough for Stone to hear.
He sent him a glare. “Killough isn’t a patient man. He’s already given us an extension to get the money, and I doubt he’ll give us another one. If we don’t get the ransom cash from Booker, we’re doomed for torture, then death.”
“Who got us into the mess with Killough anyway? He did.” Salvatore nodded at Montgomery. “If he hadn’t come up with the media plot, we wouldn’t be in debt with a mobster.”
“It was a good idea.” George heaved a sigh and massaged his temples. He looked tired today, with the age lines in his face more prominent. “Sloan is a generous man, as long as you don’t betray him. He… understands complications.”
Salvatore snorted. “Mob bosses aren’t known for leniency.”
