THEY BOTH STARE at me.
Titan frowns. “You said it’s in the company’s name and he owns the company right now. What if he were to die? Then who is next?”
“I am,” I lie. How the fuck should I know? Like George is going to share any of that information with me.
“You sure? He doesn’t have kids? A wife?”
I nod. “Positive. I’ve seen the paperwork.” Another lie. I’ll deal with this after that motherfucker is dead! I just need them on my side. The Kings can destroy him. “And no, he’s never been married and no children.”
Bones eyes me. “Everything would have to burn. You’re willing to lose everything?”
“Yes.”
“Everything, Emilee,” he reiterates. “You can’t rent a U-Haul to pack up all your sentimental shit and then set it on fire. All your memories. All your clothes. Shoes. Books. Pictures of you and your mom. You and your family. In order for it not to look suspicious, whatever is in that house will have to be gone. We’re not willing to take that risk for you.”
I let out a long breath and look down at my hands in my lap. “I’ve already lost everything,” I say softly, making my chest tighten. “After my dad …” I pause. “George moved in and took everything that ever meant something to me.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and look at Bones. His blue eyes stare into mine. Then at Titan. “If I have to run out of that house naked while it’s up in flames, I will.”
“Well, then you gotta think about the size of the house,” Titan adds, running his fingers over his chin in thought. “It will take hours to completely burn one at that size. The fire department will be there long before it’s all destroyed.”
“Give me a diversion,” I offer, not thinking of that until now.
Bones snorts.
I fist my hands. “There’s only one road in and out to the private neighborhood. Block it off …”
“You want us to what? Cause a wreck?” Titan asks, already shaking his head. “We’re not gonna give you a diversion. That makes us involved.”
“It’s an option,” I say through clenched teeth.
“No, it’s not,” Titan states.
Bones speaks. “How you gonna make sure he’s there? He’s going to run when he finds out we’re not gonna take you as payment.” He looks me up and down, and my face flushes.
“Tell him you will,” I argue. “If he runs, that defeats the plan and it’ll all be for nothing. I need him dead.”
“How will we make it believable?” Bones asks.
Glancing at him, I see he’s relaxed back in his chair. He’s got his right elbow on the armrest and his tatted fingers run along his bottom lip. His other hand rests on his thigh. He looks like a demon ready to swallow my soul. Asking what I’m offering in payment.
Titan pushes off the wall and I watch him walk over to me. My heart picks up when he comes to stand behind my chair, out of my line of sight. He pulls my hair off my shoulder ever so gently, but it feels like a threat.
“He’ll want proof,” he says just as softly.
I close my eyes and whisper, “I’ve done far worse.”
Titan chuckles. “I bet you have, baby.”
I open my eyes, and Bones’s blue ones stare at me. Titan’s hand lands on my shoulder, and I jump. “Five hundred thousand is a lot of money, Em.”
I swallow.
“You can have it all.” My voice shakes. “I just want …”
“Your mother taken care of,” Titan announces.
I look back at Bones, and Titan’s fingers crawl along my neck, and my body shudders. “Please.” I hate begging. Especially to him of all people. After all this time.
“I don’t do charity cases,” Bones states, and my stomach drops.
I shove Titan’s hands off me and stand, leaning over his desk. “I’m not a fucking charity case. I’m offering you more than you are owed.”
He waves it off and stands to his full height. I have to look up and instantly feel like someone he wants to squash. “We’ll get it one way or the other,” he says simply and then walks around his desk.
“Dillan!” I growl his real name, turning to watch him walk to the door. He’s gonna dismiss me. “He’s gonna run. I know he has the money to pay you, but he’s just refusing to. With the kind of resources he has, you’ll never find him. I’m your only option.”
He smiles at me. A cruel and lethal smile that makes me remember just how cold this sorry bastard can be. “No one can hide from the Kings,” he states.
I turn to face Titan. He always was a fucking dick too. “Weston …”
“It’s Titan,” he corrects me.
“Seriously?” I snap
He crosses his arms over his hard chest.
“Fuck, you guys are still the same ole Kings! Self-absorbed and a pain in my ass.”
Titan’s eyes drop to my legs. “I’m more than willing to fuck your ass, baby.”
I growl, turn, and storm out the door with my chin held high, but tears burn my eyes.
I’m so fucked!
TITAN
Bones shuts the door and looks at me. “Get a tail. I want eyes on his house and the York’s residence twenty-four seven. If he sits to piss, I wanna know.”
“And Emilee?”
He goes back behind his desk. “I don’t give a shit what she does.”
I’ve never asked what happened between them because I didn’t want to look like I cared. Maybe I should. “What if she starts the fire anyway?”
He opens his mouth and then shuts it. “Well … then I’d care. I don’t want the bastard dead. I want our money.”
“She seems desperate. Coming here had to take some balls. Rejection hurts.” He says nothing. “We could call up Luca,” I offer. “Cross helped him take out the Cathedral. We could pay the fire marshal off to do the same with the York’s residence.”
He sighs, running a hand down his face. “It wasn’t a bad idea, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. I don’t want her putting herself in danger.”
I arch a brow.
“What?” he asks, noticing.
“You know what.”
His jaw sharpens, and he looks away from me. “It’s not like that. We fucked. We moved on. Doesn’t mean I want her to kill herself in a house fire over fucking George.”
I say nothing.
“We have a meeting with him tonight.” He changes the subject.
“Since when?”
“That’s what he called about earlier. Wanted to plant a bug in my ear about Emilee and set up the meeting.”
“Since when did we start making house calls? Especially two?”
His jaw clenches again, and I can tell he’s irritated with this situation. And I know it’s because of Emilee. Any other time, he wouldn’t be so lenient with George. We’d be burying a body, not negotiating with it.
“Only you and I are going.” He ignores my question.
“What about Grave and Cross?”
“Grave won’t be able to sit down long enough to listen. And Cross has something to take care of.” He waves me off. “Go finish playing with the girls in your bed and then get ready.”
