Page 71 of Savage Rule

“We can’t have this conversation here. Too fucking open.”

“How do we know you won’t just kill us,” Gunn huffs.

“If I was going to do that, I’d do it in that building.” He points to the warehouse. “Instead, I’m taking you somewhere we can negotiate. Isn’t that what you want? To negotiate Scarlet’s release?”

“What about my bike,” Gunn asks.

“Leave it.”

Gunn’s jaw tenses, but he says nothing as he follows me to the car. He opens the passenger side for me and I’m about to duck into the back, when Gideon stops me.

“He goes in the back.”

I turn to Gunn and mentally measure him. “He’s like six foot five. No way he’ll fit.”

“Then we can strap him to the roof of the car. If he accidentally touches me, I’ll murder him.”

“You should go in the back,” I say, and help him in.

It’s going to be a long drive.

22

GUNN

The drive to Chelsey isn’t long, but the torture seems eternal. With my knees nearly touching my ears in the tight backseat of Gideon’s Bentley, I’m in contortionist hell.

I stare at the side of his smug face and my molars grind painfully. I’d love nothing more than to punch him right now. I swear he’s hitting every manhole on the road just to annoy me.

At least he’s keeping his mouth shut.

We pull up to a five-story building. Scarlet has to wrench me out of the vehicle, and even when I’m freed from that death trap, it feels like my limbs are cramped tight.

“I swear on my own grave that one day I’ll repay him for that and stuff him in a nice little box.” I smile, imagining the way he’d scream as I jam his legs into a tiny cube.

Scarlet doesn’t think it’s funny. “Now isn’t the time. We have to get him to agree to let me go willingly.”

“Mr. Black,” the valet greets Gideon when he hands him the keys. “Miss Scarlet.”

We follow Gideon through the doors of what looks to be a normal apartment complex reception. As normal as any richasshole’s place can be, that is, with marble floors and big chandeliers and staff dressed in tuxedos.

But nowhere in sight are the armed men and bulletproof glass I expected. Even Luca has a full security detail on the grounds of Briar House.

I lean close to Scarlet. “Where are the guards?”

“You’re looking at them.”

“Tuxedo guys?”

“You didn’t think Gideon would have them wearing jeans in a place like this, did you?” Finally, she cracks a smile.

“Of course not.”

“Keep up, please.” Gideon waves us over to the elevators.

“Nice place you have here,” I say when we reach a penthouse that’s right out of a movie. “Pay for it with all the money you stole?”

He snickers. “Tell me, Gunner. How did you pay for your place? For that matter, how did you fund the purchase of the Keaton Orphanage? Because I know it wasn’t mortgaged.”

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