Page 77 of Savage Rule

Chuckling, I ask, “Are you getting ready to fight me?”

Noah, who can’t crack a smile to save his damned life, doesn’t reply. He drops a bag onto the table then goes to stand beside Luca, still silent and moody.

Carina pushes off the wall she’s been leaning against. “No one is here to beat you up. We just want to talk.”

I shift my attention to her and give her a charming smile. “Carina. You’re as lovely as I remember.” Luca practically gnarlsand I laugh. “Relax, Luke. I already have a girl. And Sofia is a jealous little thing.”

“Asshole!” Luca lunges for me, but Noah catches him before he strikes.

“Can you please stop provoking him?!” she yells at me.

“Can’t help it. It’s fun.”

Carina motions for them to move away. Then, she sits across the table from me. “What can we give you in trade for Sofia.”

I sober. “Nothing.”

Her mouth pulls into a tight line. “I’m trying compromise.”

“You have me tied up to a chair in a house surrounded by your men. What kind of compromise could we possibly come up with? I tell you where she is, you put a bullet in my head.”

“Well, you do have a proclivity to killing us,” Luca interjects.

“We’ve gone through a lot of trouble to get you here. You’ve lost men, we have lost men. How about we try to lessen the casualties this time.”

“What do you suggest?”

“A truce. Tell us where she is. We get Sofia, you go home. Our fighting can resume.”

I tilt my head as a study her. “You’re the one that put the tracker on the gun. You knew I’d take Scarlet back to safety even if it meant her boyfriend had to tag along.”

She gives me a sweet smile that’s actually scary. “I had a hunch she was your soft spot.”

“Damn those pesky vulnerabilities.”

“Family.” She nods. “I’d do anything for mine.”

The man I recognize from the research I’ve done on Luca as his head of security, walks in. “We searched the house. There are women’s clothing in the main bedroom. But if she was there, she’s not anymore.”

“Fuck!” Luca slams his fist into the table. “Tell me where she is!”

“Damn. I’ve never seen anyone so angry. You should really consider seeing someone about that.”

“Give me your gun, Hansen,” Luca demands. “I’m just going to fucking get it over with.”

“No.” Carina grasps Luca’s wrist. “We didn’t do all this to lose our chance to find Sofia.” She stands and moves toward the door. “We are done with games. It’s clear to me you’re not willing to negotiate. I think it’s time for a different tactic.”

Luca gives me a grin so evil it puts mine to shame. “You’re going to wish she’d let me kill you,” he says and leaves behind his wife.

Five guards come in and close the door. They go to stand at intervals around the room.

“All this, just for me?” I’m flattered that they think I’m strong enough to tear through the ropes holding me and would need five dudes to keep me down. Guess it won’t hurt to try.

Noah sighs as he moves to me, as if I’m going to be hard work and he’s not in the mood. “Guess now you’ll know why I rolled up my sleeves.”

From the bag he left on the table he begins to tug out tools. Surgeon’s tools, if I’m not mistaken.

“Ah, I’m having surgery today,” I remark. “Seems a little unsanitary in a place like this.”

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