Page 75 of Pure Vengeance

“Where to?”

“I bought a house close to Dr. Mendez’s clinic.”

“I—” My phone chimed with Saoirse’s ringtone. “Sorry. It’s my sister.”

“Perfect timing.” As she strode to the kitchen door leading outside, she added, “You can tell her it’s safe to come home.”

I nodded and tapped the screen to accept the call. Before I could say anything, Saoirse screamed my name loudly enough for Natasha to hear.

“Saoirse? Are you okay? What happened?”

Frowning, Natasha returned to sit next to me, then leaned closer.

I heard low male laughter. “Just the man we wanted to talk to. Have you heard from your old friend Finn lately?”

Natasha paled and her throat worked as she swallowed. “Oh, god. George.”

“Why should I care? He’ll turn up sooner or later.” I laid my hand on Natasha’s knee and tried to project a calmness I didn’t feel. “I’m looking for Enrique and Matt too. You’ve somehow managed to crawl into the sewers like diseased rodents, but I got everyone else.”

Natasha blinked and her lips parted as she stared at me. George interrupted before she could speak.

“Nice. I hear you still have that little cunt Tasha with you. Might as well put me on speaker so she can hear what happens to uppity bitches who don’t do as they’re told.”

My phone threatened to crack under the pressure of my grip, but Natasha eased the device from me and set it on the table before tapping the speaker icon. I could hear my sister crying softly and my blood iced.

‘We’re listening,” Natasha said softly. “What do you want?”

“From you? Nothing right now, so be quiet and let the grownups talk.” He laughed again, and I heard a crack of sound before Saoirse screamed again. “I’m thinking Lachlan might want something though.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“See, I’m thinking you might be interested in a trade. You give us Tasha, and you get your sister back. She’ll even be in one piece, more or less.”

Natasha stiffened and all the fear faded from her expression. She looked at me with dark brown eyes that seemed to have lost even the smallest trace of humanity.

“Tell him yes,” she whispered softly.

I muted the call, then grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “You are not fucking giving yourself to them.”

“Not even to save your sister?” She smiled, but it was as if an automaton moved her facial muscles. “You surprise me. Think of all the money you’d save if you didn’t have to pay me alimony.”

“Fuck the money. We’ll find another way. I am not letting you go.”

Before I could pull her into my arms, she shook her head and took a step away from me. “Trust me. Tell him yes.”

“No. I?—”

A flicker of emotion flashed in her eyes but disappeared almost as quickly. “Lachlan, trust me. Please.”

“Fuck!”

Natasha didn’t say please. She didn’t beg and had asked for nothing except her dog’s life—even when she had the means and motive to destroy me altogether.

I did trust her. With my life. But the cost was too high. I couldn’t lose her—but I couldn’t lose Saoirse either.

“Lachlan…” She moved closer and brushed a kiss over my cheek. “Trust me. I’m not going to let anything happen to you or your sister.”

My shoulders slumped and I tapped the mute icon. “You have a deal. Where and when?”

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