Page 12 of Gilded Caresses

That’s right. Three weeks ago, his president, Ares, and his woman were here celebrating the news of their coming arrival. A little Savage bundle.

The curiosity drops from my tone. “I remember the party. I had no idea. I’m sorry.”

He nods but says nothing.

I get the strong feeling he’s more of a doer instead of a talker. Sitting here in my parlor brings to light just how helpless he is. His hair is scattered around his shoulders and looks as thoughthe wind whipped through the dark lengths. The lines around his eyes reveal he’s pushing his late thirties, but the deep-rooted pain in his eyes says he’s had a shit life of loss and it’s killing him.

“Let’s go over conditions, okay?”

He nods again.

“Bounty?”

“Seven-fifty.”

“Found, dead or alive?”

“Found, unharmed. One bruise, one hair out of place, and I dock payment by half. Nonnegotiable.”

I punch in the details as he talks.

“Any other conditions?”

“She is surrounded by dangerous people. She suffers because of the runner’s inability to perform their job the payment is forfeit. They protect her with their life or don’t bother coming in to collect. Nonnegotiable.”

I’m sensing a theme.

“These stipulations are going to cost you no less than three million plus the bounty fee. Are you ready to pay that? I’ll need some collateral. You know how this works.”

Riot pulls out his phone. He thumbs something open, taps the glass, and then flips the phone around. His banking details show up on the screen revealing three point seven five is a drop in the bucket for him.

“No collateral. I’ll deposit it in your escrow in full.”

I nod. “Anything else?”

“If she’s found dead the contract is null and I’ll personally see their asses in the grave. They better hope she’s unharmed, alive, and not placed in any danger due to their lack of tact and discreetness when collecting her. Nonnegotiable.”

“Last known location?”

“You’re sitting in it.”

“Timeframe?”

“Ninety-six hours. There will be a two-million-dollar bonus for anyone who can deliver her within twenty-four hours.”

I suck air through my teeth in a hiss. “Tight. Okay. I have seven runners keyed up and ready for the contract. First come first serve is an additional five hundred-thousand-dollar fee due to the dangers—known and unknown. Or do you want a closed contract with a single runner? That would void the additional fees.”

He hesitates. Probably thinking about multiple runners like Snake Eyes manhandling his wife. “I’ll pay. Leave the contract open. Anyone who can find her and bring her to me is acceptable. The faster she is brought in the sooner she will be under my protection.”

“Delivery address?”

“Genesis. I am staying in town for a while. Here’s my contact info for your eyes only.”

I take a black card with his name and number in white on one side, nothing on the other.

“Escrow will collect four million, two hundred fifty-thousand plus the two million bonus. If the bonus is not collected, it will be returned.” It’s unreal to be talking in such large numbers when so many people in this world don’t have enough to buy bread or milk.

With a few swipes and a confirmation call with his banker, Riot nods at me less than forty-five seconds later. “Done.”

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