Page 34 of The Hermit

“They just fucking attacked me. Cleared out an entire shipment,” he says, sounding breathless.

“And?” I mutter.

“When’s the meeting?” Ilias asks.

The corner of my mouth lifts in triumph. “Soon.”

“I want them dead. Every last fucker. You hear me?” he shouts, clearly rattled by the attack.

“I’ll be in touch.”

I end the call as I head toward the doorway.

“Where are you going?” Ian asks.

“I have business to take care of. We’ll finish this conversation tonight.”

I head straight to the cottage, where I find Evinka with the four guards.

I’m wound fucking tight from learning that Grace was raped.

Jebat, how long was she married to Mallon?

How many times did he force her?

The image of Grace fighting for her life as she’s held down flits through my mind, and it makes an intense need to protect her detonate through my entire being.

I begin to feel itchy from all the people around me, and it has me barking, “Did you find a place for the meeting?”

Giving me a worried look, Evinka nods while turning her laptop so I can see the screen.

She brings up a photo of an island, then signs, “Just purchased it.”

I check the information and see it’s off the coast of Chile. Seven hundred and sixteen acres that just cost me four hundred and fifty million dollars.

I give Evinka an incredulous look. “You couldn’t find something smaller?”

“The others can buy into the alliance,” she signs.

I take a moment to think about it before I nod. “Good idea. A hundred million each will ensure their loyalty.”

She nods, a proud gleam in her eyes.

“You did good,” I praise her. “Give me the coordinates.”

“The island is untouched,” she signs before informing me of the location.

I look at the few photos available and let out a sigh. “At least there’s lots of cover from the trees.”

I open a chat with the others and type out the coordinates before sending a voice message.

“We’re meeting on Tuesday at noon. Hundred million buy-in for an alliance or don’t bother coming.”

It takes a moment before the replies come through.

Enzo: Jesus, Varga. That island better be made of gold.

Leo: It says the island is untouched. Where the fuck is this meeting taking place? Between the fucking trees?

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