Page 18 of Diamond in the Rough

As soon as the door shut, James whistled and his eyebrows jumped on his head. Maddox knew he was loving it by the grin on his lips. “Am I the best, or am I the best?”

“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” Maddox murmured.

“Yes, Sir.”

James’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out before frowning at the screen.

“What?” Maddox asked.

“It’s an unknown number.”

He answered, and his frown only intensified.

“How the hell did you get this number?”

Alarm bells went off in Maddox’s head, and he leaned closer expectantly. James tore the phone from his ear and held it out to Maddox. “He wants to speak to you.”

“Who?”

James shrugged and handed the phone over.

Maddox pressed it to his ear, and before he could speak, a voice hissed down the line. “I will kill him.”

The voice seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place it. “What?”

“I know who he is. I’m looking at him right now in Stationery Corner, and I will kill him. I’ll make sure it’s painful. I’ll make sure he cries out for you, might even record it and send you a copy.”

Maddox flared his nostrils, eyes tracking empty space as rage consumed him. “You’re bluffing. It’s broad daylight.”

“And I’ll take him into the back or drag him into my car. I’ll carve up his pretty face, along with the other parts of him you favour.”

“What do you want?”

“Take the fall, admit your guilt, and I’ll let him live. You have my word.”

“Your word means shit.”

“Call it a gentleman’s agreement. His life for yours behind bars. What choice do you have?”

Maddox could feel the heat in his face, the anger pouring from him. James’s smile had gone completely, and he got to his feet and paced the room.

“He’s a good-looking boy, young, full of life. Don’t let him die because of our feud.”

“You’ve bought him into it, not me.”

“Because you won’t just lie down and accept you’re not on top anymore. You’ve lost this game. I won.”

“You haven’t won.”

The voice changed as if the person behind it was smirking. “Listen…”

Maddox pressed the phone into his ear and heard rustling, footsteps, the beep of a door.

“I’m inside,” the voice said. “What was it you wanted again?”

“Don’t go near him.”

“Paint, paintbrushes, notebooks, pens, pencils. Stanley knives… I’m overwhelmed with choice.”

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