Page 39 of Guardian of Shadows

“No one you need to be concerned with. Now, do as I say.”

“I’m not your fucking maid, Mac. Pack your shit yourself.” Instead of returning inside, the woman marched down the steps and continued around the side of the house where she got into a beat-up car. Grevolus didn’t watch her go. His eyes were glued to Elle’s.

“Who the fuck is this?” He gestured at Anthony.

“My name is Anthony Stone, and I’m here with an offer.”

“What kind of offer? The house isn’t for sale. Odette, get inside.”

“I’m not here about the house. I’m here to make a trade. Money for Elle’s freedom.”

“The chínt’s name is Odette, and she isn’t for sale. Now, get off my property.”

“But it’s not your property, is it, Grevolus? It belongs to Mac Johnson. Or should I say belonged to, past tense. My associate did a little digging, and Mr. Johnson has a nephew who inherits the house and land upon Mac’s passing. He’s been notified of his uncle’s... demise. You’re already planning to move, but you could do so without Elle if you agree to take the money. The amount I’m willing to give you to remove the sigil is enough you’ll never have to worry about killing anyone else so you have somewhere to live.”

Grevolus narrowed his eyes. “How much?”

“How much would it take?” Anthony countered.

Grevolus hesitated as if trying to come up with an implausible number. “Three million. Cash.”

“Agreed. We’ll head back to the city and return tomorrow at which point you’ll remove the sigil. Only then will I give you the money.”

“Odette stays here.”

“She goes with me.” Anthony’s beast was itching to break free, but he pushed it back.

Grevolus stepped forward, stopping at the edge of the porch. “How about I kill you both now?”

Elle grabbed Anthony’s arm. They had discussed this possibility. Anthony wanted to warn Grevolus that the Queen knew about him and was on her way, but Elle insisted that would make the male reckless. Him threatening to kill them both proved her point. “I’ll stay.”

Anthony growled, and Grevolus’s eyes widened. He raised his hands, and Elle shouted, “No,” stepping in front of Anthony. “If you kill him, you don’t get the money. If you kill me, you don’t get it either.”

Grevolus sneered. “I would if I take over his identity the way I did the old man’s.”

Anthony pulled Elle to his side. “That won’t work. My associate is aware of you and what you’re capable of. They’ve known me a long time, and you’d never get away with impersonating me.” Anthony swallowed hard. “I’ll leave Elle here, but if you harm one hair on her, you won’t get the money.”

“You have until ten tomorrow morning.”

“The bank doesn’t open until eight, so I need until at least eleven to drive that far.”

“Fine, but if you aren’t back by then...” Grevolus thumbed over his shoulder. “Get inside and finish packing, Odette. And bring the money from the bank with you.”

Elle turned to Anthony, and he pulled her into a hug so he could whisper in her ear. “Remember, if you need me, just call out and I’ll hear you.” Elle nodded and took his hand in hers. She placed something on his palm before stepping back. Keeping his fist closed, Anthony grabbed her bag from the Jeep that contained fifty thousand. She’d left the other 20k at their house. While out of Grevolus’s sight, Anthony put Elle’s ring in his pocket for safekeeping. He handed Grevolus the bag, giving him one last glare, then strode to the Jeep and drove away. Anthony’s heart was in his throat, and the farther away from his mate he got, the angrier he became. This had to work.

As he drove to find an out-of-the-way place to park, Anthony called his dad. Gregor answered on the first ring.

“Hey, Son. How’d it go?”

“Three million cash by eleven a.m. tomorrow.”

“Do you think he’ll actually take it and remove the sigil?”

“Honestly? No. I think he’ll try and dupe me somehow. He threatened to kill us both, but then Elle reminded him if he did that, he wouldn’t get the money. Dad, I have never felt anyone this evil. I can’t believe my mate was spawned from him.”

“She is her mother’s daughter, Tony. Don’t forget that. I’ve already called Deklan and told him we needed to tap into our account, so he’s waiting on me to tell him how much.”

“You don’t need to chip in. I have more than enough.” Anthony pulled the Jeep into a barely visible trail through the woods. When he was far enough off the road that he couldn’t be seen by someone driving by, he shut the motor off.

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