Page 92 of The Billionaire's Bride
Anger coils in my gut. "We don’t have time for this," I growl. "We’re here holding our dicks in our hands, while Ava is, at this moment, being held by kidnappers."
"I know," Baron growls, "I fucking know."
"Ed," Damian cautions me, "take it easy, man."
I glare at Baron, who glowers back at me.
"You too, Baron," Damian says in a low voice. "The two of you fighting is not going to help anyone, especially not Ava."
Sinner straightens. "Ask the asshole who’s behind the incident? Who did he give the information to?"
"Who did you work for, Anton?" Baron growls. "Who asked you for information on the seven boys which led to their kidnapping?"
His lips move and Baron leans forward. "What was that? Can you repeat yourself?" Anton’s lips move again. Baron stiffens; he stares at me. "Byron?" He scowls. "Did you say Byron?"
A ripple of tension runs round the room. I scowl at the prone man. "Do you have a full name, you asshole?"
Baron holds up a hand and I purse my lips. "Ask him Baron," I insist and Baron glares at me, before turning to the guy.
"Do you have a full name for us? Does Byron have a surname?"
The man’s lips move again. Baron leans in, presses his ear close to the man’s mouth. His scowl deepens. "Michael Byron? Is that right, Anton?"
Anton nods.
"Did he send you to talk to us?"
Anton shakes his head.
"So why have you been interacting with each of the Seven? Why have you been appearing at crucial junctures at each of their lives? Why have you been tracking them?"
Anton’s lips twist, he whispers again, and Baron pulls back to stare at him, "You expect me to believe that?"
Anton’s lips curve. His shoulders shake. Is the asshole laughing? What the fuck? I move forward, but Baron reacts before me. He shoots out his hand and his palm connects with Anton’s cheek. Anton coughs, or at least I think that’s what he does because no sound emerges. His face reddens and spittle flies out of his mouth. He shakes his head, then beckons Baron closer.
Baron leans in and Anton tips up his chin. The tendons of his throat strain. "It’s true," he whispers, and I catch the words this time. "All of it." He swallows. "I wanted to make up for what my actions did to all of you. I wanted to make sure you found some measure of happiness."
"We didn’t need your help," Saint growls. "We were doing fine on our own."
Anton snickers. Saint’s face reddens. He thrusts his chest out, takes a step forward, and Sinner grabs his shoulder.
"Steady, ol’ chap," Sinner mutters, "he’s trying to get you worked up."
"Well, he’s succeeding." Saint shakes off Sinner’s arm. "Asshole has two seconds to come through with some information of use, else I swear, I am going to finish what Father—I mean, Edward here, started."
I scowl at him. "I am no longer a priest, you prick. Best remember that."
"Priest? Somehow, now that you are no longer one, this new nickname suits you." Saint looks me up and down, "Hey, Priest." He snickers, "How are you, Priest?"
I ball my fists at my sides, glare at him. "The fuck is your problem, you piss-head?"
"Welcome to the real world, ol’ chap," Saint grins, "where you are allowed to speak your mind without fear of a larger power striking you down for your sins… Unless you are like our man on the bed here, in which case, it’s only a matter of time before they catch up with you. And no one can save you from what’s about to come next." He glares at Anton, "You catch my drift, motherfucker?"
"You heard the guy." Baron straightens his spine. "You have one last chance to tell us something that’s going to help find Ava, else I am going to let Saint, here, take a shot at you, and I can tell you, there’s nothing holding him back. Not the law, not the fear of any repercussions. Sadly, the man has enough money to buy out not just the cops, but also governments, if needed, not to mention the Mafia. He can kill you right now and vanish your body and no one would ever know."
Anton's lips twist… Did the asshole just smirk? I glare at his face. "So, you expect us to believe that you followed us around to make sure our lives didn't go to shit?"
He nods.
