Page 173 of The Elusive Billionaire
That’s good. I need him to hate me, wish he’d never met me, loathe me. It’s the only way to keep him safe.
“You don’t love me though—you just want to fix me. But here’s the truth, Grey, I was never going to stay. Not with you because I don’t love you.”
“You do.” He doesn’t sound mad, or even irritated, just…scared. I keep inching away from him.
“You’re not a hero, Grey. You’re just another man looking for a win.”
“In our story, I am your hero. Just keep talking to me, sweetheart.”
What?
Roman is speaking quietly, but I don’t think it’s to Grey.
“Is he on the phone?” Grey asks.
I nod, and another soul-aching sob escapes.
“You have to leave, Patch, please. Please turn around and leave.” My knees tremble. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold myself up as I creep toward the devil himself.
“I’m not leaving you, Savvy. If you run, I’ll follow. If you hide, I’ll seek. If you panic, I’ll soothe. If you break, I’ll be your glue.”
“He has a gun,” I shout when Grey attempts to come closer. “Don’t move. He has a gun, and he will shoot you.”
“Did you see the gun, sweetheart? Have you seen it?”
How is he so calm?
“I have to move, Grey. He gave me one minute.”
“Did you see the gun?” he barks.
“He has the laser trained on you. He’s going to shoot. Please, please just go.” Blood rushes in my ears.
“Can you mute your phone, Sav?”
I’m too scared to ask any more questions. I put it on mute, hoping Riley doesn’t notice.
“The laser is a paw print, Savvy. It’s a goddamn cat toy.”
My head is shaking, but I don’t understand what he’s saying.
“No, what? No. I saw it land on your chest and your forehead. He said…he said?—”
“Did. You. See. A. Gun?”
Did I? Not today, but I know Riley had guns when we were younger.
“I… Not today, but he knows how to use them.”
“Now, Sin. I’m not messing around here, you insolent little slut.”
The viciousness in Riley’s tone makes my hands shake so much I bobble my phone, wasting precious moments.
“Once again, you didn’t trust me, Monroe.” Grey inches closer, but he still feels so far away. “You ran instead of coming to me for help. I’m really starting to get a complex, and you know how bad my trust issues run already.” He takes a step forward, and I take two back. “He just got out of prison, so we’re playing his game on the off chance he does have a gun, but you should have trusted me.”
“I’m going to kill him, Sin. I swear to fucking God.” Any semblance of control that Riley had left has gone out the window. He’s going to kill us all.
“Just twenty more seconds, baby. Hold it together. Roman’s team is circling around the back of him now. We just need him to believe that we’re following his directions. It’s almost over.”
