Page 81 of Taking

“Been wanting to hear you say that to me for a long time.”

Lloyd clasped my shoulder. “It’s nice to find my son has grown into a real man. We’ve got one hell of a future ahead of us. I’m going to put you on my company’s board once we take care of this last bit keeping us from claiming my money.”

His company, his money.

I wanted to snort. Wanted to plant my fist in his motherfucking mouth to shut him the hell up. I wanted to slice off his dick and shove it so far down his throat he gagged on his own flesh, same as he’d made Addilyn do.

Maybe I’d fuck him with a hot poker, bleed his ass out. Stab into his prostate and fuck him there, to burn his insides like he’d done to my princess.

“What’s my cut of that money?” I asked instead, adding a gleam to my eyes while turning forward again in case he attempted to read my face.

“Twenty-five percent.”

I nodded rather than arguing. No sense in pissing him off or putting him on edge. “Since you’re offering me a job, I guess that means I’m coming back to Ingrid’s house once we’re done with this shit?”

“My house,” he stated as though the deed was already done. “And if you do want to move in until you find something else, I can have the housekeeper ready your old room.”

“Let’s take care of the backstabbing bitch first,” I said, grinning at the thought of what emotions would cross Addilyn’s face when I gave her the birthday gift I’d promised. “Then we can go home and toast to our good fortune with that scotch shit you used to love so much.”

* * *

No lights shone from the cabin when I approached even though the dashboard clock showed five minutes to ten. Flicking off the headlights, I crept forward to park, hoping I wouldn’t wake my sleeping beauty—if she slept.

“You left her in the dark?” Lloyd asked with a chuckle.

“It’s one of the things she fears the most,” I mumbled, turning off the car. “Besides you.”

“Let’s go bring her nightmares to life.”

Pretending to conspire with Lloyd roiled my guts, and I had to force the smile that mirrored his as we climbed out.

Taking my time shutting my car door put him ahead of me in walking to the cabin’s door—right the fuck where I wanted him. Adrenaline rushed through my body, warming my extremities, and the promise of blood got my dick twitching to life. Retrieving my knife from its sheath, I stepped closer.

Pulse thrumming.

Hands steady.

The fucker was so intent on getting to Addilyn that he hadn’t considered I might double cross him.

My grin returned, my dick hardening like stone.

Stupid fuck.

One swing of my fist planted the pommel against his temple. Lloyd crumpled to the ground.

My blood rushed through my arteries, my heart rate pulsing to the point I panted. A quick glance at the cabin’s dark windows let me know we hadn’t woken Addilyn.

Or had she taken off on foot after waking and realizing I’d drugged her?

“Fuck.”

My dick had swelled fully, thinking it would soon find release inside her body, but what if she didn’t lay there in wait?

I glanced down at Lloyd. Flicked my gaze to the cabin.

Couldn’t leave the fucker outside alone for even two minutes in case he came to.

Teeth clenched, I set aside my desire to know the whereabouts of my princess, and I dragged Lloyd to the woodshed where a chair and parachute cord sat ready.

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