Page 103 of Her Filthy Reverse Harem Romance Collection

Her brother. Part of me hates what we are about to do. The man has lost more than any parent deserves. But one evil to prevent a more devastating one is sometimes necessary.

“We have information you should know about,” Maksym starts. He stands and shoves his hands into his pockets. He never could sit still for too long.

Tomas picks up where our friend leaves off. “Information we believe you’ll be willing to pay for.”

Years of experience crinkle the older man’s face and dull the blue of his eyes, but I can tell he’s following the direction we’re leading him.

“I know who you are. I don’t do business with murdering criminals. And extortion is a little beneath you, don’t you think?”

“You can keep mouthing off and lose your only remaining child. Or shut up and listen. It’s that simple.” I hold his eyes and let him understand the seriousness of our words.

“I think you should leave.” He’s scared which is understandable. Our reputation is as fucked up as one can get. No sane person would ever entertain what we are about to demand from him, yet here we are. It’s just the way this messed-up world works.

“Let’s start again. We’ve already neutralized two threats to your daughter. Their names came across our desks mixed with death threats aimed at India. Because we know you are an honorable man we went ahead and took care of your problem.” I pause and let what I’m saying sink in. “She’s amassed several people who are not too happy about her coding work. I’m sure you’re aware.”

“I had no idea there was more than one.”

“Someone hired out help. We took care of the help, but there is still someone in the wings. We don’t know who. Yet. You’ll know after we do. Unless you would like to share something.”

He shakes his head. “I’ve had my teams on it for weeks now. They’ve found nothing so far.”

His face flusters with anger and fear.

“I’ve told her to leave it be. Her brother was smart to drop it. He got sick after that and I thought it would die along with him and then she picked it up. She never leaves anything incomplete. A trait she gets from her mother. India believes this code will be the next level of security that will put billions in everyone’s pockets and lock down everyone’s privacy the way it should be.”

“It will. And that is why you’d be surprised by who is willing to kill if she locks out people who make money off others’ information. You and your team can protect her only so far.”

“And what do you want in return for your favor?”

Staking such a public claim to someone as I am about to do for my brothers and myself is a whole new territory. Blood roars in my ears. Before anyone can see my hands shaking, I shove them into my pockets.

“Your daughter.” The words are heavy and thick in my mouth. When they fall, they detonate much like the bombs I intended them to be.

His face explodes in rage.

“What did you say?” His refined manners prevent him from cursing me.

“We are only here out of courtesy and respect for your daughter. After tonight, she will be coming with us. And you will help ease the idea to her. You can tell her it’s for her protection if it makes you feel better. But we killed for her, so she belongs to us now. Call it extortion, kidnapping. I don’t give a fuck. But she leaves here tonight with us.”

India’s father raps a knuckle on the hard oak of his desk. “No. I refuse.”

I chuckle darkly. I’m not about to stand aside and let this man get India killed. His ego is nowhere near the size of mine and it takes balls the bigger than this city to scare the filth threatening her into submission. Only under our care and protection can she be safe. Anofrom this man will not do.

“We are not negotiating, Mr. Cambridge.” In my world my word is never questioned. The last person who did will never utter another syllable. But the nervous father in front of me looks like he wants to fight my every word. I respect the hell out of that.

“You cannot have my only child. I refuse to give her up.” A pain I will never fathom until I hold my own flesh and blood in my arms crosses his expression.

“You gave her up the second you failed to protect her.”

My jaw tenses and beside me Tomas sighs heavily. Usually, he’s the one doing the talking and I stay quiet, but neither of us trusted Tomas to keep his anger in check tonight. He’s still raging about her father not doing something more to protect India in the first place. The way he grips the arms of the chair tells me he’s barely in check now.

“You think she’ll just willingly go with you?”

I shake my head, but it’s Tomas who speaks. “There’s no getting out of what you owe us. You can either tell her or we will. We’re not above taking what we want. Don’t push us.”

Tomas presses down on the plush leather to stand and India’s father follows suit. Tension hangs over the room. Only the crackling of a small fire in the hearth breaks the silence.

“Their names, damn it? I want proof. How do I know what you are saying is even real?”

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