Page 131 of Say I Do

“We’ll hold onto it.”

I glared at them. “I’m sure you will.”

Faced with the decision to move forward or go back, I yanked my gun free. If this Qiang person wanted me dead, he could have had me shot long before now. I released the clip, showed it to them, and handed it over.

“There. My gun is empty, and it stays with me.”

“Pop the one in the chamber.”

I did just that, showed them the bullet and then tossed it toward them. One of the men grabbed it. I replaced my gun. Even if it was empty, it was mine. If shit went sideways, I wasn’t leaving without it. The realization that what I was about to do was completely fucking stupid dawned on me, but there was no going back now. I had a feeling that no matter what, once I entered the hallway behind us, I never had a choice. If I opted out, I’d be the one stuffed into a suitcase and dumped at a random site.

“Good enough,” the man grunted as he looked at me. “Come.”

I didn’t argue. Instead, I followed the guards. When I glanced back, the woman who was behind me skittered away. I turned around and kept in step with the other two. We took another hallway before we ended up at a door. A password was entered before we walked into an upscale room.

Multiple people were around, but most stood against the back wall, watching and waiting.Workers and guards.I turned my attention to the man on the couch. He was surrounded by three people, two guys and a girl. All of them looked as if they were entirely too young to be half-dressed and draped over his body. My stomach turned.

“Mr. Vitale,” the man said as a smile tugged at his lips. “Welcome. Can I get you anything?”

“No, thank you,” I said briefly.

He waved a hand to the seat across from him. “Sit.”

I moved over and sat down. As I adjusted my jacket, he watched me like a hawk with eyes so dark they looked pitch black. His hair was dark as well and cropped close to his head. I stared at the scar that cut across his left cheek. Another decorated his neck.

“How do you know Lee Aceto?” I asked. “I already know he was working to take my empire down, to slander my name with his girlfriend, Darla. What was your part in it?” I asked, not beating around the bush. I didn’t want to be here any longer than I had to be.

The man grinned. “I’m sure you’d love to figure that out.”

“But?” I growled.

“It’s none of your fucking business.” The smirk on his face grew.

My back stiffened as I laced my fingers together. The sharpness of my nails as they cut into my flesh brought me back front and center. I clenched my hands tightly as the girl on his right nuzzled against him but stared at me. There was something in her eyes that looked like a plea. Like she wanted to be taken the fuck out of there.

“How do you know Harlow?” I asked.

If it was possible, that smile grew even more. Fuck the way my stomach felt before. Now it was filled with heat as I stood from my seat. I glanced at Qiang’s companions.

“How long ago did you meet him?” I asked.

“Fifteen years ago.”

I did the math in my head quickly. Bile rose in my throat as I stared at the man who proudly proclaimed what he was. Fifteen years ago, Harlow was only thirteen. Thirteen. He was a child with this old ass man who clearly had a type. A disgusting type. I crossed the space to him before I could stop myself. His guards moved, but I didn’t give a fuck.

“Are you saying that to piss me off?” I asked. “Or is what you’re saying true?”

Qiang’s face clouded, and that fake smile fell from his lips. “Harlow has always been mine, and he will be again. I’ve owned him for many years. Even once he was granted his freedom, I knew the truth. He’s mine. There’s no escape.”

Fire raced through my veins. I balled up my fist. It crashed into Qiang’s face. Teeth scraped over my knuckles, cutting my flesh. I ignored the searing pain, the screams, the shouts as I pulled my fist back and punched him again. Blood flew into the air, landing on the furniture, my clothes, and decorating Qiang’s face. My rings tore into him, and it only made every blow more satisfying. As his men moved forward, he laughed, held up a hand, and let me land one more punch.

“Is that it?” he asked when I stepped back, panting as I forced myself not to keep going. “Go on. Hit me again,” he groaned. “Nothing is going to stop me from getting what’s mine.”

“Harlow is mine!” I snapped. “No one is going to fucking take him away from me, let alone you, asshole.” I reached for my gun. As my hand wrapped around it, I remembered it was empty.Fuck.I dropped my hand. “I’m going to kill you.”

“Are you?” he mused. “No, I don’t think so. You’re going to run back home with your tail between your legs. And then you’re going to watch as I take everything you hold dear and tear it down. Every single passion you have devoted yourself to? It's going to disappear. Unless you hand Harlow over, forget you ever saw him, and fuck off out of his life.”

Even if I could, I would never hand Harlow over to anyone. Not Qiang, not his father, no one. Just the thought of it made me want to vomit.

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