Page 73

The way he said it made me want to hit him in the face. But I didn't, I stayed strong, keeping my composure.

Berlin looked between us, her eyes steadying on mine as if she was looking for approval. Giving her a nod, I released her arm, letting her walk into the club. I watched her for as long as I could, until she finally disappeared into the back room.

Virgo shifted angrily beside me, obviously annoyed that it was me she was responding to and not him. It was like I had stolen all of his power, knocking him down off his mountain that he thought he claimed.

Shooting my gaze back to Virgo, I growled. “We need to talk.”

“Bentley, we're done talking. You got what you wanted, I got what I wanted. Why do we need to ruin that with more words?”

“I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. We have more business, and I think you might just like what I have to offer.”

Wrapping his arm around his ribs, he tapped a single finger against his lip. Cocking a brow, a smug grin filled his face. “I'd be lying if I said you didn't have my attention. What are you offering?”

“Can we do this someplace else? You know I don't like drawing any attention to myself. The less I'm seen the better.”

“You know, Bentley, I wouldn't tolerate this from anyone else but you.”

“That's because I'm the one you call when you have an issue. Who the hell are you going to call to save you from me?”

Virgo let out a hearty laugh as if what I said was an honest joke. It wasn't. I was serious as fuck. “Follow me.”

Bringing me to the same room we had met in the night before, he strolled around the table and stood behind his chair. “Well?” he asked, laying his arms over the back of the chair and folding his hands. “What is this offer you have for me?”

“I want to buy Berlin from you.”

“Didn't I already tell you no?”

I didn't move further into the room, choosing to keep the door in my peripheral vision. “But you haven't heard my offer yet.”

“Go on,” he said, rolling his hand. “It won't change anything, but it might give me a good laugh.”

“Tell me a number, any number and it's yours. And, because I want to be fair, I'll take care of the next five issues you run into. No questions, no fee, all I ask is that after I'm done, we cut ties.”

“So you want to take the one girl I don't want to sell, and then end our contract completely?”

“It's a good deal, Virgo, you know it is. Who else would tell you to give a price and not care what it was?”

“It's fucking bullshit.”

“I'm trying to make this work in your favor so there's no problems between us. I don't want to have to kill you for her.”

His eyes lit like liquid fire, nostrils flaring wide. “You'd kill me for a piece of ass?”

“I'd kill you to save her life.”

Chuckling, Virgo's lids turned to slits. “Are you fucking Robin Hood now? Rob from the rich and give to the poor?”

“I want to do the right thing, that's it. I want to pay you for her, give you some time to find someone else to do your bidding, and then go on with my life. I don't want you to contact her, I don't want you to look for us, I want you to forget that either of us exist. It's a win win for you, you should take it.”

“Do you hear yourself? You're talking fucking crazy. What has that girl done to you?”

Grunting, my lips drew taut. “I'm taking her whether you agree or not. It's up to you how we get to that point.”

I watched as his eyes glanced behind my back. It was quick, but enough for me to sense something was about to happen. Before I could turn, someone wrapped a cord around my throat, pulling it tight.

I didn't hear or notice anyone else come into the room, but I wasn't exactly listening either. Like a fucking idiot, I let down my guard, focusing on one man.

Digging my fingers into the cord, I tried to pull it free. It was too tight, forcing me to my knees as the air became thin, barely making it into my lungs.