Page 51 of C is For Corruption (Horsemen #3)
Victoria
“I feel the need to say again that I don’t like this.” Az said, his hands gripping the steering wheel of the SUV so hard his knuckles were white.
“We talked about this,” I sighed from where I sat in the back seat beside Leighton.
Craig was silent in the passenger seat in front of me.
“This is a public place, upscale enough we shouldn’t see any Jackals, busy enough for the privacy we need for whatever Uncle Theo has to say.
All three of you will be sitting in the hotel restaurant where you can see me and you’ve got men watching the exits.
This could be our only chance to end all of this and stop running. ”
“I still don’t have to like it,” he muttered under his breath as he turned into the hotel’s parking garage.
Easing to a stop for the valet, the guys quickly checked their weapons before Az unlocked the doors, and we slid out.
Moving to my side, he slipped my arm through his and turned us toward the door that led from the garage into the hotel lobby.
Craig fell into step behind us, and Leighton kissed my cheek before slipping into the shadows, intent on locating where the valet was parking the car.
The guys had all agreed the vehicle would need to be checked over for explosives or other boobie traps before we left, and that required knowing where it was parked.
Once inside, I freed my arm from Az’s hold and smoothed my hands over my dress.
It was the same one I wore when the Golden Devils dropped Craig and me off at Rich’s funeral, and the wave of sadness that washed over me when I put it on clung to me.
I shoved it down, raising my head as I squared my shoulders and started toward the hotel restaurant.
Craig and Az followed behind at a distance, just far enough not to draw attention to the fact I hadn’t come alone.
Uncle Theo had insisted they could come when we called him on one of the burners for the details of the meet, but the guys hadn’t wanted to risk it being a trap to snatch all of us at once.
Ultimately, they’d decided I would appear to come alone while they stayed close enough to intervene if I needed it.
“Welcome to Nova. Do you have a reservation?” The petite blond behind the hostess stand asked as soon as I pushed through the restaurant’s glass doors.
“It’s under Abrams.” I smiled back.
She tapped something into the tablet in her hand and then smiled brightly. “Chantelle will take you to your table, Miss, you’re the first to arrive.”
Another petite blond stepped forward and motioned for me to follow her.
My eyes scanned the place, taking in the sleek design and chic tables full of obviously wealthy patrons.
The soft hum of conversation mixed with the clink of champagne glasses followed us to the table, where a dark-haired man in the restaurant uniform pulled out a chair for me before disappearing into the crowd.
“Can I start you with something to drink while you wait for your companion?” The waitress asked.
“Water is fine, thank you,” I replied, shifting to watch Az and Craig be escorted to their own table by yet another petite blond. I started to think it was a requirement for front-end employees.
My waitress said something I missed, but I waved her away, adopting behaviors I had witnessed my entire life.
My father hadn’t been a bad man before my mother died, but he did have that arrogant way of ignoring and dismissing the help that seemed to be part and parcel of the upper class.
My mother had always scolded him for it while insisting that I always be kind and gracious instead.
I was too busy watching my men be escorted to a table that required me to shift my body away from the entrance to see them while their waitress giggled and pawed at them to give a damn about the lessons my mother had taught me.
When Craig smiled back at the woman, I nearly snatched the knife from the prettily wrapped linen and marched over to stab her in the fucking eyeball.
The sudden violent urge caused my head to rock back in shock, and I forced myself to turn back to sit in my chair properly and stare at the table while I waited for Theo.
My waitress appeared with my glass of water and I moved a hand from my lap to play with the stem of the crystal glass it was in.
I refused to move my eyes from the table in case seeing the guy’s waitress caused me to lose my shit.
The sound of the chair across from me scooting back across the carpeted floor allowed me to let out a relieved breath.
A hand grabbed mine off the stem of my water glass just as I looked up from the table.
“What are you doing here, Benson?” I demanded, narrowing my eyes at my ex.
He wore a tailored black suit, his dark hair slicked back in a pompadour. His lips were turned down in a sneer, and his hand tightened on mine.
“That’s no way to speak to your fiance.” He scoffed. “I’m here to take you home, where you belong. I’ve let you play house with those thugs so you could get that little rebellious streak out of your system, but I’m done waiting.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you, Benson.” I hissed, attempting to jerk my hand away from his.
His other hand shifted under the table, causing the tablecloth to sway and drawing my attention.
“You will or I will use the gun I have in my hand here,” he glanced down at the table to indicate his hidden hand, “to deal with your little boytoys. It’s bad enough I had to go underground and pay for protection when they put out a hit on me, but we’re in my territory now and I will not be cowed. ”
His hold on my hand tightened painfully, and I turned my head, my eyes instinctively seeking out my men for help.
Leighton had arrived at some point, but there were also four strange men I didn’t recognize sitting around the table with them.
My guys looked completely enraged to the point I could swear I saw Az’s jaw muscles ticking from where I sat.
Turning back to Benson, my eyes widened as I spotted Theo stepping up behind him. Benson mistook my surprise for shock over the men at the other table, and his lips quirked up in a slimy grin.
“We’re going to leave now. If you go without a struggle I’ll make sure your playthings don’t suffer.”
“I think you’ll find she won’t be going anywhere with you,” Theo spoke, his hand clapping onto Benson’s shoulder, causing him to startle enough that his hidden hand moved out from beneath the table and revealed he’d been lying about having a gun. “You, however, will be coming with us.”
Benson’s face grew red and mottled with anger. I could practically see the steam pouring out of his ears, and the mental image caused me to smirk before I remembered he had men holding my guys hostage at their table.
“Those aren’t his men, Jellybean. They’re mine.
They spotted Benson entering the hotel and heading toward the restaurant with his little entourage and intercepted his men before they could get to your men.
Turns out, they prefer guaranteed cash to a questionable check.
” Theo moved to stand at the side of the table, his hand still gripping Benson’s shoulder as he used the other to casually flip open one side of his suit jacket, flashing a real gun in the process.
“Now, I believe it’s best we move this somewhere more private.
If you two will be so kind as to come with me. ”
He hauled Benson from his chair, positioning himself to walk beside him as his free hand slipped the pistol free and pressed it into Benson’s side. I turned to look for my guys; they were still seated at their table, anger clear as day on their faces as they watched me.
“Your men will be along behind us, Jellybean.” Theo said. “Come along now.”
Not sure what else to do, I stood and followed as Theo led us from the restaurant to an elevator in the main lobby.
He shoved Benson against the back wall as soon as the doors slid closed, keeping the gun aimed at him as he pulled out a key card and swiped it to take us to the penthouse.
None of us spoke until we stepped out of the elevator into the chic living room area the doors had opened into.
“Have a seat, both of you.” Theo ordered. “Would you like something to drink, Jellybean?”
“No.” I replied, shaking my head as I eased around him toward the closest couch. “I want you to tell me what the hell is going on.”
“As do I.” Benson snapped.
“You aren’t owed anything except a bullet between the eyes, Benson.” Theo spat before turning to me with a softer expression. “You, however, deserve answers and I will give them to you just as soon as your men arrive.”
As if on cue, the elevator doors slid open, and Craig, Leighton, and Az stepped into the penthouse with wary expressions on their faces. Unable to stop, I shot off the couch and launched myself into Az’s arms.
“You’re alright, Love. We’ve got you.” He murmured, his hands rubbing soothing patterns across my back.
“I didn’t know what else to do when I saw the men at your table, so I came with him when he told me too.”
“It’s okay, you did the right thing.” Az assured me before giving his attention to Theo. “Would you like to explain to me why you had five men hold us at our table with guns before they shoved us into the elevator and sent us up here to you?”
“This is absolutely ludicrous!” Benson shouted, lurching from his chair and starting toward where I stood in Az’s arms. “Not only have you threatened me with a gun, you’ve brought the same men that put a price on my head straight to me, and now they’re pawing all over my woman–”
The sound of a single shot caused me to jump and left my ears ringing momentarily. I blinked up at Az in confusion and then turned around in his arms to find Benson clutching his chest, his mouth gaping open in horror.