Page 40 of Dead Bled Ringer

I slashed through the leather couches, splitting up the expensive material until my arm ached from destruction.

“I think Angel needs a nice marital settlement,” Hunter said. “I’m thinking. . . 10 million. 12 million. Let’s say we round up to 15 million. Then maybe we’ll let you go.”

“I don’t have 15 million!” Henry said. “Things are wrapped up in stock—homes—my investments?—”

“Make it 20 million,” Hunter said.

“I don’t have that,” Henry whimpered.

“That’s a shame,” Hunter said, and he extended his fist and hit Henry in the head, a cold, precise blow on the corner of his forehead, knocking his twin out cold on the floor.

“Well, let’s go,” he said, grabbing Henry by the pant leg, leaving a long trail of pee along the floor as he dragged him to the door.

“Go where?” I cried.

“Back to my place outside town. Too many people to hear him scream at Jasper’s.”

Chapter Nine

HUNTER

I tied my twin brother into the passenger seat with some rope from the bed of my truck, and off we went, Angel sitting between us.

My fingers brushed by Angel’s soft thighs as I jammed the transmission into drive and stomped on the gas.

Whatever revenge she wanted, I would make it happen for her.

Henry awoke with a panicked snort, drool running down his face.

“Please, Angelise—” he rasped. “If you ever loved me, if you ever cared about me. Forgive me. You see before you a broken man. I regret my actions. They were indefensible! That’s not who I am anymore. All I can do is throw myself on your mercy and beg for a second chance. We’ve had so many happy years together. Please don’t let my mistakes in judgment mean you throw away what we have.”

My twin’s voice cracked and I saw a tear roll down his cheek as he looked beseechingly at Angel.

My heart constricted and I forced myself to stare at the road. Henry was a suave, slick motherfucker, and I was a mechanicwith rough hands who had never been good with speeches. What if she decided to forgive him? They had a lot of history together.

Could I even let her go? If it would make her happy?

Could I let her go back to him?

No, I didn’t think I was much of a fucking saint.

I’d always be planning Angel’s next kidnapping. No matter what she said, I wouldn’teverlet Henry have a chance to hurt her again.

Now he didn’t have a hold over me.

But—I didn’t want my Angel to still be in love with my brother.

Then I almost jumped out of my fucking skin when I felt a soft, sweet hand on my dick.

“Tell me, Henry,” she said coldly. “Since you claim youloveme. What game did we play for days in a row when my grandma was sick in the hospital?”

“I—don’t remember,” he said, darting his eyes at me. “It was a long time ago.”

Hedidn’tremember, because he’d orderedmeto go.

“I’m not doing this boring bullshit,” he’d said. “I don’t give two shits about her grandmother. But Angelise is making a big deal about it, soyoucan go sit with her in the hospital. I’m going to get my dick fucking wet with someone who doesn’t ask for shit.”

And I’d gone, sat next to Angel for three exquisitely torturous days, and left more hopelessly and totally in love than ever.