Page 156 of Morally Black Betrothal

But he was wrong about one thing: I did have the bigger wallet.

And I knew a negotiation when I saw one.

“Proof of life,” I demanded.

Ezra smirked, then pulled out his phone. “Call Aaron.”

One ring, then an immediate answer. “Boss.”

“Put the girl on.”

“No!” shouted the voice of what was undoubtedly a small female child. “I don’twannatalk in your stupid phone.”

Ezra ended the call. “You got what you wanted. Now I want mine.”

I crouched down so we were eye to eye. “You’re not quite as stupid as I thought, Ezra. You know you’ll never get a piece of Blackguard. What’s it really going to take?”

“You think this is a negotiation, Black? What kind of idiot do you think I am?”

Before I could reply, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I stood to read the incoming message.

Ruth:You were right. His father has no idea.

I’d haveto give Ruth another raise. What that woman could discover within her network of spies across the city was worth my entire company in gold.

“I think you’re a dumbfuck clown who doesn’t know shit about real estate.” I tucked the phone back in my pocket and stood. “I also think you couldn’t pull off a ransom to save your fuckin’ life, and if your father finds out about this, you’re cooked.”

Ezra blanched.

Bingo.

“Y-you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I crouched down again, enjoying the way he cowered this time as I leaned closer. “Don’t I? Tell me, how do you think Bas is going to react to finding out his son lost nearly two and a half billion dollars on bad real estate?”

“Fuck you. Fuck youandthe piece of trash you’re taking to the altar.”

This time, pinning him to the ground by his throat only took me one second.

“The—fuck—Black Prince,” he gasped. “There he is.”

I only tightened my grip. To hell with control.

“Listen to me, you cocksucking douchebag fuckwad,” I growled. “You think I like wasting my valuable time with fuckers like you? You think I’m interested in your feeble insults or limp-dick attempts at negotiation?”

He hacked under my hand but couldn’t get any real words out.

“I’m here for one reason only. So this is what’s going to happen: I’m going to give you double the money Selena Bishop owes you, plus a little bit of interest to make you go the fuck away. And in return, Ezra, youaregoing to go away. Because if you don’t, you know very well that Blackguard has its fair share of monsters, but the worst will be your father when he finds out what you’ve done with his money.”

At that, I released him and stood. He thumped against the floor, gasping, though that expression quickly morphed into fury.

“You’ll pay for that,” he croaked.

“With what? You want to tell your dad on me too?”

He seemed to think about it for a moment. Then he tipped his head. “I want the farm back.”

I glared. “What fuckin’ farm? Did I not make myself clear? This isn’t a negotiation, you slimy fuck. You’re gonna take what I give you, and you’re gonna fuckin’ like it.”