Page 185 of Morally Black Betrothal

For a moment, hope fluttered in my chest. Ezra seemed to be considering it, weighing the offer. Then he threw back his head and laughed.

“Ten million?” He wiped tears from his eyes. “Oh, kitten, you think that will make up for what I want? What that bastard has done to ruin me? I want billions, not millions. I want Brendan Black’s empire handed to me on a silver platter.”

I stuck out my chin. “He’ll never do that.”

“He could sign over enough shares to give me a controlling interest. He could make me a partner instead of an enemy.Show me the respect I deserve instead of treating me like some second-rate player in his game.”

“And if he doesn’t?” I couldn’t help but ask, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer.

Ezra’s gaze made goose bumps rise on my skin. “I can be very creative about ways to extract value from this situation. Thought you would have figured that out by now.”

“Auntie Simone?” Kylie asked from my lap. “What’s the bad man doing?”

“Honey, get behind my chair,” I told her, not taking my eyes off Ezra as he stood up. “Or go under that big table and stay there.”

Kylie obeyed as her mother curled up onto the floor like a cat and passed out at my feet.

Ezra stepped over Selena’s prostrate body with a chuckle so that he was directly in front of me. “You know, I’m starting to understand what Black sees in you. There’s something refreshing about someone so naïve and protective at the same time. Stupid, maybe. But brave. It’s actually kind of hot.”

“Stop.”

“Stop what?” He drew a finger down my cheek, and I jerked away. “I’m just trying to understand why a man like Brendan Black would pay a small-town baker, of all people, to be his fake fiancée.” His fingers found the neckline of my T-shirt, and I felt the fabric stretch. “Tempting. Maybe I should just take everything else I want too. Maybe that should include you.”

“No!” The word tore from my throat as he ripped the coarse cotton down the front, exposing my bra.

“Auntie Simone!” Kylie’s voice was high and scared from under the table. “What did he do!”

“I’m fine, honey,” I called out, praying she could only see my back from where she was hiding. “Just stay there.” Then,between my teeth, I gritted, “Stop, Ezra. You don’t have to do this.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Ezra said, his hand moving toward the center clasp of my bra. “Tell me this, sunshine? Did Black taste the goods before he committed to them? Or are you as virginal as you look?”

“Touch her again, and you die, Huntington!”

Ezra, his henchman, and I all jerked toward the door, outside of which a familiar voice had just shouted his threat.

Then the noise started. A smoke bomb went off, obscuring all views out of the windows.

“What are you waiting for?” Ezra shrieked at his men. “Get out there!”

But before they could, the door smashed open, and four armed men poured into the room, set to a soundtrack of Kylie’s screams. They made swift work of the two henchmen, making space for one more man to stride into the room like the shadowed knight he was.

The Black Prince in all his glory.

My Brendan.

I’d never been so glad to see anyone in my life.

“Bren—” I shouted just before a hand clapped over my mouth.

“Simone!” Brendan lunged toward me, then jerked like he’d been tugged by a pair of reins when he saw the gun pressed to my temple.

Ezra angled me in front of him.

Everyone in the room except my snoring sister froze.

“Nope,” Ezra said as if he were turning down an offer of sparkling water. “I don’t think so. Everyone stays exactly where they are, or this ends very badly.” He tipped his head at Brendan, who was rippling with rage. “Nice of you to join us, Black. I assume you’re here to save your little escort.”

“Don’t fucking call her that.”