Page 171 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One

“Your three boyfriends killed my brother.Andmy uncle, although I never cared much for the bastard.”

I bite my lip, staying silent. Did the guys slip up somehow? Edgar and Tyler’s deaths made the news, but the authorities said they were still trying to figure out who was behind it.

“Ask me how I know, Wren. Ask me how I know it was them.”

“How?”

Jordan smiles at my obedience. “There are many people who wanted my uncle dead. His empire spans nations, and everyone wanted a piece of his power. But there’s one man who would’ve benefited the most from my uncle’s fall. His top competitor, especially in Philadelphia. Ludo Holloway.”

“Sounds like a bit of a stretch.” I shrug, hoping the bored expression I’ve crafted is working. Jordan’s assumptions may be correct, but it doesn’t sound like heactuallyknows—just that he’s made some educated guesses. If I can convince him he’s wrong…

“Ludo loves killing for sport. Everyone’s heard the rumors by now. But when it comes to business, he doesn’t mess around. You know who his go-to hitmen are?”

I shake my head, gulping when Jordan steps closer. His hot, stale breath hits my face as he laughs.

“I think you do, Wren.”

“No.”

“Your three boyfriends. They never fail, you know. And with a job like this, Ludo would’ve wanted a guaranteed kill. To be honest, if I was in Holloway’s shoes, I would’ve hired them, too.”

Dread weighs heavy on my chest, and it feels like I can barely breathe. “You want revenge.”

“I don’t just want it, Wren. I’ll fucking get it.”

“But if you know who ordered the kill on your brother,” I say slowly, “why not get revenge on him?”

Jordan laughs. “You think I’m stupid? You think Ludo doesn’t have three or more bodyguards with him at all times? That he’s one of the smartest people on this goddamned planet? There’s no way I can get to him.

“But you? Well, your boyfriends decided to publicly declare to the people in our world that you’re theirs. And then they left you alone, completely defenseless. What was their logic? That no one would come after you this quickly?”

I almost laugh at my own stupidity.No, that wasmylogic.

Jordan continues, “Tyler stood to inherit everything that belonged to our uncle. But now that they’re both dead, everything falls to me. Ludo thinks I’m an easy target. He’s wrong. Any day now, he’ll try to make a deal with me. He’ll frame it as abusiness arrangement.Probably call it amutually beneficial agreement.Do you think that’s the truth, Wren?”

“No,” I whisper.

“Good answer. He thinks I’m naïve. Gullible. He’ll offer me a partnership, maybe even a mentorship. And then he’ll try to pull the rug from underneath my feet. Do you think I’ll let him?”

I know very little about Ludo Holloway, other than what the guys have told me. He seems ruthless, which has led me to believe that Elliot, Rhett, and Oliver are as well. I’ve seen them work, even if it was only a glimpse. And if they’re going up against Ludo, they have to match—no, outmatch—who he is to defeat him.

As for Jordan, all I see is anger and insecurity. So yeah, I could easily imagine Ludo pulling one over on him. But I’m not stupid enough to say that out loud.

“Of course you won’t.”

Jordan grins. “Another good answer. Ludo thinks nothing of me now, but just you wait. He’ll watch me take my place at the head of the Williams empire. He’ll watch me make it the greatest it’s ever been. He’ll regret ever killing my family. And more importantly, he’ll regret ever underestimating me.”

I shift from one foot to the other. I’d be lying if I said I cared about Jordan’s plans to prove himself and to become more powerful. No, what I want to know is what he’s going to do withme.

“You can’t get revenge on Ludo, so you’re going to… what, exactly? Kill me to get revenge on the guys?”

“Eventually. But they won’t be walking away from this alive, either. I’ll get them one by one and bring them here. How do you think they’ll react when I drive a knife through your heart while I make them watch? Or when I hold your head under water until you pass out? I’ll make them watch you die slowly from a lack of oxygen while they’re helpless to stop me.”

The weight on my chest is crushing me now—enough that I can’t even respond.They’ll find me, right? Rhett said they would.

“Now. Tell me why I texted Elliot an hour ago that I have his precious woman, and he hasn’t even bothered to respond.”

I hesitate. Should I tell him the truth? That Elliot isn’t able to receive text messages? Maybe it’d buy me more time.