Page 182 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One

I keep my head bowed. There’s no way I can watch this.

Too young. He’s too young to die like this.

Just then, I hear the crunch of snow and gravel under tires. I look up, watching as a sleek black car pulls up the drive. It’s caught Jordan’s attention, too, and he turns to face it, his gun hanging at his side.

Hope ignites in my heart despite the cold seeping into my bones. Could it be them? Did they find out what happened somehow?

The car stops mere feet away from Jordan. The driver’s side door opens, and a man steps out. When he turns to face us, my blood runs cold, and the hope in my chest is instantly snuffed out.

Jordan was right.

Black boots. Dark pants. And that red leather jacket.

Ludo Holloway.

“I’ve been waiting for you to show up,” Jordan says.

“I’m sure,” Ludo drawls, taking in the scene. His gaze runs over Andrew with an almost amused disinterest, but when he sees me, he raises an eyebrow. “What’s going on here?”

I shift, all of a sudden feeling too exposed. But Jordan’s men are holding my arms too tightly. I can’t try to cover myself up.

“None of your business,” Jordan snaps. “What do you want?”

Ludo’s eyes are still trained on me as he says, “Well, Iwasgoing to offer you a partnership of sorts. But not anymore.”

“What, am I not good enough for you all of a sudden?” Jordan’s voice is mocking, but I don’t miss the hint of insecurity in it, and I highly doubt Ludo does either.

“I don’t make a habit of entering into deals with dead men walking.” Ludo finally breaks my gaze, nodding toward Andrew. “You have no idea who he is, do you?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Ignoring Jordan, Ludo says, “Get in the car, boy. You’re coming with me.”

“You’ll do no such thing.” Jordan raises his gun, aiming for Andrew, but Ludo just laughs.

What the hell is going on?

“You really want to go up against me, Williams?”

Jordan shrugs. “You’re the one who came out here by yourself. Where are your bodyguards, hmm? I could kill you right where you stand. It’d certainly make my life a whole lot easier.”

“My bodyguards,” Ludo says with annoyance, “are in the trees with sniper rifles, waiting for you to fuck up so they can end your miserable existence.”

Jordan stills. Then he glances around, looking into the snowy forest while he lowers his gun.

“You didn’t actually believe that I came here alone, did you?” Ludo clicks his tongue. “So naïve. And you’ll never get the chance to learn.”

“What do you mean?” Jordan demands.

Andrew starts inching toward the car. Our eyes lock for a split second, and something like remorse flits across his features. But there’s nothing he can do to help me—he’s as powerless as I am.

Ludo ushers Andrew toward the car, turning his back on Jordan. It’s a bold move considering the man is holding a gun. An act of mockery, even.

Just as Ludo is about to get into the driver’s seat, he gives Jordan a pitying smile. “Here I thought I’d have to manipulate you out of your power. Or take it from you by force. But you won’t even be alive by the end of the week. Good day, Jordan. Enjoy it. It might be your last.”

Is he going to leave me here?

“Wait,” I call out.