Page 62 of Ruthless Desires, Vol. Two (Ruthless Desires Series Extended Editions #2)

Ludo

The sun is annoyingly bright as I step out of my vehicle and toss my keys to the valet. I hate this restaurant, but Raymond King owns it, and he likes to hold his meetings here. The only reason I put up with it is because I want him to think he has control over our dealings.

He’s an arrogant bastard. Most in this business are. Neither him nor Burbank have an inkling of the money I’ve kept from them. I’ve covered my tracks perfectly, and they think they’re powerful enough that I’d never even consider crossing them.

If I thought my hard drive was actually out there somewhere, I’d be worried, but I know it’s not. I may have underestimated Aubrey, but there’s no way she sold it. She wouldn’t know who to give it to. No, I think Elliot, Rhett, and Oliver are hiding it somewhere. So for now, since they don’t have access to it, it’s safe—and by extension, so am I.

Elliot will break soon enough. I’ve let them sit in their fear for days. The next time I drag Oliver into the basement for another session, Elliot will spill everything before we even get started. Especially after last night.

I smile. Maybe I’ll do that this afternoon once I’m home.

Inside the restaurant, I’m led to the private room in the back. King and Burbank are already seated at our table with the usual paperwork in front of them.

“Morning,”

I say, setting my briefcase on the table.

“Ready to dive in?”

I’ve never been one for niceties or beating around the bush. We’re here for business, not to chat or catch up. King and Burbank are usually the same way, but today, things seem to be different.

Fredrick glances at Raymond, who leisurely stands.

“The two of us received something this morning,”

King says. He’s made his way to the door, which he opens.

“Something… concerning.”

Two men step inside. One I recognize as his right-hand man, and I assume the other is a low-level grunt.

Immediately, the hair stands up on the back of my neck. This isn’t how our meetings go. No one else is ever in here with us.

Am I wrong? Did Aubrey sell the hard drive?

Leaning back in my chair, I maintain a relaxed composure. “Oh?”

“It came directly from Axel Holden,”

Fredrick says, “which was a surprise, to say the least.”

Axel? Doubt fills my thoughts. Before the wedding, I was beginning to question his loyalties, but then he was right about Hayes and his partners.

But no. I purposefully kept him out of these dealings in case I was wrong about him. He doesn’t know. How could he? Unless…

Burbank slides a small stack of papers across the table. As I look them over, my stomach sinks.

“Axel sent you these?”

King nods, and I realize his men are standing on either side of me. For a brief second, I contemplate reaching for my weapon, but I’m outnumbered and alone. It’d be pointless.

“He did,”

Burbank replies.

“Honestly, Holloway, I thought you were smart enough not to share your secrets.”

I swallow audibly.

“You’ve cheated us out of hundreds of thousands of dollars each.”

King is watching me with a hard, intense stare.

“You owe us.”

I’ve always prided myself in being able to get out of any tough spot I’ve found myself in. Years ago, when I was still an enforcer, I was known for my ability to slip in and out of places without notice. Getting caught can lead to disaster. I was only ever seen once—by a little girl, no less—and I dealt with her easily.

This is no different. Just another complication to rectify. And King just gave me an out.

Spreading my hands, I put on an easy smile.

“Well, what can I say? You caught me. Only one thing to do now. I can write you both a check, and then—”

“No.”

Burbank’s voice is hard, and his arms are crossed.

“I’m not giving you another chance to play more games. I want cash, and I want it now.”

“In full,”

King adds, “with interest.”

I clench my jaw. That’ll set me back months in my plan, if not a whole year. But it gets me out of here alive. I started from nothing. I can work my way back to where I am now. It’ll just be a minor setback.

“Of course,”

I say tightly.

“We’ll have to make a few stops.”

For years now, I’ve rented a number of storage units to act as reserves. Only Axel and I know about them, so if he’s betrayed me, I need to get the money out of there as quickly as possible. That cash is also untraceable, which I know is what King and Burbank want anyway.

“Give up your weapon,”

King’s right-hand man says.

Slowly, I do. I’ll get it back when this is over. It’s not like they’ll kill me. My connections are too vast—it’s why they wanted to deal with me in the first place.

“Search him,”

King tells his other man.

I clench my fists as he pats me down. Usually, this treatment is for others, not me.

“Don’t try anything,”

Burbank says darkly as he stands.

“We’re getting our money, and then you’re done.”

“Done, huh?”

With a smile, I let King’s men grab onto me.

“I think we all know you need me, Burbank. Even while I was skimming off the top, I was the best option for you.”

They exchange a loaded glance, but I’m not sure what it means. Before I have a chance to ask, I’m being led out the back entrance of the restaurant and shoved into the backseat of an SUV.

No big deal, I tell myself. Once they have their money, they’ll come around.

***

By the time we arrive at the first storage facility, I’ve already come up with a new deal that Burbank and King will fall for in a heartbeat. They’re angry now, but that’ll change soon. We’ll have to go to multiple of my storage units to get enough money to pay them back, but it’ll only take a couple hours. That’s plenty of time for me to slowly worm my way back onto their good side.

They wouldn’t be where they are without me. Sure, I stole from them, but they still made much more than they would’ve if they’d gone into business with someone else.

I hop out the vehicle and stroll up to the door as if King’s men don’t have their hands on their guns.

“Open it,”

Burbank snaps when I take my time with the padlock.

Once it’s undone, I lift the door and shove it open all the way. Immediately, my throat goes dry. It’s… empty. Even the bins that I had everything stored in are gone.

“I told you,”

Burbank growls.

“No tricks.”

For the first time all day, my confidence wavers. If this one is empty, odds are, Axel has already emptied out the rest. Who knows what else he’s done? My men are used to taking orders from him, not me. He could’ve turned them against me.

He could’ve set Hayes and his partners free.

“The next one,”

I say, barely managing to keep my voice free of worry.

“Maybe the next one.”

Again, King and Burbank exchange a look.

“It should’ve been here,”

I tell them.

“Axel must’ve taken the cash. We just need to get to the other units before he does.”

That has to be it. He knows I always go to them in a particular order. It’s not like he’s had time to empty them out, which means he must be doing it now. All we have to do is cut him off—start from the last unit and go from there.

“If you’re playing us—”

“You’ll get your money one way or another. But if you want it today, we have to move.”

“One more chance,”

King says, “and if you’re lying again, we’re doubling the interest.”