Page 71 of While He Breathes

Bingo.

“Where the fuck did you get this kind of money?”

I shrug. “Found a boss that actually pays me properly.”

“You don’t want the Hunter as a boss.”

“Good thing I’m not talking about him.” I smirk. “I’m not sure if work in Las Vegas pays significantly better than in Los Angeles or if you were ripping Travis and me off all these years, but it only took two months to get that together.”

It’s only partially a lie. The money on that check didn’t come from any jobs I did for Max, but I did make more than enough to cover the remainder of my debt in that time.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he growls.

“Don’t I?” I raise a brow.

“This isn’t enough.”

“It’s more than enough, especially because I did some digging, ran some numbers, and found the jobs I did for you should have paid off everything we owed you in the first year, and that was before I even got good at it.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yes, it is,” I say, my body the picture of calm as my heart riots in my chest. “It wasn’t hard to work out. Especially once I got access to your books.” I laugh softly.

His face turns a deeper shade of red, telling me he’s seconds away from snapping. Exactly as I expected.

The man is so predictable. It’s almost laughable.

“Careful, Ember,” Killian says softly into the earpiece, and I keep my face neutral. “Don’t goad him too much or he might hurt you before we can get to you.”

“Anyway.” I push my chair back. “I just wanted to pop past with that and to let you know that I hope I never hear from you again.”

I turn to leave, my heart beating erratically in my chest, and I can’t quite tell if I’m enjoying this game, or if I’m fucking terrified. But I only get a few steps before someone wraps their hand around my waist and face.

I realize too late that there’s a cloth in their hand, and the chemical smell catches me off guard. I take a deep breath of it and within seconds, the darkness beckons me toward it.

The last thing I hear is Killian’s voice barking orders before the world falls away, and I’m left with nothing but the black.

CHAPTER FORTY

ORION

“Fuck!” I roar, my body coiled so tight it hurts.

Killian eyes me, but he’s too busy giving orders to deal with me.

Normally, that would piss me off, but right now, that’s what I need him to do.

He needs to get to her before they can hurt her.

I clutch my mask between my fingers, fighting the urge to pull it on and kill every single person who works for Lucas, before torturing the man that dares hurt my woman for weeks on end.

But I breathe through the blood lust.

It goes against every single instinct I have, but this whole plan has.

Ever since Ember floated the idea of walking into that bar and provoking Lucas, I’ve been fighting my need to keep her safe and allow her to make her own choices.

That will definitely not be happening again.