The Heiress's Choice

es'

bit into my skin. My head throbbed, a dull, relentless pounding that made i

Slowly, my vision adjusted to the dimly lit room. The concrete walls were cracked, streaked

ow, deliberate foot

till, my breathing shallo

tepped

't Vict

s someone e

gloves. His face was half-hidden behind a mask, but

lmost casual. "James Thompson. The g

dry, and I wasn't about to give him

like a predator assessing its prey. "I

ugh cracked lips. "If you're waiting

, James. This is

mach t

ile takeovers, backroom deals- but this was somet

here fo

er. "Do you know what I admire about Victor Lang?" he mused. "His patience.

ched m

"But you? You didn't s

yed s

fe. He turned it over in his fingers, almost absentmindedly. "I don't

ice dr

something that does

ne

hrough me, but I kept

," he continued. "You go home. You li

him. "And if

smi

e that sent a ch

her apart. P

to g

e walk into whatever

ropes. My hands were slick with sweat, making it eas

listening for any signs o

es pa

it. The kn

nded as I wo

tst

mn

nd I froze just as

tocky, bored-looking. He carri

de, closing the

mist

he turned

em to be. I rammed my shoulder into his gut, knoc

hing for his we

ashed it against his head. He staggered, his

nough. I couldn'

ater from the tray and s

me, he

handgun-checked the clip, and shoved it into my waist

lway wa

o

ht. The air smelled of damp concrete

ed a c

-to-face with

ght off guard f

s all I

f his yell. He stumbled back, wheezing. I g

ody s

pt m

climbed fast, my breat

pressed myself again

ic

en, t

till h

tte hasn't

iffe

nd man said. "If she doesn't hand it

e settled

after the USB. The

to war

, then burst through

r. The bullet caught him in the shoulder, sending him crashing in

sh

rump

started

mn

e hall, bursting t

d myself

lack SUV parked nea

as my

gun raised, re

h

rabbed m

s I was yanked back, my bo

voice spo

long enoug

oked

the wor

stood ther

eyes gleaming. "You should've known bette

two guards grabbed my arm

keep this civil. But your daughter-" H

eth. "She's sma

"We'll see

he's walking into a trap, James. And

d to the

Make sure he doesn't

pain in my ribs

ck, the doors slam

as the darkness s

idea what she w

top this, she'd n