Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Throughout that time, I’ve trusted her more than I can remember.
If she thinks this price isn’t too high, then I’ll have to pay it.
MASS
The warship cuts through the choppy waves. It's moving in a slow arc around the island, keeping well out of radar range. The high-tech drone can barely keep track of the sleek ship without giving itself away.
Lucy zooms the feed. There are men on deck carrying rifles, and a massive gun is bolted to the front frame. “I believe he’s on board.” She zooms in to a window, but the image is too pixelated. “I haven’t seen him yet, though.”
“What about Satya and Rosie?”
“Their boat is tethered along back.” She maneuvers the drone until the small vessel is clearly outlined by the water. “I’m about ninety percent certain that’s it.”
I stare at the image on the screen. Medved’s warship. Rosie and Satya are on board. Coldness shivers over me.
My family is in the clutches of my greatest enemy.
“What’s the battle plan?”
“Enzo’s working on something now. We’ve got vessels moving into the area and several attack helicopters capable of reaching it within hours.”
“Hold off for now.” I keep staring as Lucy controls the drone, moving it closer to get a better view.
Then suddenly, the big gun on the deck spins around.
“What’s it doing?” I ask, squinting in alarm. But before Lucy can answer, the gun muzzle flares and the screen goes black. “Did the drone just go offline?”
Lucy types furiously and shakes her head. “Looks like they shot it out of the sky. That’s some advanced targeting.” She sounds honestly impressed.
But a moment later, Lady’s voice echoes from the speakers. “Incoming communication via encrypted channel. Patch through?”
I exchange a look with Lucy, who gives me a quick nod. “Patch it through to this room only, please.”
“Confirmed. Begin call now.” Lady’s voice disappears.
Replaced by a low, masculine baritone.
“Hello, Massimo. I hope you’re doing well. It’s been a long time since we last spoke like this.”
Medved. I stare at the black screen and don’t move for a moment. He continues to wait, likely content with letting me stew.
“You destroyed my drone.”
“I did.” He sounds amused. “Wasn’t very difficult.”
“I’d like a replacement.”
A wry chuckle. “I’m sure we can put together an arms deal if that’s what you’d like. But here I was thinking you’d want to discuss something else.”
I take a deep breath. “You have my daughter.”
“I do.” He sounds very pleased with himself. “I assure you, it wasn’t easy.”
“How did you convince her to turn on me? What did you offer her?”
“Not everyone is so enamored of you, Massimo. Some of them simply want more money.”
I clench my jaw. The idea that Satya might betray me and steal my daughter for something so low as money makes my chest ache.
“I want her back.”
“I’m sure you do. That’s why I called. I figured you’d want to negotiate.”
“What do you want for her?”
“You know what I want. It’s the same thing I’ve always wanted.” His voice takes on a sick, almost manic edge. “I want to be a Dragon.”
“That isn’t going to happen. I’m not stepping down.”
“Not you. I want Thorne, and I know you have him.”
I say nothing at first. Nobody is sure where Thorne is, except for me and Lucy. But if Satya’s been here for years and if she turned against me a while back, she might’ve had a long time to put certain things together. She wouldn’t be allowed in the west wing, but several nurses are. And they might’ve told her they’ve been treating an old, legless man. Medved wouldn’t need much more to figure it out.
“Elias Thorne in exchange for my daughter.”
Medved barks a laugh. “More than fair, I’d say.”
“Then you’ll kill the old man and take his position. Is that the plan?”
“Simple as that. We’ll become equals and I’ll leave you alone. I won’t need you anymore.”
I glance at Lucy. I highly doubt Medved’s ever going to stop until I’ve been ruined. We’ve come too far to back down now.
He’s like me. Once he starts, he doesn’t quit.
If I do this, I’ll be turning my back on an old friend. I’ll give my greatest enemy his fondest wish and ensure that he’ll double in power overnight. He’ll become even more dangerous than he already is.
“You have a deal.”
“Wonderful.” Medved sounds genuinely happy. “Come to my boat. Come alone. Bring Thorne. You hand him over, I give you back the little girl, and we go our separate ways. Simple and easy.”
“Five hours. Drop anchor and stay where you are.”
“No more drones or surveillance ships, please. Anything I see will be shot from the sky.”
“I’ll approach soon.”
“See you then, Dragon Cardone. I look forward to it.” He kills the call.
The room plunges into silence. Lucy watches me carefully. She’s trying to read my mood, and I can’t blame her.