“Hello?” Nigel says again, his tone even more impatient the second time.
I steady my phone with both hands pressed against my ear. “Hello?”
“Who is this?”
Of course he wants to know who I am, and no matter how I look at things, honesty seems like the best option. “Valentina Novak or rather, Doubeck. Valentina Doubeck.” I wince, hoping the correction isn’t like waving a red flag in front of a bull.
“What do you want?” His tone is laced with disgust, reflecting my own.
I square my shoulders even though he can’t see me and try for the cold and unyielding tone my father used when he discussed business with society members. “I have a business proposition for you.”
“Oh?”
I swallow hard, hoping he doesn’t hear it through the line. “You get the council off our backs, and I’ll make it worth the effort on your part.”
He makes a noise that I can’t discern. “We should meet face-to-face, girl, and discuss this sort of thing in person. It’s the proper thing to do.”
I want to tell him I don’t give a shit what is proper. I’m not going near him. Instead, I say, “No, thank you.”
His answering huff sounds a little like a laugh. “What are you offering?”
Technically, I don’t have a single thing to give him, but even I know admitting so isn’t good negotiation tactics. Instead, I flounder a bit, then say the first thing that pops into my head. “Money. I can offer you money.”
“Money, hmm…”
This time, I cover the mouthpiece as I take in a few nervous breaths. I hold steady and don’t respond, waiting for him to say more.
“I’ll help you out of this, girl, but it will cost you.”
“How much?”
This time, his laughter is dark, and it turns my stomach. “Twenty million and I’ll take care of your little problem.”
If he could see me, no doubt, he would have witnessed the blood draining from my face. He’s insane if he thinks anyone can pay that for doing nothing more than calling off his dogs. I can’t even counter the number since it’s so unreasonable.
But I try anyway. “How about one million and an agreement no one will come after your family for the atrocities you committed to one of ours.” It’s a down and dirty lie since I want all of them dead, Sal’s entire family, but he doesn’t need to know that. Adrian doesn’t like when people lie, but in this case…he might forgive me.
He laughs outright. “Girl, that woman was never yours, only your husband’s. Ask yourself why he likes to keep such a pretty woman around. Well, that’s probably obvious since you were never much to look at.”
I pull the phone away from my face and glare at it. Fucking bastard. Just because I wasn’t fawning over his son and his family, suddenly I’m ugly. No. He’s just trying to get a rise out of me. Along with his taunt about Andrea. I’m pretty sure both of them would rather gouge their own eyes out than sleep with each other.
“One million is my only and final offer.”
“Ten million,” he snaps, his breathing husky.
Gag.
Knowing what they will do with that money and who they will use it to buy, I can’t do it. I splay my fingers over my belly and shake my head. “No. One million is all I’m offering.”
“You called me, girl, not the other way around. I’m perfectly content to watch the council snuff out your entire lot. I’ll gladly sweep in, buy up the pieces, and destroy any legacy your husband might have left.” He spits the word husband like it’s something gross in his mouth.
“I’m not going to give you ten million to buy and sell more children on the black market. I just won’t do it.” I don’t need to explain myself to him at all. By this point, I should just hang out. I knew this was a bad idea in the first place. Except I had to try. For Adrian. For our family.
He laughs again, and then I hear others laugh. Of course he’s had me on speakerphone this entire time. They are all probably huddled around having a good laugh about my groveling to make a deal.
It doesn’t matter. I’ll sacrifice my pride to keep people safe if I have to. It means nothing to me anymore.
“I think we are done talking,” I say, keeping my tone light and calm.
“See you soon, girl,” he growls into the phone.
I hang up and lean back into the pillows again. During the call I’d sat up, intent on listening closely. I hadn’t even realized.
There’s a soft huff from the door, and I glance up to lock eyes with Adrian. His face is solemn, his eyes gentle as they meet mine. And for a second, there’s pride there.
Then he’s gone again, the doorway dark. I wrap my arms around myself and whisper a prayer of thanks that Sal’s family didn’t take my offer. Now, when they all die, I never lied to anyone. I won’t have that deceit on my soul.