Ruthless Arrangement (Underworld Kings)

“Please lock up the shop,” I whisper as he deposits me in the front seat. I’m worried about my shop because there are two bodies in there. E-Z shakes his head as he leans my seat back. I hear him get on his cell, but I can’t hear what he’s saying. Although, I’m positive it wasn’t Ryan or Killian he called. Darkness begins to creep into my vision. I try to fight it, but I’m not strong enough. I want to urge him again to get a hold of Killian. I can’t make my voice work. I finally let the darkness claim me. I just pray E-Z protects Killian before it’s too late.

CHAPTER 33

KILLIAN

It’s finally Saturday. I’ve been wanting to see Belle since the guard walked me away from her. I would have been happy to stay in that damn apartment—storage container—for the rest of my life. I just want her with me.

What the fuck has Belle done to me?

Disappointment hits me when I walk in the room to see E-Z sitting there instead of my wife. He looks at me with regret on his face and I instantly know something is wrong. My heart—which I thought had long been frozen solid—crashes to my stomach.

“Why are you here?” I ask, trying to keep the disappointment from leaking through in my voice. “Did Belle decide after spending the night with me that being married to an inmate wasn’t what it’s cracked up to be?” I mutter, sitting down in the chair and making fists with my hands as I lay them in my lap. I hide them under the table—away from E-Z’s prying eyes. I’d rather he didn’t know how much I’m softening toward the woman.

He tries to cut me off, but I talk over him. I don’t want to hear her excuses. “I don’t want to hear it. I need you to find her and have her here before visitation is over. She’s my wife, and as such, she will sit her pretty ass in that chair you’re parked in. That’s our deal.”

“Will you just shut up?” E-Z snaps. It takes me aback a second. I shut my mouth instantly. He doesn’t often raise his voice at me or anyone. He’s always completely cool, calm, and collected. I’ve only seen him blow like this once before and that’s when a friend’s life was on the line. “Belle is not here because she’s in the hospital. The nephews walked into her shop late last night before she locked up,” he confides.

His face is tight with barely contained rage. How I could have missed it before, I have no idea. The emotion is rolling off him in waves. Hell, it takes me a minute to lock my own emotions down as the same anger fires through me with the speed of light.

“And?” I prompt, wanting all of it.

“They said they were there to deliver you and Ryan a message through her.”

The fear that washes through me is overwhelming. I lock everything down. Hell, I don’t even allow myself the pleasure of breathing. E-Z sees it. He sees it all. I can see the disbelief on his face, and I hate I’m giving myself away. I can’t do a damn thing to stop it, however. Now, I’m clenching my fists so hard that my nails puncture my skin. I’ve never felt a rush of hate so intense that it's all-consuming. I clear my throat, still fighting for control. I need to focus on how I can help her not how useless it feels that something happened to her because of me. I can’t do anything about that, but I can get my revenge.

“What did they do?” I ask, not wanting to know but needing every detail just the same.

“Three broken ribs and a concussion. Her head smacked into the counter as she fell because Dominic fucking punched her.” E-Z’s face is full of fury, but I also see the remorse. He feels guilty because he let them get to her. I could give him hell, but I know as bad as her injuries sound that if it had been anyone but E-Z in charge of her safety, she’d be dead.

“I want them held at the old brewery. No one is in on this except Ryan and the two of us. Ryan needs to figure out how to get me the hell out of here. I need to see her,” I demand. That is nonnegotiable. “And no one touches the twins until I can be there to deliver justice.”

“One of them is dead already. I’d say sorry, but I’m not. I shot the other one, but I did just enough to put him out of commission. So, he will survive for now. You can thank me for that later. Of course, you’ll probably need to hurry. He caught a nasty ass infection in his wounds,” E-Z has only relaxed a fraction since telling me what has gone on.