Buttons & Hate (Buttons 2)

Because we both knew what that reason was.

“I hope she’s in the back of a van and ready to be transferred.”

She was dead asleep in my bed, the fire still roaring in the hearth and her small body covered with one of my t-shirts. She heavily guarded and protected under my watchful eye. She didn’t even know I was here. I glanced over my shoulder and snapped my fingers.

One of my men placed a black duffel bag on the floor beside us. It landed with a heavy thud.

Bones glanced at it. “If she’s in there you’ll be dead before you walk out that door.” Threat filled the air, and it was the first time I saw him express a real emotion. All he emitted was hostility and death. But now he showed something more.

“It’s forty million.”

His eyes traveled to the bag before he returned his look on me. “And what is it for?”

“It’s a severance package.” I wasn’t giving her up for any amount of money in the world. She didn’t come with a price tag. She didn’t belong to anyone—not even me. “Accept the money and walk away.”

His blue eyes narrowed on my face, irritated with my boldness. “I’ll never walk away.”

“Take the money. You’ve recuperated your loses and received an excellent return on your investment. You can buy as many whores as you want, all more beautiful than the one you lost.”

He didn’t flinch in his movement. His chest didn’t even expand with a breath. Despite his calm exterior he was murderous. If he could, he would lean across the table and snatch me by the throat. “I don’t accept your offer.”

I couldn’t walk out of this restaurant without a deal. If I didn’t end his obsession with Button he would continue searching for her. Cane may strike again, and this time she may not survive. I had to end this violent situation once and for all. “I’ll double the money.”

His eyes didn’t widen but they lightened in surprise. “The higher you go, the more I want her.”

“But you’ll never have her. I’m only offering compensation as a peace offering. If you don’t want it, fine. But I’m not handing her over. Not now and not ever.”

He slowly leaned over the table, resting his elbows on the surface. “You have a lot of nerve, Crow. More than I gave you credit for. You stole my slave and now you’re using her like she’s your own.”

“She is my own.”

“And this is revenge for Vanessa.” He shook his head. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”

“I have a lot more in me.” If I could put a bullet in his bran right now, I would. I wouldn’t hesitate to kill the man’s who’s wronged my family. If I could claim the life of the man who took my sister I would.

“But you’re starting a war worse than the first one.” He lowered his voice so only the two of us could hear. “There will be more casualties than the last. I’ll stop at nothing until that cunt is in my bed. Are you willing to defy me just for some pussy?”

My muscles tensed at his wording. “I don’t need another excuse to kill you. I already have plenty.”

When he didn’t get the reaction he wanted, he leaned back. “Keep your money. I’ll take everything you have when we meet again—including my slave.” He rose from the chair and buttoned the front of his suit as he moved. His man covered his exit just in case I tried to take a shot. I wanted to pull out my gun but I knew I wouldn’t be able to pull the trigger without a bullet flying into my neck.

I watched him leave, knowing the battle just escalated into a war.

***

I slipped back into bed without her notice. She would never know I left in the middle of the night and tried to secure her freedom. The only way she could walk the world as a free woman was if I killed Bones.

Just another reason for me to take him out.

He wasn’t an easy opponent to eliminate and I knew it would be difficult, to say the least. But it was he or she. And when it was broken down that way, I knew what I had to do.

And that meant I needed Cane.

I hated to admit the truth after what he did to Button. But there was no way around it. I needed him in order to pull this off. I needed the manpower, the weapons, and the force.

But could I look him in the eye without pulling the trigger? Could I stop myself from shooting him right in the face?

My eyes were glued to the dying fire in the fireplace. I was too worked up to sleep. Instead, I watched the sun illuminate the curtains as it rose over the hills. The room slowly filled with more light until the new day had arrived.