Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
He smirked. “No. But giving up millions of your inheritance constitutes it. So, unless you want me to petition the courts to place you under a conservatorship—which you know I’m perfectly capable of making happen—you’re coming back with me. But first, you’re going to tell me where you were last night.”
“She was with me.”
We all turned as Ramsay crossed the driveway and didn’t stop his slow, menacing stride until mere inches separated him and Hugh. My ex had to take a step back and had the good sense to look nervous.
“Hugh Inchcolm. Heir to Pioneer Motors.” Ramsay shocked me with his knowledge of who Hugh was. “Did I just hear you threaten Silver?”
“This?” Hugh spat at me. “You traded me for this?”
Ramsay’s hand flashed out so fast, none of us saw it coming. He gripped Hugh by the throat and his feet scrabbled like a cartoon character’s as Ramsay carried him across the drive to slam him against his Defender. Quinn held me back as Ramsay shoved his face in Hugh’s. My ex looked terrified, his perfect hair mussed and falling over his forehead. “I know who you are, boy. I know what secrets are in your closet. And unless you want the police reopening the investigation into Michelle Schull’s overdose … you’ll forget you know Silver.”
Michelle Schull?
The tech heiress who overdosed six years ago?
Hugh turned a sickly green. “I … I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh, aye, you do. I’ve met many boys like you. You think you have power because of Daddy’s money?” Ramsay sneered. “But you don’t know anything about real power. With one phone call, I could make you disappear. Unlike you, I won’t leave behind evidence. And dear old daddy isn’t powerful enough to do jack squat about it.” Then he leaned in and whispered something in Hugh’s ear that made him literally tremble with fear.
What the hell was this about?
“Who are you?” Hugh asked hoarsely as Ramsay finally released him and stepped back.
“I’m the man who will hold you personally responsible if any harm comes to Silver. Do you understand?”
My ex shrugged his shirt and jacket into place and smoothed his hair. He shot me a look of arrogant fury. “When you realize you’ve fucked up your life and you come running back to New York, don’t dare come running back to me too.”
I was still vibrating with rage at his threat to put me under a conservatorship. “You’re lucky I gave up those millions, Hugh. Otherwise, I’d make you fucking disappear for what you threatened me with.”
He scoffed. “I can’t believe I thought you were worth dragging myself to this godforsaken place. I hope you burn in hell here.”
I felt Quinn’s reassuring hand on my shoulder as Hugh began to march downhill.
“Oh, and, Inchcolm,” Ramsay’s voice carried toward him and Hugh stiffened.
He reluctantly turned and snapped, “What?”
Ramsay crossed his arms over his chest, casual, calm. Intimidating. His tone bland despite the words as he warned, “I’ve got eyes everywhere. You make any kind of move toward her and my face is the last one you’ll ever fucking see.”
Hugh’s lips pinched together, and I knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t take Ramsay’s threat seriously until he looked into him. The question is, what would he find?
As my ex disappeared down the hill, Quinn pulled out his phone. My eyes were on Ramsay, but I reluctantly tore my gaze and thoughts (and a thousand questions) from him as Quinn spoke to the person on the other end of his call.
“Jack, it’s Quinn. I need you to keep a look out for someone getting on the next ferry to the mainland. Male, thirties, American, dressed in an expensive suit—aye, that’s the one. He came in yesterday, did he? Well, I need you to let me know as soon as he’s dropped off on the mainland … Aye … okay … thanks, Jack.” He hung up, looking from me to Ramsay. “We’ll know as soon as he’s gone.”
Ramsay nodded grimly, turning to me.
“What happened to Michelle?” I asked immediately.
She and I weren’t close, but we’d partied a few times together. I knew she and Hugh had a thing before she overdosed. I’d always liked Michelle. People thought she was a vapid party girl. But I was one of the few people who knew her IQ was off the charts, courtesy of her genius father who owned one of the biggest tech companies in the world. I’d never heard Michelle say a bad word about anyone. Yet, I’d also thought she was broken somehow. She held a pain within, and I figured that’s why she partied so much. It was her escape from whatever demons chased her, but we hadn’t been close enough for me to find out more.
I remembered being at work the day the news broke. I’d only just returned from my South American jungle experience with London, and I’d started as GM at the hotel. The staff were gossiping about Michelle. I’d hid myself in a janitor’s closet so I could cry without any of them seeing me. I’d been unsurprised by the news of Michelle’s overdose, but I’d wished I’d tried harder to be her friend.