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Her father shook his head “It was just meant to scare them so they’d pay what they owed me,” he said defensively “They weren’t supposed to die”

Was he honestly trying to justify their deaths? “Paid what they owed you?” Arabella repeated incredulously, recalling what Hunter had told her earlier that had prompted her to run “You extorted money from them and from other businesses”

“That’s e do, Arabella,” Gavin said with a shrug “The organization gets a percentage, and we get a nice little cut to suppleet our hands dirty every so often to keep everyone in line, then so be it”

“That’s disgusting” And so heartbreaking, when she thought of all the people her father and Gavin had hurt, swindledor killed Her rew dry and her stomach pitched with nausea

“Yeah, well, as cozy as this ku uest of honor to this fun little party,” he said, an eager gleam in eyes “As soon as Maddux knows I’ve kidnapped you, it’ll just be a matter of a very short time before he arrives to save his precious Bella”

“He’s not going to co to divert Gavin’s plan, or else Maddux would be walking right into an a to him”

“Nice try,” he said, pacing in front of their two chairs “I saw the interaction between the two of you when I was there for the welfare check He certainly didn’t act as though he hated you, and you were very eager to stay with hi he’s already fucked you, which is a shame because you really should have been oods”

“I’ll never be yours,” she spat, her hatred toward Gavin at an all-tih

“This is true, considering how tonight is going to end” He lifted her phone, swiped open the screen, and scrolled through her contacts “Ahh, here he is, under The Beast How char his words “Now, let’s test that theory about whether or not Maddux will come to your rescue”

“Arabella’s life for yours,” Gavin said out loud as he typed the words into a textwhat he believed was the upper hand “What’s it going to be, Wilder?”

Less than fifteen seconds later, her phone rang, and Gavin looked at the display and smirked as he answered the call, put it on speakerphone, and spoke “Well, that didn’t take long I think ed your affection for her Her life for yours, Wilder I think that’s a fair trade”

“How about your life for hers, you son of a bitch!” Maddux’s deep, furious voice rang out like thunder “I’m already on my way to your shitty hideout I had a tracker put on Arabella’s phone, just in case so like this happened”

“How resourceful,” Gavin drawled “If you bring the cops with you, she dies before you even step foot inside the door”

Arabella sucked in a sharp breath Jesus, Gavin was truly insane, she thought, real fear settling in her bones

“I’ll be alone,” Maddux bit out “And if you fucking hurt her, you will die a slow, very painful death”