He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

(DeLuca)

– Two days later –

The room was quiet, but that didn’t mean it was peaceful.

I sat in the armchair beside the window with a glass of whiskey resting loosely in my hand. The city lights flickered far below the mansion grounds, distant and indifferent.

On the small table beside me sat three things.

A half-empty bottle of whiskey, my pistol and a silver lighter.

The lighter spun slowly between my fingers. It had belonged to my mother.

“Hey, man.” A voice said suddenly just as the door opened and Nico walked in like he owned the place, which in fairness he practically did at this point. He grabbed the whiskey bottle from the table without asking and took a long drink straight from it.

Then he made a face.

“Geez,” he muttered. “This stings.”

He set the bottle back down and dropped onto the edge of my bed.

“You look miserable.”

“I’m thinking,” I said.

Nico leaned back on his elbow.

“Thinking about what?”

I didn’t answer so his eyes narrowed slightly.

“The girl,” he said. “You’re thinking about Daisy.”

Silence.

Nico tilted his head.

“Is it regret or resolve?” He asked and I turned my gaze to him slowly.

“You’re against it.”

It wasn’t a question.

Nico shrugged.

“I’m not against it.”

I studied him.

“You let her escape the other night.”

He smirked slightly.

“She seemed polite.”

I didn’t respond so Nico sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Look,” he said. “I’m just saying… she’s not exactly what we expected.”

“No,” I said calmly. “She isn’t.”

I set the whiskey glass down.

“But this isn’t about a college girl.”

Nico lifted an eyebrow.

“This is Roman Volkov’s daughter.” I pointed out and Nico’s expression shifted slightly. He understood what that meant.

“She’s leverage,” I continued.

“More than leverage. She’s proof.”

Nico leaned forward.

“So what’s the move?”

I looked down at the lighter turning slowly between my fingers.

“Still plotting but we move now.”

He frowned.

“Why?”

“Because two days ago she walked into a room full of those western mafia bosses.”

Nico smiled. “Wow.”

I ignored him. “That room spreads information faster than the internet,” I said. “The smaller gangs are already talking.”

He nodded slowly. “And if Volkov hears?”

“He will.”

I leaned back in the chair.

“So we make sure he hears exactly what we want him to hear.”

Nico watched me carefully. “You’re baiting him.”

“Yes.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify