Page 25 of Ruthless Dream

“I’m not going anywhere else with you.”

I pick up speed. “I saved your life, Adeline. The least you can do is show me a bit of thanks.”

“Oh, so I should just spread my legs open!”

The spark of fury makes me laugh. “Yeah.”

“And you say you’re not like Jack,” she sneers.

“I’m not.” I stop at another red light. “You’ll open your legs willingly for me.”

The air vibrates around us.

She’s every bit the spoiled princess as she asks, “And why would I do that?”

I hold out my phone to her again. “Go on. Admit to your father how you fucked up.”

“How I fucked up?”

“What do you think he was after?” I take a right turn, slowing as we get closer to the correct building. “Wallen’s men don’t go rogue.”

The business associate keeps a tight lid on his men. They’ve got arms deals up and down the Northern Hemisphere. He strategically placed his man with Adeline for a reason.

Adeline pushes her spine into the corner of the car. I like the little blank faces when she zones out deep in thought. This time her fingers keep curling and uncurling as she works through it all.

Her chest rises, her breath quickening.

“Wallen’s men don’t go rogue. Which means he authorized what was about to happen.” Red dims my vision for a second. It’s a dirty fucking play. “He wanted to send a message.”

She was lazy. She’d taken her protection for granted.

“But Wallen’s a lot smarter than that.” I angle the car along the curb, backing up to parallel park. “Because you make a play like that, go nuclear, well, shit, you’d want to get as much out of it as you can.”

I shift gears, putting the car in park.

“So I wonder, Adeline Marie.” I undo my seatbelt. She remains pressed in the corner as far away from me as possible. “What information do you think he got out of you before he decided he’d had enough of you?”

A black tear rolls down her cheek. Her wide eyes don’t break. The lipstick I wanted to smear all over her face has already faded.

She’s an absolute utter mess. My mess.

I offer her my phone. “Go on. Call your dad. Admit to him that you’re the reason Wallen now has something on him. That you’ve put your entire family at risk.”

Pain slices over her face.

She’s a perfectionist. She plans out her entire life on that phone of hers. The amount spent studying. The internship when most freshers are focused on getting shit-faced. She stomped around at the party last week, proving to the entire underworld that she can throw an event without any problems.

And she’s a daddy’s girl.

She texts him throughout the day. Reminds him about physical therapy for his shoulder. She’s an hour away from home, and in the three weeks she’s been away, he’s sent her multiple presents.

Would I be ashamed if I let down Uncle Cormac or Nora?

Yes.

It’s why I know Adeline will bend to my will.

“I suppose,” she whispers, “you’ll want me to introduce you to my father. Present yourself as my savior.”