Chapter One

Nex.

December 23rd

Was he really asking me to take a job right now? My mind was already on spending the next week ignoring fuckers like Gabriel which wouldn’t be hard considering most of the people I worked with would be occupied.

“I have plans,”

I asserted in annoyance.

“It’s Christmas. What type of plans could you possibly have? No wife, kids, or family. Most of your time is spent working, or at Tempt Me, and even with that, you only fuck women from the club inside the club. Whatever plans you have can wait. You’re the best option, Nex.”

I would have been offended but there was no point. All the things he mentioned about my life were accurate, but also by preference, even the absence of family. I had no regrets. I was wealthy, stress free aside from this type of bullshit Gabriel was dumping on me last minute. Unlike most, I lived by my own terms.

“I’m the only option.”

My stoic expression collided with his anxious one but he remained silent while I added, “Unless you want to piss off your guys or hire someone who will cost you more time and money when I have to clean up whatever the fuck you need handled because they fucked it up.”

His expression tightened. Gabriel raked a hand over salt and pepper hair before a pair of concerned, chestnut-hued eyes that matched his skin tone shifted away from me and slowly found their way back. Unlike his hair, the low, trimmed beard on Gabriel’s face was jet black, dyed of course, to assist with hiding his true age. He brushed his fingers over it and nodded stiffly. “Then you understand the position I’m in.”

“I do, which means this will cost you.”

“I always pay…”

he gritted.

All my clients paid and paid well. They understood the consequences of crossing me and also didn’t like getting their hands dirty. I lived for that shit.

“You do, but consider what I’m about to charge my holiday rate.”

“Holiday rate? You don’t celebrate the fucking holidays; so taking this job is not an inconvenience.”

I didn’t celebrate Christmas, or any holiday for that matter, but I appreciated that the people who paid me to do their dirty work did. Their distraction with family meant I could sit in my apartment doing absolutely nothing for at least a week. Instead of explaining myself, or arguing a point that didn’t have a damn thing to do with this job, I moved on.

“My price is my price. You want me or not?”

He brushed a hand down his face. “Yes.”

“Who is he?”

“She, not he.”

I frowned at Gabriel as he lifted a phone, swiped a few times, then mine pinged with a notification. Once I had the device in hand, I pulled up the social media link Gabriel sent and scanned through the posts.

“This is Merrick Malone’s sister.”

“I’m aware.”

“Why the fuck are you hiring me to handle a Malone? I thought you guys had a mutual understanding with staying out of each other’s way.”

“You don’t ask why, Nex. That’s not your thing. You only ask how much I’m paying.”

He had a point. The why didn’t matter. A job was a job.

“I don’t harm women.”

“Neither do I,”

he asserted. This I already knew, which was why I considered accepting the job. Gabriel had a lot of blood on his hands but never innocents. Whoever he hired, if I declined, might not be as humane. “I only want to send a message. Malone is not untouchable. His family is not untouchable. He needs to understand that pissing me off is a stupid move to make.”

“What’s the plan? Kidnapping isn’t my forte unless the end result means a permanent disappearance.”

“Take Ciana. Hold on to her for a few days. You can scare her up a little, but she’ll be returned unharmed.”

I snorted at the quiet threat. He knew better than to push his agenda too far but even his subtle threat was toeing the line of an insult which would not fare well for this guy.

“Adjust your fucking tone, Gabriel.”

He tensed but nodded slowly. “I apologize.”

“You want me to babysit Malone’s sister?”

“Essentially, yes. It will ruin his fucking holiday and teach him a lesson about protecting those you care about.”

“Sounds simple enough but has nothing to do with the real reason you want me to take her. You either tell me the truth or find someone else.”

“That is the truth,”

he shot back in annoyance. I could see straight through his bullshit and Gabriel didn’t appreciate my clairvoyant vision. He also didn’t like being questioned. I didn’t give two shits what he did or didn’t like. I needed to know what I was dealing with. When he simply glared back, but didn’t respond, I decided his time was up.

“Good luck. It’s short notice so I’m not sure if you’ll find anyone who will handle this properly, no matter how much you offer…”

I stood to leave and Gabriel gave in.

“Fuck. Wait…”

He massaged his chin and a narrowed stare landed on me. “I need to move some things around in the city. If Malone is distracted, I can get it done without issue.”

“And by distracted you mean concerned about the whereabouts and safety of his sister?”

Gabriel nodded stiffly.

“Good enough. How long do you need him distracted?”

“Three, maybe four, days starting this evening.”

“You want me to grab her tonight?”

Christmas was in two days.

“I have a flight leaving in a few hours. I’ll be out of town with my family by the time you get this taken care of.”

Which meant Malone was less likely to assume Gabriel had a hand in kidnapping his sister. The Arlo family would be the first accused of taking Cia, regardless of the agreements between them. Gabriel would present as the innocent party who offered all his resources to assist in finding Cia while he spent the holiday tucked away at some luxurious location spoiling his family. None of which was my concern.

“I’ll think about it.”

My decision was already made but I wanted to make him sweat it out for a few hours.

“Nex, this is time sensitive.”

“It’s last fucking minute and I said I’ll think about it.”

“How long?”

I glanced at my watch and noted that it was just after nine in the morning. I had a few last minute details to handle before I shut down for the upcoming week. “You’ll have my decision by six this evening, along with my price, if I agree.”

“No later than six.”

I lowered my eyes and the muscles in his jaw flexed from annoyance. My reluctance to simply say yes angered him and amused me. “Is that a question or a statement?”

“Question,”

he mumbled with a failed attempt of correcting his attitude.

Smart man…

“I thought so.”

I turned to leave, tossing out my final words as I left his office. “I’ll be in touch.”

As soon as I was in my car, I dialed the person who could provide me with the details Gabriel was withholding. No matter how much he asserted I had all the information, he was still fucking lying.

“Nex…”

she breathed in a sultry tone that had me grinning. Morgan worked at Tempt Me and for the past eight years she had done everything in her power to get me to fuck her. I refused. She was the type of woman that came with strings attached and I didn’t do attachments. I did, however, utilize the women under her employ. “Are you calling to ask what I want for Christmas? If so, you already know what’s on my wish list.”

I laughed lightly. “I do but you’ll have to send that list to someone who’s willing to deliver.”

“You’re cruel.”

“I’m honest.”

“So what can I do for you, Promise?”

Using my street name was a subtle indication that she understood why I reached out. I needed information.

“You heard anyone discussing Ciana Malone recently?”

“Before I say anything, which side are you on?”

Side?

What the fuck did that mean?

“I don’t take sides, Morgan. If the price is right, I’ll accept the job.”

I wouldn’t necessarily say I had a moral compass but I also wouldn’t pretend that I was an anything goes type of guy.

I heard shuffling in the background, then a door closing before Morgan spoke again. “Mercer Malone got himself into a bit of trouble. He owes Warren Harte, and from what I hear, the debt is pretty large. The debt is to be paid in two days with Cia Malone.”

“Paid how?”

Cia remained neutral when it came to the strife her father and brother were responsible for. There should be no reason why she would be a payoff. At thirty-four years old, she wasn’t the young, virginal type that men like Harte wanted to fuck, break, then parade around town as their trophy.

“She’s to marry Harte on Christmas Day. Doing so means he gains access to the Malone family interest.”

Which also meant Arlo would become the underdog. He wanted me to grab her so she couldn’t marry Harte and was likely hoping Malone would be dead before Cia could be used to pay off his debt. Harte was a hot head. He wouldn’t tolerate Malone not following through with his end of the deal. Especially one including the cherished daughter of Malone who survived her family name without being attached to the typical bullshit that came with being a Malone. Like an arranged marriage to solidify a power move.

“Thanks, Morgan.”

“That’s it?”

she purred.

I chuckled. “Merry Christmas.”

“Yeah, same,”

she rattled off laced with sarcasm before ending the call.