Ruthless Heir (Ruthless Billionaires #5)

Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two

Asher

Come to the old shoe factory on the wharf at two and bring the cash. Ten million dollars in a black case. Alert the police and your girl is dead. Any attempt to fuck with us and your girl is dead. Make sure you come alone. Or else…Vito.

I stare at the phone in my hand and re-read the message, the ball of nerves in my stomach expanding to the size of a planet.

It’s ten minutes to two.

We’ve just arrived at the wharf and parked on a residential block close to the factory. Josh drove because his car is more inconspicuous than mine.

He kills the engine and we both stare out the windows, scanning the perimeter of the derelict run-down surroundings. I can just imagine what the meeting point must look like if this area looks so bad.

We— Josh and I—ignored the warning in the message to come alone.

At first I tried to get him to stay but he insisted, then he awakened my senses by pointing out the obvious. That this was a trap that would most likely see both Harper and me dead.

The threat that Harper could still die is the only reason I allowed Josh to come.

The clues of a trap with the end result of all our deaths are all there. The most prominent clue being that I know who the kidnappers are— Vito and Nolan.

They wouldn’t have allowed me to know it’s them if they didn’t want me to know. And I’m sure they’re not just going to allow me to walk away with that knowledge. Especially that fucker Nolan.

I feel like such a fool now for thinking that I’d seen the last of him after I exposed him and Nigel.

That was just the beginning. Nolan and Nigel got bailed out the same night they were put in jail. Of course, that was pending trial, but Nolan got working quickly with a grand idea on how he could still get money from me.

Take the person who matters most to me and hold her for ransom. I assume he got Vito involved because he had the resources and know-how to pull off a kidnapping like this.

I glance at my phone again, checking the time. It’s five minutes to the hour.

Josh looks at the time, too and his frown deepens.

“I’m gonna go,” I tell him, reaching into the back of the car to grab the briefcase with the money.

In all my years I’ve never carried around this much money. As expected the bank questioned it but thought nothing when I told them I was heading to a poker tournament in Monaco.

“I feel completely unprepared. I don’t like this one bit,” Josh scoffs, glancing around worried.

“Neither do I. And we have no plan.”

“I’m right behind you. Just wait for my signal, then get yourself and Harper out of danger.”

I nod, trying to reassure myself with the knowledge that I have someone with me who has military experience.

While I went to get the cash from the bank, Josh got his guns. There are two colleagues of his around somewhere to back us up but that’s it.

I didn’t risk calling anyone on my phone or making contact through any other means just in case Nolan or Vito had found a way to listen in. With everything happening so fast and in a short space of time, I never got the chance to check anything out.

All I knew was that they were clearly watching Josh and Harper at the hotel.

The only thing I may have on my side is that I don’t think they know Josh is with me. At least that’s what I’m hoping. If they’re watching us now and detect that I didn’t come alone, I’m fucked.

Dragging in a deep breath, I open the door. Josh grabs my arm and stares at me with pleading eyes.

“Be careful, Asher. Please don’t let anything happen to Harper.” It must be killing him that this is a situation he can’t control.

“I will protect her with my life.” I tap his shoulder then summon courage and leave.

I want this over and done with. And I want Harper back in my arms. I don’t care what it costs me.

I just want her back.

I walk toward the meeting point, which is in a worse state of abandonment than where Josh and I parked. It’s clear the place is used as a dumping ground for waste. I’m sure all sorts of criminal activity takes place here, too.

The fact that no one is around at this hour of the day is a dead giveaway. I assume the area is mafia territory or something of that nature.

I glance at my watch. It’s two on the dot but there is no one here but me and the stench of piss and shit wafting through the air.

A few agonizing minutes pass before the crunch of heavy boots grabs my attention. I follow the sound and find Nolan and one I assume is Vito walking out from the side of the building. Both carry handguns.

Vito looks exactly how he sounds.

Big and burly with a wart hoggish face and a wide mouth that looks like a fish when he smiles at me.

Behind him two guards appear holding Harper, bound and gagged.

Her eyes are red, a sign she’s been crying. She’s also shaking and looks beyond terrified.

Jesus . I wish I were the one with the gun.

If I had one I would kill Vito first, then I’d take my time shooting pieces off Nolan’s body until he begged me for death. Then I’d torture him a little more before I ended his ass.

Looking at him standing next to Vito seems unreal. I can’t believe they found each other. One guy from my world, the other from Harper’s.

“Asher Le Blanche, we finally meet in person,” Vito booms in a welcoming voice as if we’re all gathered here for a family reunion. “I must say you’re so much taller in real life than your online pictures make you out to be.”

“Cut the fucking shit.” I stare him down, trying to keep my temper under control. I hate talking about nonsense at the best of times, let alone in serious situations.

“Not so brave and pumped with power now, are you?” Nolan taunts, glaring at me with malice in his eyes.

“Just give me Harper.”

“You think you’re some kind of god, don’t you, Asher Le Blanche?”

“Don’t fucking talk to me. Just give me my girl.”

There are two things I can’t do right now. The first is listen to the sound of Nolan’s mocking voice and the second is to look at Harper. I can’t look at her and see her so terrified. It jars me.

Right now I need to focus and get her out of here.

“Hand over the money.” Nolan smiles.

Vito smiles, too, and snaps his fingers to beckon me to come forward.

I move, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. I keep my head up and back straight, never faltering even for a second.

As I get closer I think of all the times I’ve wanted to kick Nolan’s ass. I wish I had gotten the chance to do it before the other day. The mere punch I gave him was nothing.

There’s a chance that if we’d fought in our younger years it might have stopped our fathers from being as close as they were. It might have stopped this shit happening now.

If only I could go back in time.

When I reach them Nolan points his gun at me while Vito’s smile widens.

“Open the case,” Vito orders.

I hold it out and flick it open, revealing the rows of bills stacked neatly together.

“It better all be there.”

“Do I look like the kind of man who would play with his girl’s life?” I risk glancing at Harper. She looks at me, too and tears stream down her cheeks.

“That’s what makes you so good.” Nolan pipes up. “Always the boy scout.”

Fuck. I can’t fucking stand this. Josh, what are you doing? When are you going to give me the signal? What even is the damn signal?

He said I’d know it when it happens.

“Close the case,” Vito orders.

I close it and he takes it from me.

“Give her to me.”

“There’s actually been a slight change of plan.”

Here we fucking go. This is the trap.

“Surely you didn’t think we were going to just allow you to walk away, did you?”

“I hoped you would. I guess you’re not.” Come on, Josh.

“Nope.” Vito raises his gun and cocks the hammer. It makes a click-clack sound.

Harper mumbles against her gags, pleading for me and crying harder.

“Say goodbye?—”

He doesn’t get to finish the sentence. A bullet lodges in his head and he drops to the ground with blood pouring from the wound.

I take that as the sign and rush to get Harper but Nolan and the guards are already jumping into action.

“Take her away!” Nolan orders.

One guard tries to drag her away but a bullet takes him down. And when the other guard tries to grab her, she runs.

Nolan swings a punch at me, connecting with my jaw, but I feel nothing. I unleash and send a round of punches his way which knocks him to the ground. I lunge myself on top of him and continue pummeling his face.

He’s still holding the fucking gun. I try to get it away from him but he’s gripping it like a vice.

Bullets sound around me and I realize that the other guard is shooting at Harper.

Fuck. I need to get to her.

I amplify my punches, giving Nolan all I have until his face is a bloody mess and he finally passes out.

I grab the gun from him and look for Harper and the guard. I spot her hiding behind the column across from me and the guard rushing toward her.

I shoot him in the chest and another bullet comes from the left to take him down.

Seeing the way is clear, I run as fast as I can toward Harper. I’m almost with her when the sound of harsh laughter stops me.

I whip around to find Nolan standing between us. And he has Vito’s gun.

Shit.

“Say goodbye to your little girlfriend,” Nolan shouts, pointing the gun at Harper.

I throw myself at her, pushing her to the ground as he fires the bullet. Another shot rings through the air but the sharp pain that pierces my body steals my senses.

I know I’ve been hit.

Nolan shot me in the back. Still, I cover Harper.

Everything around me becomes a foggy haze. Harper shuffles from beneath me, covered in blood. My blood.

She’s screaming and crying through the gag on her mouth.

Moments later I see Josh’s face. He grabs me and starts calling my name, but I look at the girl. The girl I love.

If this is it—my last moment on this earth—then her face is the last thing I want to see.

I look at her, hold the image of those jade-green eyes in my heart and try to tell her that I love her.

But then I see nothing more.

Everything slips away from me.

Including her.