Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“You really don’t want to do this.”
Lark slips the ring back into the inner coat pocket of his suit.
“I’m not scared of Nick DaVinci,” he drawls, glancing out the window of the plane. The bigger guy tenses. He’s definitely scared of my husband. I think Lark is as well; he's only better at hiding it. If he’s not, then he really is dumb, but then again, I’m here, so that makes him fucking stupid as shit. He has no clue the size of the hornets’ nest he just booted.
“He’ll make an example out of you.”
Lark flinches, keeping his gaze locked on something out the window, pretending not to be scared.
“Just land your crappy little plane and let me walk away. We’ll all get to live to see Christmas. Though I don’t think you’ll be getting anything from Santa, so you can keep the jewelry,” I lie. I’ll be getting my wedding ring back. I also don’t think either of these dumbasses will ever see another Christmas.
“What’s wrong with the plane?” the thick guy mutters, sounding offended. To be honest, the plane is scarier than they are.
“Shut the fuck up, Bo,” Lark snaps at him, letting his irritation show. The plane grows quiet except for the hum of the engine. From the pressure, I can tell we’re starting to descend. I peek out the window near me and only see endless snow.
We’re in the middle of nowhere. Even if I was able to get away, where would I go? My mind races with thoughts of how I can get myself the hell out of here. The syringe is lying on the small table next to Bo. If I could get it, then maybe I might have a sliver of hope.
Slowly, I toe one of my heels off. It’s the only thing I have to use as a weapon. I slip my hand down, pretending to rub my calf before I strike. I go for the big one. He’s really my only option; he's the closest.
I spring out of my seat, my shoe in my hand.
“The fuck!” he barks when I come flying at him. My heel hits the side of his face. He lets out a scream louder than Bianca when she spots a spider.
Not taking into account that I’m only wearing one shoe, I miss a step as I try to swing at the guy again. I fall, hitting the table before dropping to the floor on my stomach.
“Don’t,” Lark snaps. I lift my head to see Bo pulling back for a punch. “They said no marks. Red Dragoons always follow orders and get paid.”
They are mercenaries. The Red Dragoons used to be a powerful operation, but I see things have changed lately. Inflation, maybe. Or just crappy hiring practices, given the way these guys operate.
“She fucking hit me.” Bo wipes the blood from his cheek.
“And what did you think you were going to do, Sophia?” Lark hasn’t even gotten up from his seat. Bo huffs and puffs over me, his ego not faring well.
“Had to try something.” I push up from the floor.
“Stupid cunt, did you really think you could take me down?” Bo snaps.
“Maybe?” I come to my knees and jam the syringe into his thigh. Bo’s eyes widen in surprise before he falls forward. I try to scurry backwards, but I’m not fast enough. Bo’s giant body lands on mine, knocking all the air out of me right as the plane touches down. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get his giant ass off me.
“Impressive.” Lark looms over me, amusement in his stupid eyes.
“Welcome to the North Pole,” a voice says over the intercom. I’ve gotta be dreaming.
4
NICK
“Finland?” I stare at the map screen where the pilot has marked a small landing strip outside of Oulu. “Why the fuck would they take her to Finland?” I pull out my phone and shoot off a text to Marco, then another to Brendan, the hacker genius who installed all my trackers and got me a location on Sophia before I even boarded the jet.
I leave the cockpit and return to my seat, my mind trying to work through what the fuck these idiots are thinking. To take my wife was the dumbest move they could’ve made, but to try and stash her thousands of miles away from me–I’m going to make them hurt.
My phone buzzes, and I see a message from Brendan.
B: I couldn’t believe when the signal led so close to home.
That’s right. Brendan and his family live in Lapland, the northernmost part of the country. I’d forgotten that fact. I’m one of the very few people who know his true location. He’s wanted in most countries; there are constant bulletins about him from Interpol. But he’s hidden away in Santa’s backyard where no one comes looking. Safer that way.