The Billionaire’s Pawn

LONDON

I just stopped by to buy coffee for Neke and me. When I got out, someone was waiting for me in my car. My first thought was to pretend I didn’t see him or find an exit so he wouldn’t notice me. But it was too late.

Damn it.

“Signora London.” He looked cute. He smirked-that smirked, though. Terzo was an overconfident son of a bitch. I could have set him up with Neke if I didn’t know what he did for a living. But my question was, how did he find me?

“What do you want, Terzo?” I did my best to act like I wasn’t scared of him, hoping it would last until he was gone.

“Is that how you treat a friend?” He didn’t move, still leaning on my car.

“A friend? Since when?” I stopped a few feet away from him.

“Since days ago. Did you forget that you’re under my protection now?”

“How can I? How did you find me?”

“Where’s Reed?” He knew I was alone. Great. Creepy. “You’re not supposed to be going out alone, Mrs. Cade. Where’s your husband?”

Reed went to see his family, but Terzo didn’t have to know.

“Why do you ask many questions but don’t answer mine?”

“I’m serious, Mrs. Cade.”

“Didn’t we just end the feud between my father and the Conti? So, unless you plan on something horrible, I’m no longer in danger.”

He raised his hands. “I swear I’m not gonna hurt you.”

“Then go away. I need to go.”

“Give me the key. I’ll drive you to where you wanna go.” He even offers his hand.

“No way, Terzo. I’m going alone. I’m capable of driving my own car.”

He sighed in defeat. “I’m just trying to be a gentleman.”

“Why are you here anyway?”

“I’m collecting payments.”

“You mean blood debts?”

“No. Just debts. People borrow money from my father. So I’m tasked to collect the payment.”

“And if they won’t pay?”

“They will.”

“What if they can’t?”

“I will take something valuable from them as collateral.”

“Like their lives, right?”

“No, signora. We only kill people if they want to kill us.”

“Jeez. Please, don’t tell me anymore. My knowledge of your existence will only put me in trouble.” I rounded to the driver’s seat. “I have to go.”

“You really should not drive alone.”

“What keeps me in danger if I continue talking to you.”

“Very well. Take care, Mrs. Cade.”

I watched him through the side mirror. Once I was far enough from him, I sighed in relief.

What was he doing in town? I wanted to call Striker, but I would see him tonight. I was sure his father knew that Terzo was here on business.

I parked the car in front of Neke’s apartment. I stayed there for a while as I had second thoughts about informing Striker that Terzo was in town.

I was slightly bothered by the way Terzo insisted on my safety and the constant call coming from Magnus.

I picked up the coffee and got out of the car. I was about to lock the door when someone just pressed something against my side, startling me.

“Make any movement, and you’re dead,” he hissed. That voice. I knew that voice. Even if he was familiar, he still rattled me.

“O-okay,” I said as waves of fear rushed through me. My heart instantly raced. The image of Striker immediately came to my head. “What do you want, Magnus?”

“I’ve been calling, texting, and even emailing you, but you spammed me. Now just follow what I say, and you won’t get hurt.” He pressed the thing harder against my side. “Give me the key.”

“You’re already pointing. What’s that, a gun? At me, and you expect-”

“Shut up.”

“What do you want?” I raised my free hand after I gave him my keys, the other still with the coffee carrier.

“Once we get to a place, I want you to call your father to bring you two hundred thousand dollars in cash. Then I will let you go.”

Not again. I shut my eyes closed as I nodded. What was wrong with me? Why this had to happen to me? I thought I was cursed because this had happened to me twice now. Being a child of one of the wealthiest men always came with cons.

“I don’t talk to my dad anymore.”

“I don’t care.”

“Why don’t you ask for more? What do you want with only two hundred thousand when you could ask for two million dollars, Magnus?” My knees wobbled. I slowly walked to the front of my car and turned to the passenger’s side.

“It’s none of your business anymore, London. We wouldn’t have been in this situation if you didn’t break up with me and married that asshole.”

“He’s not an asshole,” I still answered him even if I began to shake. One thing that bothered me was why he didn’t ask for millions. I didn’t know he went to this length to ask for money, only in that amount.

“You don’t even know him, and then I found out that you’re already married.”Well, you still have no idea who Striker is, do you? “You could have chosen a rich guy, London. You’ve such terrible taste in men.”

“Considering you’re my ex, for once, you’re right.”

“Shut up. Get in the car.” He pushed me, and I almost tripped on my shoes.

“Fine. You don’t have to push me.” With my heart in my throat, I willingly got into the passenger seat. I slowly put the coffee carrier down on my floorboard with a shaky hand. Then I slipped my hand into my bag to find my phone.

Seconds ticked by, and Magnus still didn’t come to the driver’s seat. I looked for him, then a hard knock on my window frightened me. I jumped in my seat. My heart kept hammering in my chest. I was beyond shock to see Terzo mouthing at me.

“What?” Scared that he might break the window, I rolled it slightly just enough to hear him speak.

“I didn’t mean to scare you. Open your trunk.”

“W-why?” I stuttered.

“Just open it.”

I hastily did as he asked. He hurriedly went to the back of my car. In just a few seconds, he shut the trunk slightly stronger. I had no idea what he stuffed there. Then a realization hit me hard.

“Ohmigod.” Before I could rush out of the car, he was already in the driver’s seat, with my key in his hand.

“Let me go.” I swallowed hard. I was scared even to move, and I didn’t know what to do with my fear anymore.

“Ideally, yes, but not right now.”

“Ideally? W-what did you do to him?”

“Unbelievable. You were already at gunpoint and still concerned about him.” He turned on the ignition and drove my car out of the parking to the main road as if in a hurry.

“I’m not. I just don’t wanna commit a crime. Where are we going?”

“I wanna punish him.”

“Just stop the car and let me go, please? Then you can punish him alone. I can’t be your accomplice, Terzo.”

He stared at me for a moment before focusing on the road. “How many times do I have to tell you that I won’t hurt you? I just saved your pretty ass from that piece of shit. And I’m still finding it hard to believe he’s your ex. I mean, come on, Mrs. Cade. You could have had a better man, tall, handsome, with a great smile, well-connected-”

“Let me guess, like you?” I glared at him.

“Too late, isn’t it? Too bad. Striker Cade seems to care about you and moved mountains to keep you safe. I admire him, to be honest. He and his father are great men.”

I fished out my phone. Before I could call Striker, Terzo snatched my phone from my hand. “What the hell?”

“Call him once we reach the warehouse.” He drove like a maniac. Once we closed the traffic cam, he hid his face. He clearly knew what he was doing.

“Warehouse? Are you gonna kill Magnus? Then once you’re done with him, you’ll kill me next, right?”

“Jesus, woman. Why would I do that? My father will not hesitate to end me if I do something like that to Cade, Vanderford, and Braddson. You are untouchable now, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart. Stop the car and let me go. I don’t think Cade will appreciate what you’re doing.”

“I’m doing you a favor, finding what that piece of shit wants. He’s not dead, by the way. I just knocked him out.”

“If I know, you and Magnus are working together. I’ve often watched this scene when a bad guy betrayed his partner.”

“I don’t know him. I just found out he was a friend of Ivan Millers.”

“Whom you killed.”

“I didn’t. It was Conti.”

“You all are just one big family.”

“Not true. If not because of my father, you could be dead by now.”

“Jeez, thank you very much.” My eyes narrowed, and terrified at the same time.

“That’s the truth.”

We arrived at the warehouse. My nerves were getting the best of me, but maybe, just maybe, Terzo was true to his words that he would not hurt me. Still, sitting next to a criminal who killed people and dealt with illegal stuff was terrifying enough, and I didn’t know how many more laws he broke.

“I can’t watch. I don’t wanna be an accessory to a crime, Terzo.”

“Just follow me. You don’t have to watch.”

I did as he said. Like I had a choice, and I didn’t think someone would hear me even if I screamed right now.

I got out of the car and wrapped my arms around myself. It was a warm afternoon, but I felt like it had just turned dark and chilly around me.

“Call Striker to come to this place.” He took unconscious Magnus from the trunk and carried him like a sack of potatoes as if he wasn’t carrying a man.

The warehouse was big but a little bit old. He unlocked the padlock and kept the door ajar. When the lights turned on, we were surrounded by tons of crates and bundles of boxes. Then he stuffed Magnus into the chair and tied him from behind and on his feet.

“You wanna drink? Some good stuff in the crates.”

I just eyed him with disinterest.

“Those are fine wines, London.”

“I don’t care.” I quickly dialed Striker.

“Baby.” He picked up right away.

“Cade, I need your help.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m with Terzo. He wants you to come to this address.”