Chapter Twenty Four
Riley didn’t want to take time in his apartment. Tania was pretty sure he was being way too paranoid. Raymond and his friends just got a big blow; it would take them time to recover from it, to regroup, and to think of a strategy. At least for now, they didn’t have to worry about anything. She lounged in Riley’s living room while he packed a suitcase, all the time muttering things under his breath.
He wasn’t happy. She could tell he was still anxious – not that she blamed him. What they had done was pretty bold and, sooner or later, they would’ve to face the consequences of it, but, for now, she was willing to take it easy and enjoy these moments. Soon, the members of Devil’s Mafia Brotherhood would be behind bars and they wouldn’t have to keep looking over their shoulders.
Riley got out of the room. In his hand was a suitcase. “Let’s go.”
“What’s the hurry?” she winked at him. “We could take a moment to do something naughty.”
“Not in here.”
“No one is going to come after us.”
He sighed and opened the door. Tania’s mouth gaped open. Outside stood Raymond along with three other men. Before they could scream or make a noise, the men strode in and banged close the door. She took out her cellphone but Raymond’s cold voice stopped her.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” he said.
She glanced up and was horrified to see a gun in his hand. Tania put down the phone. She might be able to call 911, but Riley would probably have to pay for that with his life. Raymond was pointing the gun at him.
“Don’t be crazy, Raymond. The papers are already with the police. If anything happens to either one of us, they’re going to climb all over you.”
Raymond grinned. “You’re the one who should’ve thought about it before you barged into my house and made a fool out of me. Did you think I would’ve let go of that insult so easily?”
Tania realized they underestimated the man’s foolish streak. He wasn’t acting wisely right now. They’d assumed he would take the best course of action, but he was pissed because they made him look like an idiot. Anger wasn’t good for decision-making. His decision to come here after them was rash and stupid, and it would probably cost him later, but, for now, they were the ones in danger. If she didn’t do something, he might kill Riley and then would come her turn.
For the first time, she regretted getting involved in this mess. Riley was right; she should’ve run away and forced him to come with her. Instead she goaded him into carrying out the plan and it landed them in this trouble. What could she do?
There was no way she could run. Even if she managed to barricade herself in the room, Riley wouldn’t find it that easy to get away with all the men surrounding him. And she was pretty sure that if she made any such attempt, he would aid her and sacrifice himself. She wasn’t ready to lose him to these morons. Her mind worked quickly, but she couldn’t think of a plan. There were too many opponents and Riley and she didn’t stand a chance. Maybe it was a good idea to talk. If they could convince him that hurting would them be counterproductive, he might stop. It was their only hope.
She drew herself to her full height. It was important to let them see she wasn’t scared. “The police have a case against you, as does the insurance agency. Don’t add to it by adding assault and injury.”
Raymond’s grin was so ferocious that she actually felt the urge to take a step backwards. The man was far more evil than she’d given him credit for, and he was smart. Tania suddenly wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear his plan, whatever it was. A resourceful man like him didn’t make such a bold move until he was sure of winning. Perhaps they should’ve been more cautious.
“The case against us hinges on your testimony and those papers. Since I can’t do much about the evidence you’ve already given to the police, my only chance of survival is to make sure I reduce your credibility.” Tania kept quiet as she listened to him. He had something up his sleeve, and she couldn’t figure out what it was. “Imagine if you two were to disappear. We could claim the papers were fake, that it was actually you who hatched this plan because you both were at loggerheads over the warehouse. This could go away.”
“No,” she whispered.
He didn’t have violence on his mind. His thoughts had veered to murder, and there wasn’t much Tania or Riley could do to stop him. “Yes,” said Raymond with a nasty laugh. “I didn’t want to give you time to vanish into some hole. Quick action has always served me well, and it paid dividends now, as well. You’re both fools to have thought you bested me. I invented this game and you’re still learning.”
“I won’t allow you to harm a hair on her head,” growled Riley. His shoulders bunched under his shirt. It looked as if he was about to spring on the men, but Tania prayed he would act with caution. Raymond wouldn’t have shown up here if he weren’t a hundred percent confident he could get away with such a crime.
Raymond’s grip on the gun was steady. “Don’t be stupid, Riley. I can make this easy or I can make it hard. Don’t fight me, and I won’t feel the need to torture your girlfriend. Or else I can drag her away from this place and play with her before I dispose of her body.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Riley growled.
“I would dare,” said Raymond. “You’ve brought this on yourself, and if there is anyone to blame, it’s you. Couldn’t you just leave it alone? All you had to do was get out of town and ignore what happened to the warehouse, but no…you both acted too smart for your own good. Well, never mind that; the time for such theatrics has come to an end. Say goodbye to your lady, Riley, because your time’s done.”
“No, Riley,” said Tania as she saw him lurch forward a little. Raymond would shoot. She knew it. Hearing her voice, he turned to glance at her. “One last kiss,” she said.
Raymond laughed. “Listen to her, Riley. She seems more sensible. I’ll end it quickly; I promise. One bullet straight through your head and then hers, and it will be finished. You’ll be free from the pain this world has caused you and the Devil’s Mafia Brotherhood has inflicted on you.”
Riley’s gaze was still fixed on Tania. Something passed between them, a strange understanding, and then he marched towards her. He neared her and his hands settled on her waist. He drew her closer and she allowed him to pull her into his embrace.
“I shouldn’t have convinced you to go after them,” she muttered as she lifted her chin.
His lips were soft on hers, and his mouth hot. For a moment, she felt his lips brush over hers and then he lifted her and literally threw her inside the bedroom. With a loud cry, he leapt after her as she stumbled inside and then groped for the door. He made it inside before the gun popped. Raymond must’ve been using a silencer because the shots that rang out weren’t loud. Tania’s attention was focused on the door. The second Riley cleared it, she banged it shut and clicked the lock. The door was flimsy, and it wouldn’t hold for long.
Sure, they bought themselves some time but it wouldn’t last. They needed another plan. Her gaze was riveted to Riley’s arm, blood dripping down. He was shot. “Shit! Are you…what the hell?”
He waved a hand as she ran towards him. A body slammed hard against the door and she heard the wood pop. A couple more good knocks and the door would fall. “Call the police,” he yelled.
Phone? Phone? Where was hers? Shit! She must’ve dropped it outside. She glanced around and her gaze settled on his pocket from which he was trying to take his. She put her hand inside and dug it out. Someone slammed against the door again.
“Stand back,” Raymond ordered his men. “I’ll shoot through the lock.”
Tania dialed the number. “Hello,” she told the 911 operator, “We’re under attack. The man has a gun. Please come quickly.”
Riley moved to the dresser and tried to push it against the door but it was too heavy and he couldn’t use his full force, his arm heavy with pain. Tania quickly gave the address and shut the phone. She moved away from the door just in ti
me as a bullet whizzed through a hole next to the lock. It was sheer luck that it didn’t hit.
“What are we going to do?” she screamed.
Riley’s gaze settled on the window. “The fire escape,” he said.
Someone slammed into the door again and a hinge broke. The door was going to collapse and Raymond would shoot them again. Tania rushed to the window and struggled to open it. Riley joined her. They managed to push up the glass until there was enough space for them to get out. A body threw itself against the door again, and it groaned and cracked. The next hit would do it. There was no time left.
Riley pushed her through and followed. Blood now coated his shirt and he couldn’t move his arm, but she helped him down. There was a loud crash in the room, and Tania picked up pace. It was a good thing that Riley’s apartment was on the second floor because by the time the first goon careened to the window and looked out, they were already on the ground. They ran. Someone screamed seeing the blood on Riley’s shirt, but Tania didn’t wait to give any explanation.
Raymond had gone mad. He didn’t care what he did. All he wanted was to kill them so he could escape. Ironically, their death would probably engulf him more into this mayhem, but he didn’t see it that way. They ran to his car and she took the driving seat.
“Where?”
“To the police station,” said Riley.
She drove out quickly. Tania checked the rearview mirror but the bastards weren’t behind them yet. Good. They had the lead. Maybe this was over for now. “Let’s get this wound treated first,” she said.
“No. There isn’t any time. We need to report this, and maybe even demand police protection,” he said. When the car came to a stop in the parking lot, he marched along as they went inside.
Seeing all the blood on his clothes and the pale color on his face, she felt devastated, but there wasn’t much that she could do. The cops surrounded them as soon as someone detected Riley’s condition. Luckily for Riley, the cops were trained in first aid and while they gave their statement, someone tended to his wounds.
“You’ll have to show this to the doctors,” said the cop who tore off Riley’s shirt to check and clean the wounds. “The good news is that the bullet didn’t hit the bone. The bad news is that it’s inside, and you’ll need professional help to remove it.”
Tania thought she would faint. How could Riley take it all in a stride? They gave their statements and were led to the hospital by the police while the detective in charge of the case went to Riley’s apartment to check things out. She doubted Raymond was still there to talk to the police. The man was insane, but he wasn’t stupid. He must’ve fled with his goons a long time ago when he realized he couldn’t achieve his goals. Would he try again?
One good thing that happened was they had police protection now. A detective was assigned to watch them, and that meant Raymond would have to be ten times more careful to try something. At the hospital, she sat beside Riley after he was stitched up.
“It would be better if you stayed the night.” said the doctor who’d tended to him. “We’ll keep you under observation.”
“My arm was hurt, not my head. I would like to go.”
“You can stay here for one night,” Tania tried when the doctor gave her a pleading look.
“No way.” He got off the bed. “Look, I’m fine. There isn’t any need to worry. I don’t want you to stay at the hospital with me, and I definitely don’t want you to stay alone in the house so we’re both leaving.”
“But…”
“No buts.”
She raised her eyebrow at his curt tone. Since he was the one who was hurt, she didn’t mind cutting him some slack. “Fine.”
Tania completed all the paperwork and took an early discharge from the hospital. They left together and were followed by the police to Tania’s house. “One patrol car will be outside at all hours,” said the detective.
Tania was glad they were being taken seriously. Hopefully Raymond wouldn’t try anything stupid now. He wouldn’t even find it that easy to get to them. All they needed to do was stay inside, remain safe, and keep a low profile until he went to jail. It was going to take a long time to achieve that, but patience was a good virtue, and it was time to practice it.
Chapter Twenty Five
Riley felt terrible. Perhaps getting shot at did that to a guy, but he was plagued with guilt and remorse. He shouldn’t have dragged Tania into this mess. He should’ve been more cautious from the first day. If only he’d paid more attention, he might’ve realized these guys were up to no good. Not all the members in Devil’s Mafia Brotherhood were bad, but they would all have to pay the heavy price. Each one of them would be dragged to the police station. He hoped those who were innocent would escape unscathed, but the aftermath of such an investigation was bound to be painful for everyone associated.
A week passed in relative quiet. Jason came to visit them and, much to their surprise, he’d already written a first draft of the screenplay and wanted to show it to them. “It’s not perfect, far from it, but I have the basics down. And now, I’m going to hire a screenwriter and ask him to work his magic and turn this good story into a great, riveting one.”
“Great isn’t a word I would use for it,” Tania said as she got him a cup of coffee. “Scary. Dangerous. Crazy. Those are the words that spring to my mind.”
“That’s because you can’t see what I can see.”
“What is that?” Riley asked, picking up his cup. Although he felt a slight twinge of pain every time he lifted something, his arm was much better than before. “What do you see?”
“I see a blockbuster, my friend and since this is your story, I’ve decided to do things the official way.” Jason took out some papers from his briefcase and plopped them on the table. “These are the contracts for both of you.”
Tania wrinkled a brow as she took a seat. “Contracts?”
“Yes. In exchange for your story exclusively to me, I’d like to pay you guys a handsome amount.”
“We don’t need money,” said Tania.
“Hush, sweetheart,” said Riley as he picked up the contract and began to read it. His eyes popped when he saw the amount. Jason was damn serious about this. “I would take the money.”
“Spoken like a true businessman,” said Jason in a dry voice. “So here’s the deal. You can’t sell this story to anyone else. If the movie doesn’t get made, the rights of it are reverted back to you within two years. I’ll pay you half now and half once the movie is ready to be released. If there’s no movie, you don’t get the second half. How does that sound?”
Riley wasn’t one to throw away money that crawled to him. He signed on the paper and then pushed the pen towards Tania. “I say yes.”
Tania stared into his eyes. She turned to Jason who nodded. Picking up the pen, she nodded. “Fine.”
“Great. So that’s all in order. We should go out and celebrate.”
“We haven’t been out in a week,” Tania told him. “Raymond still hasn’t been discovered, and until he’s no longer on the loose, we’re in danger. The police have told us to stay put, so that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
“I bet you’re both ready to pull out your hair. Damn that man.” Jason stood. “Okay, then. We’ll celebrate once you guys are free to do so.”
After he left, Riley picked up the contracts and put them in a file. “I’ve got an idea.”
Tania cleared the table. “What?”
“There’s enough money in this for us to start our own real estate agency. What do you think?”
She halted and then glanced at him. Her expression was incredulous, surprised. “You mean…we should go into business together?”
He watched her face, not sure what she was thinking. As far as Riley was concerned, they were in for the long haul. He couldn’t imagine a life without Tania. She was the real reason why he lived. But doing this would entwine their business with their personal lives. Was she willing to do it?
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��That’s the plan,” he said.
She ran a hand through her hair. “I got a call from Martha offering me the job, but I think you’re right. It’s time we hit out on our own, and this money would give us enough to start the business. And we’re damn good together.”
Happiness exploded in his gut. He raised his hand towards her. “Better than the best. You and me together, sweetheart! We’ll set his town on fire.”
She put her hand in his and he drew her forward. Her breasts pushed against his chest as she stood toe to toe with him. This felt right. It was perfect. “You bet we will.”
His lips claimed hers. The kiss was slow, gentle. The desire that skidded over his skin was hot and needy. He wanted her. Riley had thought that as time elapsed, perhaps his passion for her would simmer down, but it seemed to gain in momentum. He wanted her more now than ever before. Her hands traveled up his chest and settled on his shoulders as she pushed her tongue deep inside his mouth.
This Savage Love: A Bad Boy Romance Boxed Set Page 115
