Chapter b122 /b

bChapter /bb122 /b

JULIAN’S POV

We pulled up in front of my ce just as the sky began to turn a darker shade of orange. The ride had been tense, silent, and filled with Emma’s bconstant /bbres /bat me from the corner of her eye. I didn’t care much. I had a job to do, and no matter how ufortable it made her, I was going to bsee /bbit /bbthrough/bb. /b

I got out of the SUV first, then walked around and opened the door on her side. She hesitated, probably weighing her chances of making a run for it. I wasn’t taking any risks. I grabbed her by the arm–not too rough, but firm enough to let her know she wasn’t going anywhere.

b“/bbI /bsee,” she said as her eyes scanned the house from the outside, her toneced with disgust. “So you’re also part of them.”

I frowned. “What are you on about this time?”

She snorted, eyes narrowing. “You’re one of those rich sons of bitches who think they can do whatever they want just because they’ve got a fat bank ount. You think money buys everything–including people.”

I didn’t answer her. It wasn’t worth arguing. If that’s what she wanted to believe, fine. I had bigger things to worry about. Besides, provoking her would only waste more time.

I tugged her gently but firmly toward the house. The front lights were off. Good. My mom was probably already asleep upstairs–one less thing to deal with. I didn’t want her catching me dragging someone into the basement like I was part of a damn cartel.

Wait… I paused mid–step. Was this technically kidnapping? I wasn’t asking bfor /bransom. I wasn’t nning to hurt her–just get some answers. Once bwe /bhad what we needed, we’d let her go. Right? Yeah. That’s what we’d always agreed on. Olivia would be the one handling the talking anyway. She bhad /bba /bway of digging into people’s heads.

Still… I couldn’t shake the unsettling thought.

We moved down the hallway quietly, passing the room where the other two were still being kept. Emma’s gaze naturally drifted toward it. I stopped deliberately, just so she’d see it. She needed to understand this was real–this wasn’t ba /bgame.

“You thought I was bluffing?” I asked, watching her reaction closely. “So much for ‘I’ve never seen them in my life.””

Her face twitched. Anger? Guilt? Maybe even fear. I didn’t wait to find out. I gave her a gentle shove forward and resumed walking.

There was no way I was keeping her in the same room as the other two. That would be a mistake. If they startedparing stories, they’d figure out we used the same tactic on them. And once that happened, convincing her would be almost impossible.

I opened the door to the room right next to theirs. It was in–just four walls, a small windowb, /band ba /bsingle lightbulb overhead. No bed, nofort. It was temporary. It had to feel temporary.

She looked around in disbelief. “No bed?b” /b

5

I smirked. “Do you n on staying here forever?”

She shot me a re, one of those smug little looks meant to get under your skin. I didn’t bite. Instead, I turned around and pulled the door closed b me, locking it with a quiet clickb. /b

“I’ll deal with you in a second,” I muttered under my breath bas /bI headed back upstairs.

Ron and his guys were still outside, and I figured I owed them a word of thanks. Even though I was paying them for their bservices/bb, /bwhat bthey /bdid tonight went beyond the usual contract. When we first nned this out, I never imagined things would escte to the point of anyone getting hurt. That bkind /bbof /brisk wasn’t in the agreement they signed–but they showed up anyway and saw it through to the end.

That meant something.

I stepped out into the crisp evening air. Ron stood casually against one of my carsb, /bba /bcigarette hanging loosely from the corner bof /bhis bmouth/bb. /bbI /bbnoticed /bbhe /b

?

Chapter b122 /b

bwasn’t /bbsmoking /bit inside the house like he used to when we first started working together. At least he finally respected my b“/bno smoking in the bhouse/b. ruleb. /bbProgress/b.

“How are the brest /bbof /bthe bguys/bb?/bb” /bI askedb, /bapproaching him.

Ron exhaled slowly before answering. “They’re alright. Just a few scrapes, nothing serious. One of them took a small cut on the arm, bbut /bnothing we bhaven’t /bbdealt /bwith beforeb:/bb” /b

“My maids bare /bgathering your gear. They’ll bring it out in a bit,” I said, ncing toward the house. “Figured you guys wouldn’t bwant to /bleave bwithout /bbyour /btoys.b” /b

b“/bThe same gear you’s

u said there was no point bringing?b” /bhe asked with a smirk, raising a brow.

I chuckled, knowing I’d walked into that bone/bb. /b“Yeah, yeah. Fine, I was wrong, and I’m sorry. You happy?”

He flicked the ash off the tip of his cigarette. “And?”

I rolled my eyes, sighing. “And if lever need you guys again, you’re free to bring whatever damn gear you want. Noints from me.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear,” he said, satisfied, his smirk deepening.

I extended my hand to him, genuine appreciation behind the gesture. b“/bThanks for the assist. I mean it. I don’t think I would’ve been able to bring any of these people in if it weren’t for you and your guys.”

Ron sped my hand firmly. “Anytime, Julian. Just getting business done.”

I nodded. “Speaking of business–my ount officer will transfer the remaining bnce to your ount first thing Monday morning. Everything as

agreed.”

“Perfecti,/i” he said. “Then I guess this is where our contract ends. Been good doing business with you.”

I gave him a respectful nod. “Once the gear’s with you, you’re all set to go. I need to head back inside, but I appreciate everything you’ve done.”

As I turned to leave, Ron called out with a smirk, “?end my regards to Olivia.”

I didn’t bother turning around. “That’s not gonna happen,” I called back, shaking my head as I made my way to the door.

He was joking—but even so, it stirred something in me.

Maybe it was my protective instinct kicking in as Olivia’s brother, But it was more than that. I wanted the best for her. She’d been through btoo /bmuch already. Ron was a great guy in his own way–loyal,petent, dependable when it came to operations like this–but his line of work, his past… it wasn’t something Olivia needed right now. She deserved peace, not more chaos.

I stepped back inside, already thinking ahead to what needed to happen next. Emma was secured, but the hard part was still aheadb. /bbGetting /bher bto /bbtalk/b.