“Okay. Kandy Jennings, correct? Nineteen years old? Your father is Derek Jennings, who happens to be a fucking cop. Your mother is a lawyer. The way I see it, you were born to be a fucking snitch.”
“I—I won’t say anything. I swear!” she cried. “I—I know who you are. I know not to talk.”
He cocked a brow. “You know who I am?” he repeated, then released the cylinder, steadying his hand.
“Draco,” I snarled through clenched teeth, taking another step forward. “Leave. Her. The. Fuck. Alone.”
“Well if you know who I am,” he went on, ignoring me. “Then you know not to do anything stupid, right? Because if you do, then I’ll find out, and I’ll have no choice but to cut your life short, and that would be terrible because I’m sure you have so much to look forward in life.” His head went into a slight tilt, eyes boring into hers. “I know a lot about you, little Kandy Jennings. I know you have a friend named Frankie Martin, right? Yeah, she goes to the University of North Carolina. She’s your best friend. Your mother works at the Hammel Law Firm of Atlanta, and your father is about to be promoted to a sergeant’s position at the Atlanta Police Department.” Kandy’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head, her sobs abruptly stopping. That motherfucker knew everything about her! “Your address is 1716 Peach Tree Lane, and your bedroom is painted sky blue. Yeah,” he sneered. “I know a lot, so if I find out that you, Kandy Alexandra Jennings, ran your fucking mouth or uttered my name to anyone other than the man standing behind you, I know where to find you and everyone you love. Since he claims to love you and has proven his loyalty to me, I’m letting you off with a little warning. You may see me now, but when I’m gone, it’ll be like we’ve never even met, right?”
She bobbed her head, sniffling hard. “Yes, yes. I swear.”
“Good girl.” He lowered the gun. “Now go upstairs. I need to talk to Cane alone.” She turned away from him rapidly. “Oh—and before you go,” he called, and she stopped in her tracks, peering over her shoulder, but not fully. Fuck. She was terrified, and I wanted to rip him to pieces for it. “Give me your phone. You’ll get it back when I’m gone. Wouldn’t want you making any stupid, rash decisions while your heart is racing.” He stuck his hand out, and she wasted no time going to him and dropping the phone into his palm like it was on fire.
“Kandy,” I called as she rushed away from him. Her mouth still trembled as she ran into my arms. I kissed her forehead. “It’s okay. Just go upstairs until I come up. All right?”
She nodded and I lightly pushed her out of the kitchen. I heard her running down the hallway, and when I could no longer hear her footsteps, I faced him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I snapped when I heard a door slam.
“Oh yes, I did. Don’t need her running her mouth.”
“She won’t say anything. I fucking trust her.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t,” he muttered, looking around.
I was getting fed up with him already. He and I could never remain in the same room for long. He got on my nerves just as much as I did his. “Why are you here? If this is about money, you could have called me to wire it.”
“We have that to discuss, among other things.”
“Things like what?”
He frowned. “Like how you’re losing money, not gaining. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
“There was a slight hiccup. Shit went downhill for a while, but business is picking up again.”
“Yeah, it went downhill because you were too caught up in her young pussy to think clearly.”
“Wrong.”
“Right.”
I let out an agitated breath, shaking my head. “I fixed the issue. Your money has still doubled. I didn’t touch those funds.”
“I know you didn’t. You’re too smart to do something that stupid.” He tucked the gun in the holder clipped to his belt and then placed Kandy’s phone down. “I’m a fugitive now, did you know that? Well, I take that back. I’ve been one for a while, but I really feel like one now since I’m no longer safe in my own country. If I show my face to anyone or do anything, I’ll most likely be turned in. My face is on every news channel, billboard, and highlight reel. There are people who want the cash, and can you blame them? Four million to capture me, dead or alive. Pretty fucking steep.”
I looked him over as he swept his eyes all over my kitchen. “I came to tell you that I’ll be in hiding for a few years, might come back out when things cool off, but I’ll be investing all that I have into Tempt until I find another solution. Right now, your company is the cleanest. Hasn’t been targeted or suspected of any foul shit, no red flags, and that’s what I need in order to keep my money safe. I can’t keep it in any international accounts of my own anymore. I need it here, right under their noses, where they’d least expect it.”