“I don’t think you’re in any position to negotiate right now.”
“You owe me,” I say, flexing my fingers a little. “You wouldn’t even have gotten this far if it wasn’t for me. You said that.”
Jax groans and shakes his head in frustration. “Kylie—”
“I love him, Jax,” I blurt out. “If he’s going to go down for saving me, the least you can let me do is say goodbye.”
He studies me, face twisted. There’s no guarantee that Jax can offer immunity to Johnathan after he signs those papers, and he knows it. And we’re running out of time.
“Fine!” he finally yells, looking past me. “Carry her to the van and check her vitals. We’re going against the clock here, so let’s move.”
I wince as they lift me up and do my best to stay still. Every part of me hurts, and I would love nothing more than to lay back and let a bunch of nurses cater to my aching limbs and sandpaper throat. But there are more important things on the line. I wouldn’t put it past Isabella to order Johnathan’s car to crash after he leaves the signing. The thought of losing Johnathan forever scares me more than anything else. Seeing him again alive is what fuels me to move past the pain. The engine revs to life, and I’m laid on the floor of the van. The medical team hovers over me as the van rolls forward.Hold on a little longer, Johnathan. I’m coming.I just only hope we’re not too late.
CHAPTER35
Johnathan
This is it.No turning back now.
I follow Leo and Isabella into a windowless room and the din of the party fades as one of their men closes the door. A table set up in the middle of the floor, and I spot my lawyer and chosen witness stand uncomfortably in the corner. The statement they’re trying to make is clear. I have no power here.
“Sorry for the formalities, son,” Leo says. “It’s a habit of mine to not mix emotions with business. You understand, don’t you?”
“Of course,” I say, mouth dryer than ever.
I take my seat across from Isa and her father, the two of them looking smug as they sign the contract laid out in front of them. Leo hands the pen to his daughter and Isa takes it with her nondominant hand.
“Something wrong with your hand?” I say, eyeing the white muff.
“I’m embarrassed to say I sprained my wrist doing yoga.” She sighs and takes her time signing her name. Whatever she’s hiding might buy me a little more time, but by the look of the guards spread out around the room, I shouldn’t press the issue.
Leo spins the document to face me and holds out a pen. “Your turn, my boy.”
I take the pen, mind racing to come up with anything to stall. “I think I should take the time to read through this since it was recently revised.”
“Now, Johnathan,” Leo starts.
“Oh, let him read it, Daddy,” Isabella sneers. “No harm in double checking that they spelled my name right.”
The more that I read, the sicker I become. Once I sign this paper, my company will be merged with their underground cooperation. Everything down to the dollar will be entangled in Leo’s money laundering and Isabella’s schemes. I want to usher my lawyer over and demand he renegotiate, but the chances of him getting killed to prove a point are high.
My hand won’t stop trembling as I pick up the pen, and I hear Isa chuckle under her breath. She’s enjoying my misery of being backed into this corner. I’m all out of moves, and she’s about to win it all.
“What are you waiting for, Johnathan?” Leo grumbles impatiently.
I take a deep breath and shrug back my shoulders. If it’s to save Kylie, it’s worth it. My pen hovers over the paper as a commotion breaks out in the dining hall.
“What is going on?” Leo gestures for two of his men to scope it out, but the police bust down the door before they have the chance. I duck under the desk as someone fires the first shot, and soon, its total chaos. Bullets rain down on the desk as I do my best to stay out of the fray. I hear Leonardo yell in the distance, and the bullets slowly stop.
“Get his hands!” an officer yells. “You are under arrest.”
I watch in disbelief as the cops pin a large guy like Leonardo Guerra to the ground, cuffing his hands behind his back. Isabella tries to run but has been backed into a corner, her mascara running as they snap the handcuffs in place.
“Johnathan?”
The sound of Kylie’s voice makes my heart soar, and I crawl out of my hiding spot to see her standing in the doorway. Kylie runs into my arms, and I hold her close.
“You’re alive,” I breathe, staring at those dark eyes full of tears.