Seducing Texas (So not Prince Charming #2)(66)

“You’re finally here,” Lindsey says. “The Chinese want the money you took from them as a ransom.” She shoves the paper at me, tears filling her eyes.

“You mean the money they took from me. It’s gone. I paid the IRS off.” I actually have quite a bit left, but they won’t get that from me.

“But Remy,” she cries. “If you could put it in my account, I could give it to them.”

That doesn’t sound right. “Why would I give it to you?”

Her fingers tiptoe up my chest. What the hell? “I mean then you wouldn’t have to deal with them.”

“That’s not going to happen.” This is starting to sound even more suspicious, so I call Timmons. Before I get the chance to talk to him, the front door bursts open, so I put the phone onto the end table.

It’s Tang, and my heart freezes.

Fuck. Don’t I feel stupid. When I owned my last company, Lindsey had access to my laptop. She’d come over and stay, and I would stay at the sorority house with Niki.

Remy played on my laptop all the time. It wouldn’t have been hard to collect my passwords and account numbers. I would’ve never thought she’d steal from me, though she did try to slit my throat. After she’d cheated on me, I f*cked her and then told her it was payback. I should’ve known it would come back to haunt me.

But I honestly didn’t think she was capable of stealing and setting me up. She has to know the Chinese will kill me. She really is a cold-hearted bitch.

“You should’ve given me the money, and I could’ve spared your life,” Lindsey says, anger lacing her words.

I smirk. “Not hardly, and I doubt they’d let you get far either. I took back a good chunk of the money they stole.” But I don’t want to see her or Remy hurt either way.

Rage boils her face to an ungodly red.

“Where is Remy?” I ask.

“At my mom’s.”

“Let’s go, Shane,” Tang says. He’s not armed and I wonder how he thinks he’ll get me to go with him willingly.

“God, you’re a dumbass,” Lindsey taunts. “The Chinese really only wanted to steal your technology, but I convinced them to take your money. Brilliant, really.”

I don’t pull out my gun because it’s just Tang. “How much did you get, Lindsey?”

She’s grinning. “I did good. 100K.”

I laugh. “I sold my company for 550 million.”

Her jaw drops, and she pushes Tang. He only grins.

“You owe me money,” she screams, pushing Tang. She could easily take him. Hell, I’m going to take him down.

“I’m leaving,” I say. “I expect you to be gone by the time I get back.” I should have her arrested, but then who would take care of her boy. Her mom certainly doesn’t want him. The feds should be on their way, so they’ll arrest Tang.

He takes some sort of Kung Fu stance. I’m at least twice his weight. He circles and kicks at me. He’s like this pathetic little ninja going against my bulk.

The next time his foot jets out I grab it, twist it, and send him to the floor. I then pick him up and throw him against the wall, knocking him unconscious.

“The feds are coming to pick you up,” I say to his crumpled form.

“I should strangle you,” I say to Lindsey. I pick up my phone that’s been running for a couple minutes to let Timmons know where I am.

“Get the f*ck out of my condo, Lindsey,” I say before talking to Timmons. As I put the phone up to my ear, a heavy object slams into my head. I see stars and Lindsey holding onto one of my hockey trophies.

Never turn your back on a vengeful ex.





Chapter Cyn


Shane should know me well enough by now to know I don’t listen. I check the location of his phone, which shows his condo. I arm up with every weapon I can think of including his into the Toyota. I’m frightened for Shane, and my heart is bruised from the beating it’s taken these past few weeks. I can’t lose anymore of my family.

I should’ve told him I’d marry him, and we’d figure it out.

With my handgun jammed in the back of my skirt and under my shirt, I speed across town to his condo. As I ascend the stairs, terror claims my throat, strangling off the oxygen. I knock and the door opens. Stepping inside, I raise my gun.

The unfortunately familiar metallic odor taints the air, and my heart seizes. Don’t let him be dead. I step past the foyer and see Lindsey sprawled on the floor, lying in a pool of blood. I swallow down the ghastly sight and push it to the back of my mind.

Where the hell is Shane?

I search his condo and come up empty, except for his phone, which is lying on the floor. The last call he made was to Timmons, so he should be here at any time.

A dead body and me holding a gun will only delay me. I rush outside and down the stairs. Sirens squeal behind me, so I punch on the gas and round the bend of the complex. Timmons and several cop cars surround the condo. I don’t have time to deal with them. I have to find Shane before they kill him, like they did to Lindsey.

How will I find him? I don’t know who to call or ask. Hopelessness wells up inside me. If he’d taken his phone, I could find him. Damn him.

I call Willa and she says to meet me at our house. I drive there and pace back and forth, trying to figure out what to do next. Crazy fear wells up inside me. I can’t cry. Think. Dammit.