Page 46 of Cruel Proposal
"Sure." I get more comfortable in the chair, shifting slightly so if he shoots me, he's only going to get the leg that already looks like Swiss cheese.
"What are you doing here?"
I'm not about to tell him that.
"Figured I'd come see how you liked your present, especially since we both know you're not about to destroy your sister's restaurant for my sake." I lean forward, lowering my voice. "Certainly not with all these witnesses around who are going to go running to the cops the moment you pull the trigger."
His smile is cocky. "Benefits of having the city police in your pocket. You wouldn't know anything about that. Heard that sales aren't quite what they used to be."
Fucking bastard.
"Heard you're having the same problem." I get up and stretch. "Well, it's a shame to go before I try any of the food, but I don't trust any of you."
Aiden's jaw clenches, and he gets up, slipping the gun away before anyone has a chance to start screaming. "I want her back tonight. If she's not, you're going to regret it."
Chuckling, I tuck my hands in my pockets. "We'll see about that."
I turn on my heel and stalk out of the restaurant, off to hunt down Summer.
Now, if I were busy being a spoiled brat, where would I hide?
She didn't go home, but she does have a close friend in the city. I've seen them out together a couple of times when I was planning this. If her family still thinks she's with me—and I know she's not—then she's got to be there.
\\\*
I knock on the door, leaning against the frame, listening to the sound of hushed whispers inside. Summer's voice is louder than the other one.
"Don't open that," she snaps. "I have to go out the back."
"Don't bother. Hector's out there and waiting for you," I call through the door. "Your options are either come out and talk to me, or I'm going to kick down this door to come in and get you."
"Fuck you." She slams something against the door.
Sighing, I straighten up. The door isn't thick enough to keep me out, not if I want to get in. It'll be easier if she comes with me, though. Fewer people on the street will be calling the cops.
I knock on the door again. "Last chance, Summer. You get your ass out here or Hector's coming in, and he's going to kill anyone else he finds in that house."
There's silence for a moment before the door opens and Summer stands there, looking like she's ready to rip my head off.
She glares at me, her eyes rimmed red, her face a little puffy.
At least she's not in that damn dress anymore.
"What do you want with me?" she asks, exhaustion in her voice.
I'd almost expect fear or something similar, but not with her. No, she's just tired.
She's bored of the game we keep playing, and it's like she's losing her patience with me. As if she's the one who has a reason to lose her patience.
She's not the one hunting her ass down.
"Go get in the fucking car."
Summer scoffs. "I'm not going to do that just because you tell me to, and there's nothing you can do about it either. You even think about putting a hand on me, and I'm going to start screaming bloody murder."
I don't know why I thought—a very tiny thought in the deepest corners of my mind—that she might make this easy.
A woman appears behind her, gun in hand. "You're going to want to?—"
