The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

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CENRIC

“Are you fucking insane?” Beck bellowed. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I just told you he became distrustful and paranoid since you hired Devin. He thought you were one of the moles in his organization. And here you are planning on meeting that son of a bitch!”

“He’d be more suspicious if I won’t meet him. And I know I can depend on you, and you’ll watch my six, right?”

His nose flared as his face flushed in anger. “Since when I didn’t, asshole? You’re such a pain in my fucking ass.”

“Then that sounds like a plan.”

“Damn it, Cenric. I have already lost two of my brothers. Don’t fucking make it three. Is it really worth it?”

I looked at him right into his dark eyes. “I’m not doing this for what happened to Doctor Yelena or for her. I need to end this. I’m doing this for our brothers and myself. And I know I can do something right so that they didn’t die in vain, and we are going to help save many lives. You know that.”

“And you’ll die in the end, instead. That’s so fucking unfair, don’t you think?”

“I hope it won’t come to that. But if something goes—”

He stopped me, glaring further. “Don’t fucking go there! Ever.”

“I’m just saying.” I shrugged. “If something goes south, you take my wife away from here.”

“I know what to do. You’ve briefed me a thousand times,” he spat out.

“I’ve already infiltrated this org., bro. I can’t back out now. I’m in too deep, and you know it only ruins my name, my company’s rep, and they will hunt you all down one by one to get into me.”

“Then you should have thought about this a fucking billion times! Just wait until what your brother would say about this.”

“I’ll handle Cas.” I checked my watch. It was about time. I rose from my chair. Still, Beck wasn’t impressed.

“You know when someone is invited to some remote locations, you shouldn’t go, right?”

“When it’s my time, no one can cheat it.”

“Fuck you.”

Twenty minutes later, Beck and I arrived at the address in a rocky seaside. I watched the current flash over the shore, and the weather was good. Seagulls flew above. But Beck was right on one thing. It was odd to meet here unless you wanted to hide something.

I knew I could also rely on him. I bet Maia that he already reached out to his contacts. Plus, Linden was a good sniper.

Just right on time, one black Mercedes and SVU arrived after us. Beck got out of the driver’s seat, opening a door for me.

“One last chance.”

“If this goes south, save yourself.” I got out of the car, buttoning my suit. My heart started beating fast. My senses heightened. I thought of Sadie to calm my nerves because it was not every day you know you could die at that moment.

“Fuck you.”

“I love you, bro.” At least seven tall men who I knew already, except for one, but I was already wired before I came over.

“How are you, Jasper?” I shook his hand even just for formality. Let’s be honest here—I fucking hated this guy.

“How’s my sister doing?”

“Funny you asked.” I literally growled at him.

“Hanslo,” I acknowledged him because he loved the attention, and of course, he loved my money and connections.

“Walk with me, son.” He showed me the way.

“How’re you doing these days?” I asked politely, even if I was murdering him in my mind. He was a fucking manipulator and literally killed for a living—he smuggled guns, trafficked humans, and sold his daughter to me, and he also had a secret lab of illicit drugs. And Sadie didn’t know all about these.

“Good. Good.” He studied me. “How’s my daughter? Are you treating her right?”

“Sadie? How could I hurt your daughter? You can ask her personally. I’m planning a dinner for us.”

“I apologize I had to decline your invitation to your party.”

“It’s all good, Hans.” I shoved my hands in my pockets as we reached the end of the small cliffed coast. “Why are we meeting here? What’s wrong in the cigar house?”

“Someone infiltrated my business,” he started. Of course, he knew by now.

“How come I didn’t know about this?”

“You tell me.” He didn’t look at me. He should be paranoid, considering his line of business, and I might be his number one suspect.

“And you think I did?”

“For over twenty years, no one had betrayed me. When you came to me almost three years ago, I treated you like my own son.”

“Ahh, Hans. Here we go. Because I am the new guy here, I don’t know how to keep my mouth shut. You can ask your own daughter if I ever told her shit about this business or my involvement. She had no idea because I value people’s trust more than money. Now that I am your son-in-law, do you think I would let you down?”

“Someone stole my latest cargo that worth millions. By who? I have no idea. No one knows about that, just Jasper and me.”

“Well, I don’t know either. I am sure Jasper would never betray you. Maybe it was just a coincidence that it was stolen. It had nothing to do with someone, or one in your organization was a traitor. Or something else happened. There are a lot of possibilities you should consider. Not most lucks are on our side.”

“I can feel it. Someone is playing with me. And I have evidence that it was you.” He just took his pistol from his back that I already knew was there and pointed at me.

“Really? I’m a billionaire, Hans. Do you think you’ll find out if it was me? Do you think I don’t know how to cover my tracks if I am the one who betrayed you? How much does that cost? How much does my head cost?” I remained calm, even if my heart could burst out from my chest any moment now. I still didn’t cue my team. Even if I did, I would still take the bullet.

“I know you have motives, Cenric. You are a billionaire. Why take an interest in my business?”

I looked at his men. They were on high alert. “You want an honest answer? I saw your daughter outside the campus while waiting for an IT student I wanted to hire as an intern. My curiosity over your daughter led me to you. But I never told her about this because I shouldn’t have used my money to get into her. It was wrong. You know my intention over Sadie, Hans.”

He seemed to be convinced, but he was a cold-blooded killer. He could still pull the trigger even if my reasons were convincing.

“You still owe me twenty-five million dollars minus its interest. If you don’t wanna pull the trigger, put that gun down.”

He didn’t take it lightly when someone ordered him. I knew the kind of man he was, but surprisingly he did it. “I didn’t doubt your loyalty to me for once, Cenric.”

“Why test me then?”

“Just proving myself I still have your back.”

“You become more paranoid as you grow old, Hanslo. And it’s not good for business. Why not hire someone you can trust and retire. It’s time for you to lie low somewhere away from danger. I can make an arrangement for you. Seychelles is good. The Maldives as well.” I pinched my nose. That was my cue.

“I’m not retiring soon.”

“You don’t trust your own blood?” I pretended to look surprised.

“Hard to when he had this dark and rage in him.” Didn’t he get it from you? Fucking psychopath. I wanted to roll my eyes at his absurdity.

“I can’t say you’re wrong. And I want Jasper to stop harassing my wife, or he and I wouldn’t end well.”

He slapped my shoulder. “I’ll have a word with him.”

“Thanks.” I slapped his back and picked up a strand of his gray hair on his shoulder.

***

I threw myself on the sofa as soon as I got in the penthouse. Alive. Thank God.

My wife came from behind, gripping the tense muscles on my shoulders. “Making money made this tense?”

“And among other things. But you’re the best of my day.” I pressed a kiss on her lips. My heart just beat so fast for her. And I lost control of my feelings entirely.

I’m in love with Sadie.