Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 321

The call connected. Julius was already on his way, being driven by a bodyguard.

"Larry?"

"Julius, your grandmother and your wife are in my hands now."

Julius tapped the record button on his phone. "Wade, just tell me what you want. Don't hurt them."

"What do I want? This is all your fault! You actually dared to put out a nationwide warrant for my arrest. Now, you're going to do exactly as I say, or else I'm taking your grandmother and your wife's lives."

"Don't touch them. Name your price, and I'll do it." What the hell was he paying all those bodyguards for if they couldn't even protect his family?

Wade laid out his demands. "Get me a million in cash, a new ID, and an offshore bank account with a billion in it.

Have a helicopter brought to the house. You have half an hour to get all of this ready. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what will happen to your grandmother and your wife."

He had thought it through. A million in cash was just the right amount to carry; any more and it would weigh him down. With the offshore account, he could start a new life abroad.

"Fine. As long as you guarantee their safety, I will meet your demands. But if you hurt them, you'll get absolutely nothing, and I will make you pay."

Wade sneered, his voice filled with hatred. "You have exactly half an hour. If you don't have everything I asked for by then,

I'll start with your wife. She's so beautiful, no wonder you kept her hidden. How about I carve up her pretty face right in front of you?"

"Wade, I'll get you what you want. I'm having my people prepare it right now. Don't do anything reckless."

Julius gripped his phone so tightly it nearly shattered in his hand.

After hanging up, Wade acted like he owned the place, bossing the maids around to wash fruit and pour him tea.

Wade barked another order. "You two, get up. I'm going outside to see for myself." If the items had arrived, he wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Pressing the dagger against Stella's neck, Wade snapped, "Get up! You too, old lady!"

Stella was much more agile than the older woman, and Wade was paranoid she might try something.

Holding the two women hostage, he yelled at Julius, "Take all these bodyguards and back the hell up! Don't come any closer, or I'm slicing a new smile onto your wife's gorgeous face."

"Okay, just calm down. I'll tell them to stay back." Julius raised his hands defensively, then ordered the bodyguards, "All of you, fall back outside."

The bodyguards retreated, and Julius followed them out.

Wade dragged Nadine and Stella out onto the lawn, only to see the entire area swarming with police.