When My Ex's Worst Enemy Became My Sanctuary novel Chapter 367

The basement was dark and heavy with tension. Walton’s patience was slipping fast.

“I told you to grab the woman. Why’d you bring him instead?”

“I showed you her picture,” Walton snapped, his frustration boiling over. “I wanted the woman. I wanted Dorothea!”

The tall, wiry guy just glared, sulking in the shadows. “She never even got in the car. What was I supposed to do? Doesn’t matter who I snatched. As long as we get someone, it’s the same, right?”

Walton paused. Honestly, he had a point.

If Dorothea had been the one tied up in the next room, he’d be staring down Latham as an enemy. There’d be no guarantee he’d see a cent. And if the deal went south, it’d be his neck on the line.

He shoved a stack of cash at the guy. “Here. We’re done.”

But the guy wasn’t finished. Greed sparkled in his eyes. “Not enough. I did my homework. That man you’ve got is the boss at The Stephens Group. You’re offering me a lousy hundred grand for this?”

Walton didn’t expect him to get so bold. “Oh? How much do you think you deserve?”

The answer came without even a blush. “A million. That’s fair, right?”

Walton smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “Fair? Not at all.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife, then drove it into the man’s chest, quick and merciless. “Too bad you won’t live long enough to spend it.”

“Try picking on someone else in your next life,” he muttered.

The guy’s eyes went impossibly wide as he hit the floor, blood trickling from the side of his mouth. Maybe he never expected it to end so suddenly, not like this.

Walton stuffed the body in a sack and dragged it into another room. He wiped his hands, then went to check on the other hostage. Latham was still out cold. Just to be sure, Walton added a few more shackles, making it impossible for him to get away. That finally settled his nerves.

He’d already killed once tonight. Might as well tie up all the loose ends. If nobody made it out, there’d be nobody left to hunt him down.

All at once, he was ready for more blood.

***

It hit her then—Latham’s phone was still with her. Of course he hadn’t texted.

Was he still missing?

Her nerves started to buzz. She grabbed a sweater and hurried into the hall, stopping by the maid who was sweeping up.

“Is Latham back yet?” she asked, her anxiety spiking.

The maid shook her head.

Dorothea’s worry took over. She scrolled for Raye’s contact and hit the voice call button. He answered almost immediately.

“Dorothea? It’s late. Is everything alright?”

She skipped the small talk. “Raye, we went to Pearson’s wedding today. I hung back when we left, and Latham went ahead to wait outside. By the time I got there, he was gone. Did you see him at the office today?”