Chapter 121: Secluded Road

His voice was rough, deep and raspy enough to match the rest of him. He was enormous.

"What the—"

"You move over conscious or unconscious." The man leaned slightly closer. "What will it be?"

Richard did not need to think about that. There were moments in life to stand your ground. This was not one of them.

No way in hell was he arguing with a human mountain.

Richard scrambled across the front seat, awkwardly climbing over the steering wheel and gear console until he reached the passenger side.

The man got in behind him. He had to adjust the seat almost all the way back just to fit comfortably. He unlocked the rear doors.

Another man climbed into the back seat. He wasn’t as bulky as the first, but Richard immediately knew he was dangerous.

It was from the complete lack of expression.

Richard’s pulse started racing. "What is going on?" he demanded. "What do you want?"

The bigger man looked ahead. "Be quiet. We’re just going for a drive."

"To where?"

"I said be quiet!"

The bark of the command made Richard shut his mouth instantly.

The big man adjusted the mirrors.

Richard watched him do it with a mixture of terror and insult.

The bastard was setting up his car like he owned it.

His mind began racing through every possible explanation.

Until it landed on the most likely one. Victor Sterling. Was Victor finally tired of being held hostage?

Had the old bastard decided it was easier to remove Richard entirely than continue playing along?

If so, Victor had made a serious mistake.

Richard had fail-safes. His fail safes, had fail safes.

If Victor thought killing him would bury everything, then the man had no idea what Richard had prepared in case something happened to him.

Big man started the engine and drove off with Richard saying his last prayers.

About thirty minutes later, they turned off the main road and drove toward a long stretch of land.

There was nothing around them.

Just open land, scattered trees.

Big man stopped the car.

Richard was pulled out.

"Move."

Richard stumbled forward. He looked around quickly, taking in the empty stretch ahead of them, and immediately decided this would be an excellent place to die.

No one would find his body for days. Possibly longer, depending on how committed these people were to the whole disposal process. That was assuming they even bothered to bury him.

"Keep moving," Felix ordered behind him.

Up ahead, he finally noticed a figure standing alone.

Hands tucked into his pockets as he stared out at nothing.

Richard narrowed his eyes.

Something about the silhouette felt familiar.

The closer they got, the more familiar it became.

By the time they came to a stop, the only sound around them was the breeze moving across the open land.

Then the man spoke.

"I have always trusted my instincts." Dorian still had his back to him. "I suspected something," he continued calmly, "but I let it go because, deep down, I wanted you to approve of me." He finally turned around.

"Heathcliffe!" Richard snapped. His fear disappeared beneath outrage. "What is the meaning of this?!"

Offense.

Always play offense.

Make the other person explain themselves first.

Never answer anything until you understood exactly what they knew.

"I’m told you like to use your fists."

"What are you talking about?"

Dorian’s brows lifted slightly. "You are an excellent liar."

There was genuine admiration in his voice.

Dorian stepped closer, studying him. "There’s nothing in your face to even suggest duplicity."

Richard forced himself not to react. "Heathcliffe, I am sure a man of your profession understands the consequences of your actions right here." His eyes flicked toward Felix and the second man before returning to him. "I can have you arrested."

"It’s your word against mine." Dorian slipped one hand from his pocket. "Besides, I could have decided to sue you for hitting my wife. But..." he tilted his head slightly. "I realized naaah... It’s not enough." Dorian stared at him with cold, unwavering disgust. "You are not just a woman-beating scumbag. You try to fuck your wife’s niece you disgusting fuck!"

"Is that what she told you?" Richard demanded, outrage arriving right on schedule. "I can’t believe this. I cannot believe this is the thanks I get for taking care of her all these years. I raised that girl!" Richard continued, spreading his hands as though he were the injured party standing in the middle of nowhere. "Now she turns around and bites the finger that fed her."

"I’d be satisfied if she did that quite literally. Maybe then we wouldn’t be having this conversation." Dorian took his hands out of his pockets and glanced briefly toward Felix before returning his attention to Richard.

"So here’s what is going to happen."

"I’m not doing anything you—"

"You are a man of your fists, no?" Dorian interrupted calmly. "Apparently you enjoy solving problems with them when the person standing in front of you happens to be a woman. So I’m going to give you a choice. And I beg you to choose wisely. You’re either going to fight me, a man who can actually defend himself against you..." Dorian gestured toward Felix. "Or I walk away and let Felix here do the honors."

Richard looked at Felix.

Felix looked back.

That was all.

Big man simply stood there.

"You have gone insane!" Richard yelled.

Dorian was in his face in one second.

Richard had to step backward.

Dorian’s eyes had gone cold. "You put your hands on my wife. I have every mind to stand here and watch these men chop them off one by one, so yes." His voice dropped so low, with a rich baritone that made him sound crazy. "I am insane."

Richard’s face drained. "You can’t threaten me like this. Heathcliffe—"

"Ten seconds. You’ve got ten seconds to make a choice." Dorian stepped backward again. "You fight me, or it’s you and Felix."