Page 50 of The Predator

He wears his dislike of me thickly on his face, his thin mouth twisting into a nasty grin, one I'm sure would send Ely running, and I hate him a little for it. Though he should know, men like him don’t scare me. They make me hungry for revenge, for power, for death.

"It would appear you’ve run into some legal troubles, Mr. Arturo. I'd like to be of assistance, on account of the long-standing relationship our families have with one another."

I clench my hand into a fist in my lap and shake my head. "Legal troubles? I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying. I'm a good, upstanding citizen. Just an all-American good ol’ college football player, and the star running back for Oakmount. Who would have a problem with me?"

His jaw twitches, and his smile slips away. "Your stepmother, Mrs. Arturo, has filed assault charges against you. When she showed up at the station, distraught and beat up, we knew we had to do something. As good officers of the law, my team andI took pictures and recorded everything. Even made sure she saw a medical professional for a rape kit. She named you as her attacker. She says you even caused a miscarriage. Medical records to prove it."

Are you fucking kidding me?I want to scream at him that I didn't touch her, but that's a lie. I didn't fuck her, or let her fuck me, as she would have preferred. But there is no denying I threw her out of my house as brutally as she deserved.

Face like a stone, I stare at him. "Does she have proof of this? I haven't seen my stepmother in some time. Not since she graciously decided to move out of the family estate and into a hotel to make room for my growing family."

Something like disbelief flashes in his eyes. "Family? Are you expecting anyone else besides your...wife?"

I smile. "Oh you know, young love. It’s early in the marriage but we're just a couple of kids, Sheriff. Sometimes we aren't as safe as we should be, and I have a family legacy to consider."

He stiffens, and I know I've gotten under his skin. If Ely is pregnant, he can't take her back, he can't sell her or her body to anyone else. I’ve essentially spoiled the fruit.

"Well, regardless, your stepmother has named you as her attacker and has formally pressed charges. Of course, in view of your potential cooperation, if we could come to an arrangement, maybe I could help."

I shrug, trading in my usual blank stare, for a smile. "Well, she's lying, and I don't have anything I’m interested in giving you. So..." I shove away from the table and stare down at him. "If there isn't anything else to discuss, I'll be going."

Before I repeatedly smash your smug face into the table until you stop breathing.

"Wait one more moment, Mr. Arturo. I don't think you understand how serious this is. There's been a warrant issued for your arrest. I’ve been dragging my feet with paperwork, butthe lady is being insistent you should be arrested. So, if we can't come up with a solution, I'm afraid I'll have to take you to jail and book you.”

I slowly lower myself back into the chair.This fucking asshole.The smile slips off my face, and I let the hate I feel for him enter my eyes. Let him see how much I want to kill him. Brutally. Painfully. Without mercy. I let him see the man he's decided to fuck with, long enough to unsettle him.

Unfortunately, he's a stupid bastard.

"Mr. Arturo, do you have any thoughts?"

I sip the last bit of my coffee and slide my cup back onto the table again. Thinking. The only thing he wants is Ely. And she's the only thing I wouldn't give up for the world.

"What do you want, Sheriff? Be clear."

He tilts his head, grinning now, knowing he has the upper hand for the first time since he sat. "Well, since we are negotiating. As I mentioned before, I want my property. Additionally, I'd take a donation to my reelection campaign. If you’re feeling generous.”

"How much?"

He tilts his shoulder and shakes his head. "Oh, I don't know. Half a million would mean I get to reach the ears of a lot of folks around here. I'd love to be able to spread the word more thoroughly."

Five hundred thousand dollars can buy you a lot of drugs and guns.

"What about a million and we forget about your property?"

He scoffs. "We both know my property is priceless."

"Could have fooled me by how you passed it around to assholes like Yanov."

He resettles at the mention of his dead friend. "Well, we all have debts to pay, of course. Everything was supposed to bereturned to me unharmed. Yanov never followed my directions very well."

"I think we're at an impasse if the money doesn't interest you."

He studies me carefully, assessingly, and for all his faults, he's picked something up. Maybe he's finally understanding I won't walk away from Ely. Not for anything.

"Well, I guess we better go downtown then."

And that's it. I slide my phone from my pocket, hit a button, and raise it to my ear. Ely picks up almost immediately.