Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Charles was buried in paperwork when his phone buzzed. He hit answer, sounding irritated. "Yeah? Who's this?"

Whatever the caller said made him freeze. "Richard wants to work with us now? Wasn't he acting all high and mighty before? And now he wants to borrow my Number One and Number Two? Dream on. My dogs aren't for loan. Do you have any idea what they mean to me? I've turned down offers in the billions. Those two

He stopped mid-sentence, listening as the person continued. Charles frowned. "Hold up, what's the name again? Clara? A woman? Clara?"

He couldn't help but laugh. What a twist-family not recognizing their own.

"Have Richard call me directly. I don't just want a short-term deal for this sea route. I want long-term cooperation. And from now on, any Chester family projects in Country Z―he needs to clear the way for us."

Honestly, just locking in the shipping deal would've been enough. The green light for future projects? That was a last-minute demand-if Richard agreed, all the better. If not, handing over Clara would at least get the sea route open.

Since Richard took charge of the maritime shipping lines in Country Z, he'd swept through the industry like a storm, clearing out anyone in his way. The Chester family wanted into the Country Z market, and the only way was through Richard. Charles's big brother Mitch had sent him for exactly this reason.

He'd barely set foot in Country Z, and by pure luck-saving some woman-he was suddenly this close to sealing the deal.

Funny how you can search everywhere, and the answer just lands in your lap.

was overseas, he'd already heard all about Charles. Negotiations for the shipping lines had stalled, so the Chester family sent Charles

kidnapped, it was Charles's two dogs who tracked him down and brought him back. Rumor had it those dogs were bred in a lab, raised on special formulas,

looking for Clara-of

didn't expect was

made them easy targets for scrutiny. Gray area business? Out of

green light could shake up entire markets, and if things

straight to the

they'll find her. Hell, even if she's not-if she's dead and in pieces, Number One and Number Two

his phone rang again.

Call Charles Day or something? Two of Country Z's

his contacts-he almost felt

all coordinate this or

Richard, so he got to the point. "Are we on

his temples. "Halfway.