TROUBLE (The Billionaire's Rules, Book 9) Read Online Free PDF

of things?”
    “Don’t be nervous.   I’m not out to get you,” he
laughed.   “You’re innocent in all of
this.   As is my son.”
    “Why are you contacting me, then?” she
asked, walking to the window and peeking out at the street.   There was nobody out   there that could be Preston Sharpe, as
far as she could tell.
    “There’s far too much heat on my son for
me to attempt to contact him directly.   He’s being watched at all times.   His phones are tapped.   His
correspondence is being monitored.”
    Ivy felt faint and sat down on the couch,
rocking slightly.   “I don’t think I
should be communicating with you,” she said softly.
    “You’re not doing anything wrong by
talking to me.”
    “You’re wanted by the FBI, and Interpol,
and God only knows who else.”
    He chuckled again, as if this was a grand
compliment.   “Government agencies
are prickly,” Preston said.   “They
jump at shadows.   I’m no real threat
to anybody but a few bad actors.”
    “What do you want with me?” she sighed.
    “I need you to give my son a
message.   It’s important.”
    “Cullen’s being watched, and so am I,”
Ivy replied.   “How is it any safer
to contact me?”
    “They’re not spending nearly as much time
on you as they are on my son.   Trust
me, you’re small potatoes, Ivy.”
    “What a lovely sentiment,” Ivy said,
rolling her eyes.   “You have quite a
way with people, kind of like your son.”
    “I’m not sure what’s going on with you
and Cullen.   I’m aware the two of
you married, and I have to imagine there might be trouble in paradise.   But I don’t have time to solve lover’s
quarrels.   This is extremely time
sensitive and lives are depending on me getting through to my son.”
    “Tell me the message you want delivered,”
she said.   “I can’t promise I’ll do
it, though.”
    “I need my son to wire me exactly two
point six million dollars.   It needs
to be wired within the next twenty-four hours, to the Swiss account.   He knows which one.”
    Ivy reeled from the amount of money he’d
named.   “Two and a half million
dollars?” she squeaked.
    “No.   No.   2.6 million.   What you said would leave me short one
hundred thousand dollars.   Please
remember this number and don’t change anything in my message.   Understand?   This is very important.   You cannot text it or email it or tell
him over the phone.   You must tell
him in person, somewhere public, where there is plenty of noise to mask what
you’re saying to him.   Try and cover
your lips in case they’ve employed lip readers in their surveillance program.”
    “You’ve got to be joking.   He’s being watched that closely?”
    “Just follow my instructions.   Remember what I said, Ivy.   People’s lives are at stake.”
      “Okay,” she said, making a face.   “Sounds totally reasonable.”
    “Life isn’t always reasonable, Ivy,”
Preston said, just before the line went dead.
    Ivy thought to herself that only when
hearing that last remark had she become absolutely certain he was truly
Cullen’s father.
     
    ***
     
    Ivy hid the disposable cell phone under
her mattress and then used her real phone to text Cullen.
    I need to see you. It’s important.
    She sent the text and realized that she
was excited to have a reason to see him and speak to him again so soon.
    It was frightening to know that his hold
on her was so complete and total.
    Even after he’d stomped her heart into a
million pieces, Ivy was more than willing to try and help him, to involve
herself in his bizarre life once again.
    Yes, she was upset with Cullen.   She was more than upset.  
    Angry.   Hurt.   Devastated.
      Still, when his father had contacted
her—Ivy’s first instinct hadn’t been to tell him to find another way to
contact his son.
    She’d practically jumped at the chance to
deliver the message to Cullen.
    Ivy got the reply from Cullen almost
immediately.
    I’ll be home in