Chapter 61

"Sir, can you tie my bow?" Daisy's lips trembled as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Shut your mouth!" The man's roar was so loud it cracked, his face twisting in irritation.

Daisy flinched, her sobs instantly muffled. She blinked up at him, silent now, her small frame trembling.

With rough hands, the man yanked the ribbon into a messy bow before shoving away. He stalked over to his partner, the one with the buzz cut. "You think Vivian Vanderbilt’s lost it? Paying us 80 grand each just to snatch these two brats?"

Buzz Cut lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke sharply. "Got a problem with easy money? Walk away if you’re scared. I don’t need dead weight."

The first man grinned. "Hell no, I’m in. Just saying—this is too good to be true."

Two kids for 160K. Four would’ve been 320K.

Liam’s eyes flickered open. "So, this Ms. Vanderbilt—Vivian, right?"

Both men stiffened, turning to glare at him.

Buzz Cut’s jaw tightened. The other man swallowed hard. "Boss… the kid knows too much—"

Buzz Cut silenced him with a sharp look before looming over Liam. "What exactly do you think you know?"

Liam smirked. "We’re child models. Featured in Vogue with an Oscar winner. 160K for both of us? That’s a scam."

The first man’s eyes widened. "He’s got a point, boss! We’re getting ripped off!"

Buzz Cut backhanded him. "Shut your damn mouth!"

Liam tilted his head. "We’re worth at least 800K each. Do the math."

Buzz Cut’s nostrils flared. "You lying little—"

"1.6 million total," Liam cut in smoothly. "Your call."

The first man rubbed his forehead, grinning. "Boss, that’s a steal!"

Buzz Cut grabbed his collar. "One more word, and I’ll put a bullet in you first."

Liam’s voice stayed calm. "That car’s got GPS. Even if you kill us, where you gonna run with just 160K?"

Buzz Cut’s expression darkened.

The first man panicked. "Boss, we gotta renegotiate!"

Gritting his teeth, Buzz Cut jerked his chin. "Call her. Now."

The man dialed, but after a hissed exchange, he spun back, furious. "That bitch refused!"

Liam’s fingers worked subtly behind his back, the sharp edge of a hidden object sawing at his ropes. "Vivian’s just Nathan Goldmann’s girlfriend. Why beg her for 1.6 million when you can demand it straight from him?"

Buzz Cut’s eyes narrowed.

The first man groaned. "I don’t have Goldmann’s number!"

Liam rattled it off. "+1 650 265—"

The call connected.

Then—

"WAAAAH! I WANT MOMMY!" Daisy’s wail exploded like a siren.

"SHUT UP!" the man roared—forgetting the line was live.

On the other end, Nathan’s voice turned glacial. "What. Do. You. Want?"