《Saving Hailey: Dark Academia, Enemies To Lovers, Mafia Romance (Shadows of Obsession Book 2)》 Saving Hailey: Chapter 1 There¡¯s beauty in chaos. Every kind of chaos if you pay enough attention. I believed it not long ago. I was fucking certain, but seven long days of anarchy reigning supreme in my mind proved me wrong. There¡¯s no beauty in this chaos¡­ only pain.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Raw, indescribable agony drags after me like a ball and chain. The cigarette in my hand feels more like a lifeline than a distraction, its sharp taste stoking the guilt chewing at my brain cells. Hailey¡¯syou stinkhits me every time I light one, but even a shitty distraction from my obsessive thoughts is better than none, so I don¡¯t stop, wrinkling my nose every evening when I hit the shower. I really do fucking stink. ¡°Carter, you can¡¯t smoke in¡ª¡± The bouncer outsideDeltacuts himself off when I flick my burning cigarette onto the pavement, narrowly missing his ear. mming my hands against the double door, I send both wings banging against the walls of the narrow entryway, startling the hostess, who shuffles away as I enter the illuminated ss corridor. Thumping bass shakes the club, seeping into my bones and jangling my nerves. Emerging in thePOProom, I shove through the crowd, marching with purpose, my back muscles denser than stone, heart pounding an uneasy rhythm. I¡¯ve made my decision, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m looking forward to the shitshow about to happen in Dante¡¯s office. Broadway appears in my path like he grew out of the floor, his wide eyes brimming with unrestrained horror. ¡°What the fuck are you doing?¡± he snaps, his voice raised so I¡¯ll hear him over the ring music. He braces his open palm against my chest to stop me. ¡°Get out of here before it¡¯s toote.¡± ¡°I¡¯mnotleaving.¡± I swat his hand away, rounding the bulk of his tall frame. ¡°Fuck! Carter, this isn¡¯t the way to go.¡± He glues his back to the door I¡¯m heading for, eyes wide. ¡°Calm down andthink. If he has anything solid, you¡¯ll end up doing time!¡± ¡°Why do you think he¡¯sing? How did he figure out who I am? He has her, Broadway.¡± I jab my finger into his chest. ¡°He knows where she is.¡± ¡°You think he¡¯ll tell you that?¡± he scoffs, shaking his head. ¡°Jeremy said he has a fucking warrant!¡± Dante told me that ten minutes ago, his tone crossing the line between suggestion and order when hermendedI head for the safe house. I asked him why. ¡°Jeremy called,¡±he replied. The slight shake to his words didn¡¯t bode well. Dante¡¯s normally the epitome of control, always one step ahead of the game.¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll get him on the line. You should hear it from him.¡± The sweet sound of ¡°Take This Lonely Heart¡±by Nothing but Thieves sting from the speakers in my Corvette was hijacked by a bleak dial tone. I was on my way forthe weekly meeting¡ªast-minute decision to make an appearance inDeltaafter ghosting both my crew and my boss all week, fruitlessly chasing even the most tentative of leads. I¡¯ve searched all over Ohio for Hailey, leaving no stone unturned. Her home state seemed the best ce to look, but I keeping up empty. At this pace I won¡¯t find her for years. Vaughn learned from his mistake. He hid Hailey much better this time around. The phone clicked and Jeremy¡¯s curt, biting voice filtered through my Corvette¡¯s speakers, making me smirk.¡°Carrow.¡± The fa?ade was there, as always. Despite everything the biggest mafia boss in the States has done for him, Jeremy still pretends he¡¯s doing Dante a favor. He pretends their cooperation is an inconvenience rather than a godsend. Thanks to Dante, he¡¯s put four daughters through college without one cent of debt, and there¡¯s enough left to put his grandkids through as well. Even with the six trust funds, he has more cash than one man can spend in a lifetime. He¡¯s the Chief of Police in Chicago and has been helping Dante for years. Evidence goes missing, crime scenes are miraculously swept clean of prints or polluted when there¡¯s no time, and get-out-of-jail free cards are handed out whenever required. Without Jeremy¡¯s help, we¡¯d all be serving life sentences. Thankfully, he¡¯s more than eager to help. And so are many other officers in Chicago. ¡°Carter¡¯s here,¡±Dante barked, breaking the silence punctuated by the heavy thump of my heart.¡°Tell him what you told me.¡± The pause that followed covered the back of my neck with sweat. I could almost picture Jeremy¡¯s grimace before he sighed, feigning exasperation. ¡°We¡¯reing for you, Beckett. You don¡¯t have much time to vanish if you don¡¯t want a pair of shiny new bracelets.¡± Two wrinkles dented the space between my brows, and the hum of Chicago¡¯s busy streets muted into nothing.¡°We? Who¡¯s we, Jeremy?¡± ¡°Me, for starters, because he doesn¡¯t have jurisdiction.¡± I ground my teeth, summoning myst shards of patience. Jeremy loves a tension-building pause. Considering what he does for us, we indulge him, but his penchant for dramatics was thest thing I needed in that moment. Or any other day to be perfectly honest. I think Broadway¡¯s the only one who enjoys Jeremy¡¯s cryptic, short sentences. Must be his actor side. ¡°Who¡¯s he, Jeremy?¡±I prompted, swallowing my exasperation, even though my impatience filled the Corvette¡¯s entirepact interior, so thick it could be cut with a knife. ¡°He¡¯s an annoying problem. Barged into the precinct wielding an arrest warrant like a fucking sword and making demands like he¡¯s the fucking boss.¡± ¡°Name, now,¡±Dante clipped. ¡°Don¡¯t keep him guessing.¡± ¡°Charles Vaughn.¡± I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes briefly.What the fuck is Charles Vaughn doing in Chicago? And, more importantly:¡°What are the charges?¡±I asked, an apple-sized lump lodged in my throat. ¡°Murder.¡± More sweat coated my back, introducing gut-wrenching dread significantly stronger than confusion or shock. Fuck. Murder charges usually mean evidence,solidevidence. Vaughn wouldn¡¯t travel all this way on a whim. He has something on me. Fuck knows what but definitelysomething. Dante cleared his throat, the sound distorting, like he leaned over the phone. I imagined a few choice words beelining for exit on the tip of his tongue, but none made it past his lips. Yelled orders from Jeremy¡¯s end boomed around me in surround sound. ¡°Shit,¡±Jeremy drawled. ¡°Time¡¯s up. We¡¯re rolling out.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s dead?¡±I demanded, squeezing the life out of the steering wheel. My mind opened the floodgates to worst-case scenarios and went straight toHaileywhich meant my insides werethisclose to folding inwards. ¡°Get ready!¡±Jeremy shouted, presumably to his team, but it sounded like a subtle warning forme. Then¡ªunder his breath¡ªhe added,¡°It won¡¯t stick,¡±and the call dropped. I raked a hand through my hair, taking deep breaths. Not that it helped curb the fear. The growl of the V8 grew louder the harder my foot pumped the gas pedal, one thought echoing inside my head on repeat. It¡¯s not Hailey. She¡¯s okay. She¡¯s alive. Vaughn would be in pieces if my girl was dead. He wouldn¡¯t drive from Ohio to bust my ass for murdering his daughter. He¡¯d be damn near catatonic. Any father would be. I run a hand down my face, cooling my temper while Broadway barricades the door leading out of thePOProom. As if that will fucking stop me. ¡°The warrant won¡¯t stick,¡± I say, stroking his rational side. ¡°It¡¯s been a week. If Vaughn had solid evidence, he would¡¯ve been here the day after Hailey left Lakeside. I know what I¡¯m doing, Broadway.¡± ¡°Do you?!¡± he booms, his chest heaving. ¡°Because it looks like you lost sight of the goal.¡± ¡°Sheis my goal.¡± I get in his face, my hands balled into fists at my sides. It¡¯s all I can do to stop myself grabbing him by the cor and shoving him aside. He means well, but he doesn¡¯t get it. He doesn¡¯t understand there¡¯s nomewithouther. Not anymore. Bad drug. Perfect high. My sweet fucking downfall. ¡°I want her back. Ineedher back and Vaughn¡¯s my key to getting her. Get out of my way.¡± Broadway grinds his teeth, staring me down for three heartbeats. He¡¯s known me long enough to see in my eyes that I¡¯ll make him move if he doesn¡¯t. ¡°I hope she¡¯s worth it.¡± Fierce, protective rage detonates inside me, scorching my veins. But beneath that rage lies a fear so deep, so fucking profound, it almost brings me to my knees. The fear of never seeing Hailey again. Never hearing her voice. Never telling her how much she means to me. I don¡¯t grace Broadway with a reply, shouldering past him into the next room. My hands shake, my knuckles bleached from how hard I¡¯m clenching them, as I power through the room like a wrecking ball. Any assholes that don¡¯t step aside in time get shoved out ofmy way. My self-control is hanging by a thread and it¡¯s a struggle to hold on to my sanity. It wouldn¡¯t take much to slip into madness. I¡¯m barely keeping from tearing apart everyone within reach to let out a fraction of the rage gunning through me. Three months ago, I saw beauty on the dancefloors ofBravoandDelta. There was something hypnotic about skimpily dressed bodies moving to the rhythm pumping from the tall speakers. Something mesmerizing in their red lips, coquettish smiles, bouncing boobs, and the damp hair kissing their necks. Now I can¡¯t see it. My gaze sweeps the club as I charge toward the metal staircase. The same scenes y out before my eyes, the same music vibrates the heavy, hot air. At first nce, it¡¯s the same chaos I¡¯ve basked in for years. Nothing¡¯s changed, but everything feels different. Like I¡¯m watching a sepia-toned movie on worn-out film. No color, no life. No beauty¡­ No escaping the torment of losing Hailey. Seven days. That¡¯s how long she¡¯s been gone. Seven days of swinging between cold logic and panicked frenzy. Seven days spent wondering what¡¯s happening with her and remembering every moment we spent together. How the fuck did she sink her ws so deep into my bones that even a week apart can¡¯t break me free? I don¡¯t even want to break free¡­ I want her to sink her ws deeper. And I want her back right now, even if rational thinking tells me she¡¯s safe with Matthews, hidden away on Vaughn¡¯s orders. The evidence was on Chloe¡¯s phone, which she handed over willingly when I barged into her room minutes after I realized Hailey ran. Within half an hour, Ryder¡¯s digging confirmed Hailey used it to dial Matthews. Without knowing what was said I had no idea where to start looking. Not that it stopped me. I drove around for hours while Ryderbed the scarce surveince footage from town, tracing Matthews¡¯ car as he took my girl away, but there are no surveince cameras in the miles of dense woods leading every direction out of town, so they lost the trail in the web of roads. The only constion was the snapshot Ryder sent me. It clearly showed Hailey in the passenger seat, and seeing her safe with her father¡¯s friend quenched an iota of my despair. As much as I hate that she¡¯s gone, at least I know who she left with. Matthews would¡¯ve taken her straight to a new Vaughn-approved hiding ce. Which means she¡¯s safe. That¡¯s what I keep telling myself. It¡¯s a mantra against the dark scenarios invading my thoughts because I¡¯m in fucking pieces. She can¡¯t be perfectly safe unless she¡¯s with me. That thought is a vice around my heart, its jaws contracting every day. It¡¯s not rational, butrationalhasn¡¯t been my strongest suit the past week. I¡¯m a pendulum swinging between calcted logic and emotional overwhelm. It doesn¡¯t help that our tight surveince on Vaughn hasn¡¯t produced a single clue. I¡¯m shooting blind, checking every location I can think of while Jackson and Ryder keep digging. So far, all we have are dead ends. Wherever Vaughn hid her, it¡¯s a much better choice than Lakeside. He should¡¯ve led with that. And I should¡¯ve stormed into his precinct days ago. Confronting the man face to face wouldn¡¯t have been smart, but neither ising toDeltaknowing damn well he¡¯ll read me my rights. Fuck it.Smarthasn¡¯t gotten me anywhere. It¡¯s time for drastic measures. ¡°Are they here yet?¡± I ask Broadway, ncing down the metal stairs. He¡¯s two steps below, the wrinkles marring his forehead a visible representation of his foul mood. ¡°Not yet. You can still leave.¡± ¡°Not happening.¡± I whip my neck left and right but the pleasantcrackdoesn¡¯t ease the cold dread gnawing at my bones. Maybe a ss of Bourbon will help. ¡°Better go get me a drink.¡± ¡°Shall I prepare yourst meal too?¡± he bites back, veering left as we reach the top. My gaze leaps toward the back office and through the haze of dim lights, I catch Dante¡¯s intense gaze staring right at me. He doesn¡¯t look fazed by my presence as he moves his attention back to his wife standing before him. She¡¯s flushed, cheeks pink¡ªprobably from however long she spent on the dance floor¡ªdark hair damp around her temples, chest heaving. She beams at her husband, rising on the tips of her stilettoes to reach his lips. A sudden mounting sense of difort poisons my system. I slow my step, dropping my gaze. Three months ago, I would¡¯ve smirked at this public disy of affection¡­ at Dante¡¯stant manifestation of feelings, but now I can¡¯t fucking watch. Men like him don¡¯t indulge quick kisses in front of crowds of strangers, but he never gave a shit. He knows he can protect La. Besides, no one in their right mind would dare hurt her these days so he never holds back, showing her off regardless of who¡¯s watching. And I know I wouldn¡¯t¡ª Correction: Iwon¡¯thold back once I find Hailey. I look up five secondster, checking they¡¯re done. They are and Dante¡¯s rapt attention is on me while La does a one-eighty, stilettoing away. Shaking off the unwanted jealousy that he has what I lost, I pick up my pace, following him to the office surprised to find it empty. I haven¡¯t looked toward the VIP table to check if Dante¡¯s men are there. Two lines wrinkle my forehead when he sits in his leather chair, hooking his index finger in the cor of his shirt and tugging twice. He¡¯s not the type to pop a few buttons. Not since he became the king of the underground, perching on top of thedder every morally gray man in America wants to climb. His mouth opens, then falls shut when a singlebeepof the motion detector informs us that someone¡¯s entered the corridor. Five secondster, there¡¯s a rap on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± Dante barks. Broadway enters, bncing a tray on the t of his hand like a professional waiter. He¡¯s brought more than two sses. It¡¯s five to nine in the evening, which means our weekly meeting starts soon and Dante¡¯s men should be flocking in here. ¡°Where¡¯s everyone else?¡± I ask, ignoring Broadway¡¯s eyes shooting daggers my way. ¡°I only told Broadway about Vaughn,¡± Dante exins, plucking his drink from the lineup. ¡°I had a feeling you weren¡¯t going to stay away. I want to see how this ys out.¡± He trusts his men implicitly but always tests their loyalty. I considered it an insult for a long time, especially after I took three bullets for his wife, but after I learned about the betrayal Dante suffered at the hands of a man he trusted with his life, I started testing my small crew. Better safe than sorry. This world is fucking brutal. ¡°Did Jeremy tell you who I killed?¡± I ask. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. You know what he¡¯s like. He gave us a heads-up and hinted he wasn¡¯t sure the warrant was genuine.¡± I cock an eyebrow. Charles Vaughn using dirty tricks to get me into an interrogation room? Now that¡¯s a twist I didn¡¯t expect. The dread filling my chest ebbs away, reced by a cold, calcting focus. ¡°Are you surethisis your call?¡± Dante asks, leaning back in his seat. ¡°You know where the safe house is, Carter. If you get in your car now, you can be there in three hours.¡± I grab my drink, swirling the amber liquid in the crystal ss. Any other day, disappearing would be my priority. I¡¯ve made it eight years without wearing cuffs, and I¡¯d prefer to keep it that way, but I¡¯m out of options. Vaughn¡¯s myst resort. He knows where Hailey is and hewilltell me even if the confession is thest fucking thing he ever says. He wouldn¡¯t be here if he hadn¡¯t connected Nash Wright with Carter Wird, which gives me hope the corpse isnotmy girl. It gives me hope that she told Vaughn about me, which would be my confirmation that he has her. That she¡¯s safe. Out of my reach, butsafe. Right now, confirmation is worth its weight in gold. Without it I might lose my sanity. I don¡¯t have a single solid lead. Not one concrete piece of information. It¡¯s all wishful thinking. If something happened to Hailey, if it¡¯s her murder I¡¯m being used of¡ª I inhale a sharp breath, numbing the pain tearing my heart wide open. The mere thought that she¡¯s dead fucking wrecks me. ¡°I¡¯m staying,¡± I say, throwing a hefty sip of Bourbon at the back of my throat. ¡°Vaughn knows where she is.¡± Dante¡¯s features pinch but, of all people, he understands the risks I¡¯m willing to take for a chance to find Hailey. For a confirmation that she¡¯s safe. The not knowing, the uncertainty, has been eating me alive since I found her room at Lakeside empty. A minute passes, stretching like bubble gum pulled between teeth and fingers, before Dante bobs his head. He gets it because La¡¯s his entire world. Not one material or immaterial thing matters more to him than her so I bet he can rte. He walked a mile in my shoes eight years ago. Heknowswhat losing your meaning means. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll do it your way. I¡¯ll brief ourwyer. He¡¯ll start preparing a line of defense in case the warrant holds up.¡± Even if it does, Michael Foley will dismiss the charges before dawn. He¡¯s the bestwyer in Chicago, strictly on Dante¡¯s payroll, and as skilled at burying evidence as Jeremy Smith. Not that he¡¯ll have much to bury; I haven¡¯t killed anyely¡­ save for Jensen, but there¡¯s no way Vaughn knows that. ¡°Don¡¯t send him out yet. I get one phone call, don¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Yes, you do. I¡¯ll wait for your call.¡± The characteristic beep sounds again, letting us know the rest of the entourage ising. Just as the door handle rattles, Dante summons Broadway¡¯s attention. ¡°Not a word out of you,¡± he says. ¡°And stop pouting.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± I add, hiding my smirk behind the ss. ¡°You better be.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 2 ¡°What¡¯s with the one-on-one meeting?¡± Nate asks, his gaze idling between Dante and me as he enters the office, Ryder hot on his tail, followed by Jackson, Rookie, and Koby. ¡°Getting a head start?¡± ¡°You could say that,¡± Dante admits, settling behind his desk from where he alwaysmands the meetings. ¡°Before we get into the briefing¡­¡± Jackson takes a seat opposite mine, jutting his chin at me, blissfully unaware the shit¡¯s about to hit the fan, ¡°¡­is Hailey still a priority?¡± ¡°Have we found her?¡± Dante asks, his eyebrow arching in silent challenge. ¡°No, but¡ª¡± ¡°That should answer your question. Hailey¡¯s a priority until otherwise ordered.¡± ¡°Just checking,¡± Jackson mutters. My head¡¯s only half in the conversation. The other half is preparing a list of names. Who, other than Hailey, could be dead? Whose murder am I being charged with? It can¡¯t be my girl. She¡¯s alive. I don¡¯t know how I know, but I do. Maybe because my heart¡¯s still beating, which I bet wouldn¡¯t be the case if hers weren¡¯t. Or maybe it¡¯s my naivety and hope clinging to the idea. Dante always says hope diesst but¡­ he also says it¡¯s the mother of fools. My eyes dart to the screens every few seconds, waiting for Jeremy. He doesn¡¯t keep me waiting long. Before anyone can start their briefing, the show begins. ¡°Boss?¡± Nate says, ring at the wall of monitors. ¡°We have a problem here.¡± He motions toward the tscreen showing live feed from the main entrance where five uniformed officers stand outside, arguing with Tony¡ªthe bouncer my cigarette narrowly missed. Cops are always raidingDelta. They¡¯re called in by partygoers spooked by seeing the lines of cocaine on silver trays, or the small bags brimming with colorful pills that waitresses sell alongside shots and drinks. Some call over a brawl, others when they¡¯re denied entry. It¡¯s the same story atBravo. Normally, those raids are resolved with the cops spending an hour or so in Dante¡¯s or my office, sipping top-shelf Bourbon and smoking finest Cuban cigars. That¡¯s why they eagerly assemble in fucking legions whenever they get a call about our clubs. Chicago¡¯s finest dance to whatever tune Dante ys, so at first nce the police uniforms crowding the main entrance aren¡¯t an issue. Nate could easily think this raid is irrelevant if not for one little detail. He¡¯s a perceptive guy. Everyone in this room is. It¡¯s part of the fucking job. They all notice said little detail and it instantly bes the main cause of concern lining everyone¡¯s foreheads. It¡¯s not Chicago¡¯s finest requesting ess tonight. Other than Jeremy¡¯s familiar face, the other four aren¡¯t from around here¡­ and that makes this raid unlike any other. Jeremy stands back while the man I expected to see makes the blood in my veins flow faster. Vaughn¡¯s front and center shing his shiny badge and a sheet of paper in Tony¡¯s face. The arrest warrant for sure. ¡°What the fuck is he doing here?¡± Ryder mutters, watching Vaughn grow red in the face the longer Tony keeps him from crossing the threshold. ¡°He¡¯s out of his jurisdiction.¡± ¡°I assume that¡¯s why Jeremy¡¯s with him,¡± Nate says. ¡°He has a warrant.¡± He pokes at the paper in Vaughn¡¯s hand on the screen. ¡°At least I think that¡¯s a warrant.¡± It sure is. Tony finally caves, unhooking the red rope that keeps the line of partygoers at bay. He pulls it back, stepping aside, and lets five police officers enter the club. ¡°Boss,¡± his voice fills the office,ing from a speaker on Dante¡¯s desk. ¡°Cops. They¡¯re here for Carter.¡± Koby¡¯s focused gaze cuts to me across the office. ¡°You need to get out.¡± I smirk internally. It¡¯s good to know my men are all on the same page. Running would be a wise choice given what the warrant represents, but I¡¯m not moving. The spring in Vaughn¡¯s step and unwavering determination painting his face tell me Hailey¡¯s alive. Every bunched muscle in my body unwinds, the tension hissing out so fast my shoulders slump. I¡¯m so relieved not even the fact Vaughn undeniably connected the dots and knows my identity can rattle me. He linked Nash Wright and Carter Beckett, and then¡ªI¡¯m sure¡ªtied me to Carter Wird. He must know I spent two months with his daughter at Lakeside. And if he knows, it meansHaileypainted a vivid picture of her time there, including her shbacks, putting me on Vaughn¡¯s radar. He has her. ¡°Carter,¡± Koby urges, holding the office door open. ¡°Come on, we need to move.¡± ¡°And fast,¡± Nate adds, still focused on the screens, eyes trailing the cops¡¯ route through the crowd. ¡°You have maybe three minutes. Move.¡± I lift the ss to my lips, savoring how the amber liquid warms me up from the inside. Now I¡¯ve seen Vaughn¡¯s determination andck of agonizing grief, I could leave, but¡­ he¡¯s my only chance at finding outwheremy girl is. I want her back. If I y my cards right, he¡¯ll tell me where he¡¯s hiding her. That¡¯s an opportunity I can¡¯t pass. ¡°Close the door, Koby,¡± I order. ¡°Carter,¡± Broadway warns, jumping on the bandwagon, his tone pleading. ¡°Don¡¯t do this. Vaughn¡¯s not under Dante¡¯s influence. If he has solid evidence no one will get you out.¡± ¡°Donotunderestimate Michael Foley,¡± Dante clips. ¡°It¡¯s been seven days,¡± I tell my men. ¡°Vaughn¡¯s here because he figured out who I am. And that meansHaileytold him. He knows where she is.¡± ¡°Close the door.¡± Dante flicks his wrist at Koby. ¡°You¡¯re fucking crazy, Carter,¡± he snaps, letting the door bang. ¡°If he has anything solid, you¡¯ll end up doing time.¡± ¡°Let me worry about that.¡± I¡¯m not doing time. Even if Foley can¡¯t brush this shit under the carpet, my father most certainly can. Rhett thinks I¡¯m on his side and he¡¯s as desperate to find Hailey as I am. Even if for entirely different reasons. Broadway pinches his nose, still not on board. Good job he¡¯s smart. He knows when to back down. He knows he can¡¯t sway me if Dante and I are on the same page. With an exasperated huff, he takes a stance behind me, both hands gripping the back of my chair as we watch the cops climb to the VIP area. Dante clicks a button on hisms system. ¡°Let them through,¡± he tells the bouncer guarding the back office. We never used to have a bouncer there but after Dante had a few interruptions while alone here with his wife and¡ªmore importantly¡ªafter the shooting a few years back, we tightened the security. ¡°Yes, Boss,¡±es Bruno¡¯s reply. On the screen we see him open the door, inviting Vaughn, Jeremy, and three rookies inside. A secondter, their footsteps echo down the corridor. ¡°Fuck¡­ Carter, this is bad,¡± Ryder grits out in the corner of the room where he leans against the wall, eyes cast downward, the bright light of his phone screen illuminating his tired face. ¡°I know why they¡¯re here. I just found¡ª¡± He doesn¡¯t finish. The office door bursts open, mming against the wall like a p of thunder but startling absolutely no one. So much for a grand, intimidating entrance. Vaughn leads the charge, his bulky frame filling the doorframe as he stalks in and Iseehim. Face to face, in the soft glow of LEDs, Isee¡­ and I don¡¯t like it. He looks like death itself. Dark bruises under his eyes hint that he hasn¡¯t slept in days. His skin is ashen, hair thinning andpletely gray, the wrinkles around his eyes so deep he looks fifteen years older than he is. My insides tie into borate knots so fast I feel fucking sick. He doesn¡¯t lookposed. He doesn¡¯t look calm, smug,or confident. He looks destroyed; my belief that Hailey¡¯s alive shatters like fine china. The atmosphere thickens, a vtile mix of hostility and unspoken threats. Vaughn¡¯s gun shakes in his hand until he gets a better grip, pointing it directly at my head, the wrath in his blue eyes making me pause. Those eyes¡­ they¡¯re so much like Hailey¡¯s it¡¯s uncanny. My heart squeezes while all those times I stared into her gorgeous blues sh at the forefront of my mind. ¡°Good evening, gentlemen,¡± Dante says, still sitting at his desk. He may look rxed, but the tension winding his shoulders betrays the fact that, no matter what Vaughn thinks,heis in charge here. All hell might break loose at any moment if the cops aren¡¯t careful. ¡°To what do we owe the pleasure?¡± ¡°Spare me the niceties, Carrow,¡± Vaughn barks, briefly snapping his eyes from me to the boss. ¡°Though I admit, you got one thing right. This sure is a fucking pleasure.¡± Jeremy stops on Vaughn¡¯s left, lips sealed, eyes darting between Vaughn and me. The other cops take strategic spots, covering the exit, their guns drawn and pointed down. ¡°Carter Wird,¡± Vaughn denotes, pulling a piece of paper from his jacket pocket. If not for the fear cinched around my throat, I¡¯d have a hard time suppressing a smile. Joke¡¯s on him, the old fucking fool¡­ The warrantisfake. Vaughn doesn¡¯t know as much about me as he should. I might be Rhett¡¯s son, but my legal name isBeckett. Even if Vaughn came up with decent, usible charges, he¡¯s used the wrong surname, rendering the warrant useless. ¡°You¡¯re under arrest for the murder of Officer Jonathan Matthews,¡± he adds, smugness creeping into his voice. He doesn¡¯t faze me. Neither does the gun aimed between my eyes¡­ but the fact Matthews is deaddoes. My head whips toward Ryder who¡¯s staring at me with wide eyes. He was trying to tell me something before Vaughn barged in, cutting him off.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°You were saying?¡± ¡°You have the right to remain sile¡ª¡± ¡°Use it against me in court,¡± I snap, shutting Vaughn up, then pivot back to Ryder. ¡°You. Were.Saying?¡± ¡°They fished Matthews¡¯ car out of ake in Ohio a few hours ago.¡± If I¡¯m being used of murdering the fucker, I guess his body was in it. Dread fills my veins when Ryder still hasn¡¯t blinked. My heart drums erratically in my chest, an off-key counterpoint to my ringing ears. Given the state of Vaughn, the crazy in his eyes, the fact Hailey disappeared with Matthews¡­ A boulder settles in the pit of my stomach, my hold tightening around the ss bit by bit until it explodes, sending crystal shards all over the polished wooden floor. Blood drips down my fingers, but I don¡¯t register the pain. It¡¯s no match for the disorder dominating my mind. Facts. I needfacts. ¡°How many?¡± I ask, pushing the words past clenched teeth. The atmosphere changes so fast it¡¯s as if an arctic st breached the walls, chilling the room to an unbearable temperature. I don¡¯t have to spell it out for Ryder or anyone else. They know exactly what I¡¯m asking. Everyone shifts. It doesn¡¯t rm the cops but I recognize the gesture I see on Nate with the corner of my eye. He¡¯s gaining a better footing, angling his body so it¡¯s easier to grab his gun at a moment¡¯s notice. He knows that iftwoleaves Ryder¡¯s lips I¡¯ll fucking lose it. ¡°Ryder,¡± I seethe, my blood running cold the longer he stalls. ¡°How many bodies?¡± ¡°Two¡­¡± The word hits me like a bullet between the eyes. Everything he says afterwards is a low, iprehensible buzz.Twosounds fucking abstract.Unbelievablebut my mind grabs the idea, and the breath is knocked from my lungs. They constrict around my spine, deted and useless like punctured balloons. My entire world crumbles. Anarchy takes the spotlight. With a brutal flip of a switch inside my head, I¡¯m up on my feet before my brain registers it. The cold metal of my gun weighs heavy in my hand, index finger twitching against the trigger. Blood surges through my ears to mute the world. Everyone¡¯s moving, shouting¡­ Guns gleam in the dimmed lights, trained on me. I¡¯m shaking. Physically fuckingshakingdown to my core, and my heart thumps like a countdown, every beat resonating inside my breaking mind. There¡¯s no slow-motion feel to this. The chaos is in full swing. Inside me, around me, fuckingeverywhere. I blink, and my arms are wrenched back. Broadway¡¯s right there, obscuring my line of sight. He grips my head, gouging his fingers into my scalp hard enough I feel the sting above the agony spearing through me. He¡¯s so close his forehead almost drops to mine. Twes back like a recoil, and the image of Hailey¡¯s lifeless body seizes every muscle in my body. Broadway¡¯s talking, but his words oscite into a monotone hum. I thrash, trying to shove him away, but someone¡¯s mping my arms and Broadway¡¯s using his body to keep me in ce. Struggling against whoever¡¯s behind me, I realize my gun¡¯s no longer in my hand¡­ and I fight that much harder. Until I¡¯m pped across my face with such force that my head swings left. ¡°Carter!¡± Broadway booms, spit flying past his lips. ¡°Fuck! Snap out of it!¡± he booms again. ¡°She¡¯s okay, she¡¯s alive. It¡¯s not Hailey. Stop fucking fighting!¡± Not Hailey. She¡¯s alive. She¡¯s okay. Those three short sentences breathe life back into my system. I focus on Broadway. On the frenzy in his eyes searching mine. He¡¯s still in my face, too close forfort, still gripping the back of my head. ¡°It¡¯snotHailey,¡± he denotes. ¡°You hear me?¡± I nod once, taking a deep centering breath. Hailey¡¯s alive. It¡¯s not her body. ¡°Who?¡± I grit out, a raw throb in my teeth from clenching my jaw. ¡°Who was with Matthews?¡± ¡°His daughter,¡± Vaughn says as Broadway steps aside, offering me a shred of breathing room. ¡°She¡¯s the second body.¡± ¡°The coroner estimates they¡¯ve been dead about a week,¡± Ryder adds, loosening his grip on my back. I re at him over my shoulder. ¡°You should¡¯ve fucking led with that.¡± ¡°Ididbut you didn¡¯t listen.¡± Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Hailey¡¯s not with Vaughn. She never got home. She never reached the hiding ce. Unless¡­ unless Matthews got killed on his way back from dropping her off. Maybe it was just a car ident. Maybe she¡¯s fine and Vaughn¡¯s trying to fabricate a murder to pin on me so I can¡¯t get my hands on Hailey ever again. My attention focuses on Vaughn¡¯s narrowed eyes studying my reaction. ¡°You and I need to talk.¡± His index finger trembles on the trigger of his gun, barrel aimed at my head. ¡°I should fucking kill you right now.¡± It takes a long symphony of heartbeats before he weighs the consequences and redirects his aim at my shoulder, to merely wound me if I make one false move. He angles his head toward the cop on his left. ¡°Cuff him.¡± Cracking my knuckles, I hold my hands out. ¡°Get on with it. We¡¯re wasting time.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 3 SEVEN DAYS EARLIER Silent tears stream down my face as the interstate whizzes by. Matthews has been mostly quiet since he picked me up from Lakeside. Fear pushed me to run once Nash parked his Pontiac in the parking lot and for the first time when it came to him, I trusted my fight or flight response. The man in my shback made me break out in metaphorical hives. The familiarity of his posture, his gestures, even his facial features, threw me off bnce, but the gold si glistening on his bloodied finger was what sealed the icy cold tendrils of dread around my heart. I turned over the facts on our ride back from the depths of the forest and there was only one logical conclusion. Nash lied to me. He had an agenda. He used me for information. It¡¯s a miracle Chloe understood my high-pitched, snot-strangled wailing when I entered her dorm room, choking on tears, shaking all over, and demanding her phone. Mine wouldn¡¯t let me make any calls, which I bet was Nash¡¯s doing. He probably got his friend to hack my cell, proving my conclusions were valid. Nash knew I¡¯d connect the man in the shback with him. My acting proved useful on our silent ride back to campus. It took all my courage to lean over and kiss him like I didn¡¯t know he¡¯s the son of a murderer and¡ªgiven the guns without serial numbers he owns¡ªprobably a murderer himself. I was confused¡­ scared of what I¡¯d learned.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. I couldn¡¯t think straight after bolting out of his car. My first thought was to call Dad, but I suddenly understood his paranoia about our phones being tapped, so I rang Matthews. ¡°I need to leave,¡±I wept into the phone, sping it in both quaking hands.¡°Now. I¡¯m not safe here. Whoever¡¯s after me sent someone over and¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste time exining,¡±Matthews cut in, every word tense.¡°I¡¯ve been staying in town since my visit. I¡¯ll pick you up as soon as I can. Pack the essentials and wait for me at the gate.¡± That¡¯s what I did. I burst into my dorm room and threw my things into my bags in under five minutes. My heart drummed so fast I struggled to catch a breath, hyperventting while I left two of my suitcases with Chloe. I couldn¡¯t carry three down the narrow staircases by myself. She kept asking questions, paning her voice, eyes watering with tears, but all I could say wasI need to leave. Hourster, my heart¡¯s still beating an urgent rhythm and my chest aches whenever the blood-covered man with his unsettlingly familiar features invades my thoughts. Rhett Wird, ording to Matthews. I told him everything. Once he hauled my bags into the trunk and took the wheel of his sedan, words poured from my mouth without a filter. I told him about Alex, the shbacks, the abuse, the girl he was seeing. I told him how interested Nash was in my returning memories and described the man from my shback. Matthews confirmed my nagging suspicion that Nash wasn¡¯t who I thought. Apparently, it¡¯s long been rumored among the cops in Ohio that Rhett Wird has an illegitimate son, but no one has ever seen him. I did. And I saw Rhett. Making the connection between the two men wasn¡¯t difficult. Nash is a younger, broader, more sinister version of his father. They share the same jawline, dark eyes, facial features, posture¡­ even the chin. The same ruthlessness emanates from their every move¡­ and identical si rings adorn their ring fingers¡ªgold with an eagle in flight. Then I remembered Nash reading my diary¡­ ¡°He wants something I can¡¯t remember,¡±I whispered to Matthews but all he replied was,¡°It¡¯s best if your dad answers your questions. I¡¯m not sure how much he wants me to tell you.¡± I¡¯m too exhausted to demand answers I won¡¯t get. He called Dad earlier but I couldn¡¯t pay attention to their conversation then; I was still shaking in the passenger seat like a stray kitten. ¡°What did Dad say when you called him earlier?¡± I ask. ¡°Is he waiting for us?¡± He nods, shifting in his seat. Taking one hand off the wheel, he twirls his wrist, then does the same with the other. I bet every muscle in his body is protesting the long drive. He was twenty minutes from Lakeside when I called¡­ probably stationed within driving distance on my father¡¯s orders. ¡°You should get some sleep, Hailey. We have a long drive ahead and you must be exhausted.¡± I am, but there¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯ll fall asleep. Not with this turmoil of emotions running rampant inside me. Not with this stab of betrayal threatening to wreck me. ¡°Can we stop for coffee somewhere?¡± I counter, staring out of the window. ¡°Sure.¡± I wipe my mmy hands down my jeans and adjust the hoodie, wrapping and unwrapping the drawstrings around my index finger on repeat. I count my breaths until we exit the interstate, pulling up at the first avable gas station¡ªa promise of caffeine and maybe a sandwich. Though I¡¯m not sure I can keep it down. I twitch for the door handle, but Matthews clicks a button, locking the door. ¡°You should stay here,¡± he says, fetching his jacket from the back seat. ¡°How do you take your coffee?¡± ¡°Double espresso, one sugar, please.¡± He gives me a solemn nod, exiting the car. I watch him enter the shop, frowning at the screen of his cell before pressing it to his ear. He¡¯s probably letting Dad know how we¡¯re getting along. Once again, I toy with the hoodie¡¯s drawstrings to keep myself from mbering over to the driver¡¯s side to leap out, run after him and snatch his phone. Matthews is red in the face, the conversation growing more heated if the way he¡¯s gesticting and pacing by the coffee maker is any indication. I rub my face with both hands, trying to push this headache away through my temples. The minute I see Dad he¡¯ll get a piece of my mind for keeping me in the dark this long. Does he really think I¡¯m safest when I¡¯m oblivious? He¡¯ll know better once he learns his hiding ce was breached. He locked me away for weeks with a man tasked to dig out something hidden in my memories. I sink my teeth in my bottom lip, warding off the overpowering feelings. This pain should only be mental, but it feels physical, visceral even¡­ as if someone reached into my chest, wrapped their fingers around my heart, and ripped it right out. Frustrated, I wipe the tears trickling down my cheeks with the sleeve of my hoodie. Well, not mine¡­ Nash¡¯s. Every moment we spent together ys before my eyes on repeat. Every look, every touch, every kiss. Lies. All of it. Filthylies. He got close to me out of necessity, not choice. I¡¯m not important. I¡¯m never fucking important. Alex wanted a perfect little doll who¡¯d open her mouth onmand. And Nash wanted whatever¡¯s locked in my head. I breath in on the count of four, trying to block the memories, lies, and betrayal, but it doesn¡¯t work. Nothing works. Nothing calms me down. I haven¡¯t kept my tears at bay for longer than a few minutes since I bolted out of Nash¡¯s car. That was almost eight hours ago. It¡¯s dawn outside now, the sky tinged with soft pinks and oranges, a breathtaking view if the pain squeezing my chest left any fucking breath to take. God, I should¡¯ve known. Nash was too perfect. Wewere too perfect together. Nothing that perfect can be real. The driver¡¯s side door opens and the bittersweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee breaks my train of thought. Matthews slides into his seat. He¡¯s ghastly pale, his lips pinched into a thin line. He passes me a cup, shoving his into the holder before whipping his seatbelt in ce. The air around us feels heavy. Loaded. Suffocating thanks to his silence and my racing mind. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± I ask, wrapping both hands around my warm cup. ¡°You don¡¯t look so good.¡± ¡°Just tired,¡± he says, turning left out of the gas station. My eyebrows knot in the middle and I open my mouth to question why, instead of driving toward Columbus like we have been all night, he whips us around, heading back the way we came. ¡°There¡¯s been a change of ns,¡± he answers before I can speak, his voice tense. Whatever the change, he¡¯s clearly not happy about it. And clearly doesn¡¯t want to talk, so I sip my coffee and watch the world pass by. We don¡¯t stay on the interstate long, exiting half an hourter. He¡¯s not using a map, but he knows his way around the narrow, winding roads. I guess we¡¯re headed somewhere he¡¯s visited a lot. Thendscape gradually changes from fields to dense woods. The rising sun casts long shadows between the trees, reminding me of Lakeside, which in turn reminds me of Nash. I wrestle him out of my head, focusing on the present and the eerie chill sliding down my spine as the woods close up around us. The gas station feels like a distant memory now. We must¡¯ve left it at least an hour ago. Matthews¡¯ silence doesn¡¯t help me rx, but I fight my unease, forcing a long breath past my lips. We¡¯re clearly not heading home, and the sudden change doesn¡¯t bode well. It means my dad¡¯s scrambling for a safe hiding ce¡­ proving he can¡¯t keep me safe. He already tried. He already failed. Nash was at Lakeside when I arrived, waiting. Matthews takes a left turn, navigating a mile of woond road until the trees part, revealing a massive, sprawling mansion set in a clearing. It looks more castle than home; an old stone fortress. It¡¯s neither as foreboding as Lakeside nor as big, but I guess it could easily house a college¡­ or a recovery center. ¡°What is this ce?¡± I ask, my voice barely a whisper. I scrutinize the opulent windows and immacte frontwn punctuated with rose bushes. Jonathan doesn¡¯t answer. Keeping his eyes forward, he pulls the car up to a wrought-iron gate that slowly slides open. Once he¡¯s parked near the grand entrance, the mansion looms over us. Two Rottweilers round the corner, barking furiously, their deep growls making my skin prickle. This isn¡¯t a college. Not a recovery center, either. I doubt either would have such huge guard dogs. A group of men spills through the main door, all tall, bulky, dressed in ck, and¡­ armed. ¡°Where are we?¡± I demand, my voice cracking like eggshells, heart wing its way up my throat. Reality blurs with a vision of Rhett Wird¡¯s murderous face as he pulled the trigger, and the gun in Nash¡¯s glove box. I turn to Matthews, and the words I wanted to yell evaporate when our eyes lock, his brimming with guilt, apology, and fear. He¡¯s every bit as scared of this ce as I am. The next thought hits me harder than a freight train¡ªI¡¯m not going home. This isn¡¯t another hideout¡­ and I¡¯m definitely not safe. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Hailey,¡± Jonathan whispers. ¡°I¡­ I had no choice.¡± His features soften, eyes heavy with regret. ¡°They won¡¯t hurt you. They just want the evidence.¡± ¡°Evidence?¡± I echo, confusion knitting my brow. ¡°What evidence? I don¡¯t know anything about any evidence.¡± Matthews exhales deeply, his hands still clutching the steering wheel. ¡°Alex¡¯s files. Everything he gathered. The case he was working on¡­ he infiltrated Rhett Wird and the information he collected¡­¡± He nces at the men grouping outside. ¡°They think you know where it is.¡± I barely hear him over the barking dogs and my pounding heart. There¡¯s nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. I¡¯m trapped inside Jonathan¡¯s car, behind a towering fence. Those dogs would bring me down before I even got close to the locked gates. ¡°They?¡± I spit out, swallowing around the bite-size lump lodged in my throat. ¡°Who arethey?¡± Matthews nces at me again, then quickly looks away. ¡°Try to remember what Alex told you. If you give them what they want, they¡¯ll let you go. They promised,¡± he mutters, like he¡¯s convincing himself as much as me. ¡°Who are those people? What if I can¡¯t remember? What then?¡± He doesn¡¯t reply, staring into the distance. He flinches when the passenger door opens and strong hands drag me outside by my arm. Pain screams from my hip as it connects with the gravel before I¡¯m yanked up by rough fingers tangled in my hair. My vocal cords are tied, fear ripping through me, so potent I taste the bitterness¡­ and Matthews sits there, watching with a pained expression as my arms are twisted back. ¡°Careful, Jax,¡± a man says, appearing in front of me. He¡¯s looking over my shoulder at the one holding me still. ¡°We can¡¯t break her.¡± He runs a calloused hand down my cheek, his nostrils ring. ¡°But we can have some fun.¡± Jax snarls behind me, yanking me so close his groin juts against my ass and bile leaps up my throat. ¡°Don¡¯t get excited, Jax,¡± someone hollers from the small crowd. ¡°Darius already called dibs.¡± ¡°That I did,¡± Darius admits, licking his lips as his gaze roves my figure. He takes me in like an item on inventory, assessing my worth and judging whether I¡¯m a threat. There¡¯s something chilling in his hollow gaze¡­ almost like he¡¯s decided my fate and is simply reveling in the lingering suspense. He¡¯s tall. All veiny muscles. The kind of physique designed to deliver excruciating pain: substance over style. His face is all hard angles, a square jaw set in a permanent sneer, hair buzzed military style. He opens his mouth but ends up moistening his lips again when he hears the m of Matthews¡¯ car door. Shaking harder with every step, Jonathan rounds the hood, resembling a spooked shadow. He avoids my gaze, squaring off with Darius. ¡°Delivered as ordered. Now give me my daughter back.¡± He¡¯s quaking in his boots when Darius turns toward him, exuding the same vor of confidence as Nash, but Nash never made me feel this scared. Darius carries himself with a simr predatory grace, a lion among sheep, but unlike Nash, Dariuswillhurt me. Apleteck of scruples or morals burns from his eyes. His ck shirt stretches over his broad, muscr chest, but I think he works out to intimidate rather than impress. The other men trail his every move, looking up to him as if every word he speaks is gospel and Matthews visibly shivers when Darius moves. I wish I could muster an ounce of sympathy for the predicament Matthews¡¯ found himself in, but I can¡¯t. He betrayed not only my trust, but Dad¡¯s too. Darius looks far from merciful and Jax¡¯s painful hold on me is a clear statement that all I¡¯ll face within the walls of this mansion is pain. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right¡­ thedaughter.¡± Darius chuckles, raising his hand and pirouetting his finger in the air. Matthews cranes his neck, peering over the heads as the main entrance opens again. Gravel crunches under heavy boots, every deliberately slow step measured. I can¡¯t see what¡¯s happening but I know it¡¯s bad when Jonathan¡¯s eyes pop and a pained wail rips from his chest. He tumbles, his knees connecting with the ground as the dead body of his daughter is flung before him. He crawls closer to the lifeless girl, discarded like a broken doll, and cradles her to his chest, rocking back and forth. His cries echo in the chilling air, the sounds so anguished my heart curls inwards and my breath falters in my throat as if a rope¡¯s coiling around it. I¡¯ll share her fate¡­ ¡°We¡¯ll have so much fun, little princess,¡± Jax whispers in the shell of my ear, every word edged in darkness. My vocal cords strangle any attempt to speak, wrapped together like strands of overcooked spaghetti, when Darius pulls his gun out, snarling a quietshut the fuck up. A single bullet exits the barrel, the shot ringing loudly in the still air. Matthews drops dead, half of his brain sttered over the passenger side of his sedan. Pained whimpers slip past my lips, my mind spinning faster than a rollercoaster, lungs screaming for air I can¡¯t pull down. ¡°Get her inside,¡± Darius snarls over his shoulder. Obeying the order, Jax digs his fingers into my arms, dragging me away. Fear chokes me, kicking my fight or flight response up to infinity, but before I try making a run for it, Nash¡¯s words reverberate inside my head. ¡°Smarter, Hailey. You need to be smarter.¡± Despite the all-consuming horror, rational thinking wins, and Idon¡¯tfight. Wasting energy on kicking and screaming is pointless. I¡¯m surrounded by twenty armed men. How far would I get before they¡¯d shoot? Ten, twenty feet? Probably less. And even if they missed, there¡¯s those dogs. They¡¯d soon outrun me. Defying my instincts, I cooperate, hoping¡ªpraying¡ªthat if I give them the evidence, I won¡¯t end up lifeless on the graveled driveway. Two men open the tall, wooden door, ushering Jax and me inside the mansion. It¡¯s warm, a bizarre mix of luxury and thinly veiled threats. A grand staircase looms directly opposite the entrance, and Jax drags me that way, one arm firmly around my middle, the other on my shoulder, fingers gouging in so hard he¡¯s not far off crushing my bones. He leads me upstairs, nothing but our footsteps and my racing heartbeat polluting the silence. We navigate the maze-like corridors of the mansion, passing countless closed doors before we stop. ¡°Consider yourself lucky. You get first pick of the beds,¡± he says, opening the door. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d chooseverycarefully.¡± Therge room is chock-full of three-high bunk beds, each neatly made with in gray sheets. A row of college-styled lockers stands at the far wall, numbered from one to thirty. Just like the beds are. ¡°Getfortable,¡± Jax clips, shoving me inside. ¡°If you behave, we might feed you.¡± As soon as I clear the threshold, he ms the door shut so hard the frame rattles. A secondter, the grating click of a key turning in the lock follows, and I¡¯m alone. Saving Hailey: Chapter 4 PRESENT DAY I¡¯ve worked with Dante for years,mitting crimes that should¡¯ve left me rotting behind steel bars, but somehow, I¡¯ve never experienced the pleasure of an interrogation room. They¡¯re just as I imagined. A spitting image of what popr crime dramas get right: oppressively small, the brightness of the overhead light almost surgical, the chair Vaughn left me in designed for difort. Hard, cold metal digs into the backs of my legs while my hands rest on an equally cold table, cuffed to a rail running across the top. The door to my right stands shut, a reminder of my reluctant presence in the almost empty room. I may havee willingly, but that doesn¡¯t mean I want to be here. I don¡¯t have any other choice. Stale, dusty air hangs heavy as if the room hasn¡¯t seen a vacuum in decades and two surveince cameras face my way, red diodes winking in sync. I feel the eyes of the entire police squad boring into me from therge, one-way mirror. Vaughn made quite a spectacle ten minutes ago, parading me like a prized catch through the precinct. Most cops had to pick their jaws up off the fucking floor while Vaughn paraded me front and center, rubbing the sight in everyone¡¯s faces as if saying,It took me ten minutes to do what none of you managed in eight years. I had no idea he had such a re for drama. Maybe that¡¯s where Hailey gets her acting talent. Before I was tossed into this matchbox of a room, Chief Jeremy Smith offered me his signature head tilt over Vaughn¡¯s shoulder. I¡¯ve seen that tilt countless times, so I know it means something along the lines ofI¡¯ll see what I can do. Nice gesture, but his services won¡¯t be needed today. The warrant is fake. Even if it was genuine, there¡¯d still be exactlyjack shitJeremy could do to help me other than sending one of his first-aiders to bandage my bleeding hand, and he already did that. Vaughn¡¯s not one to be swayed by bribes or backdoor deals, and he¡¯s brought along a bunch of fresh-faced, equally stiff-looking recruits, probably straight out of the police academy, their ideals still intact. A smirk curves my lips. Vaughn has nothing on me but desperate men do desperate things¡­ Surely, he has to know the usation won¡¯t stick. I didn¡¯t kill Matthews and he can¡¯t prove otherwise. He¡¯s throwing punches in the dark, hoping for a lucky strike. The door bursts open in another dramatic disy intended to falter my confidence. It strikes the wall like a lightning boltand aplishes nothing but pointless noise. He¡¯s barking up the wrong tree if he thinks he¡¯ll intimidate me with abang. He strides in, two steaming cups in hand, the bittersweet aroma overpowering the space in seconds. Looks like he¡¯s about to dive deep into the role of good cop. He¡¯s not fooling anyone. One of his rookies follows him in, the key to my cuffs dangling from his index finger. He hesitates, pausing over the threshold. ¡°Uncuff him,¡± Vaughn orders. ¡°Andleave.¡± ¡°But, sir¡ª¡± he protests, only to cower under Vaughn¡¯s stare. ¡°Of course, sir. I¡¯ll be outside if you need me.¡± The cuffs fall away, clinking against the table. I rub my wrists and flex my fingers, restoring cirction as I lean back, giving my legs a break from the chair¡¯s hard edge. Vaughn doesn¡¯t say a word. He holds my gaze, slides one coffee across the table, and settles into the opposite chair. From the inside pocket of his jacket, he retrieves a small recorder, setting it down with deliberate care. I cock an eyebrow, ncing at the standard-issue recording device already in the room. The red standby light tells me all I need to know. Given the botched warrant, I shouldn¡¯t be surprised he¡¯s not following protocols¡­ but I am. It doesn¡¯t fit his profile. He sizes me up, eyes sharp and challenging like he¡¯s waiting for me to crack under pressure. Like he expects me to confess if he stares long enough. Maybe such tricks have worked on the lesser minds he¡¯s interrogated in the past, but¡ªagain¡ªwrong fucking tree. I lift the cup, blow the steam off, and take a sip, waiting for the curtain to drop. Years of working with Dante Carrow taught me all about maintaining myposure in the most unlikely situations. I cancalm down and keep my cool at the snap of my fingers ny-nine percent of the time. It was a hundred percent until very recently. Until I found the ring exception, the chink in my armor. A vulnerability with long blonde hair and blue eyes. Any harming Hailey¡¯s way, one small new scratch or bruise on her perfect body, and my control disintegrates. Calming down when she¡¯s hurt is mission fucking impossible. Growing bored of Vaughn¡¯s strategy, I break the silence. Mywyer wouldn¡¯t approve, but whatever. It¡¯s not like I killed Matthews and anything I say will be used against me in the court ofw. This won¡¯t get that far. ¡°You know the usation won¡¯t stick.¡± ¡°You sure about that?¡± Vaughn barks, his voice clipped as he hits record on his little device. ¡°State your full name for the record.¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Carter Beckett.¡± He narrows his eyes, a hint ofoh shitetched into every line on his face. Now he knowswhythe usation won¡¯t stick. He fucked up the warrant. ¡°Not Wird?¡± he drawls, faking ignorance. ¡°Would you like to see my driver¡¯s license?¡± He¡¯s clearly taken aback, but he marshals his expression fast, pretending this little hup hasn¡¯t blown his entire endeavor out of the water. ¡°What¡¯s your rtion to Rhett Wird?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my father, but you already know that.¡± I lean further back, hoping this chair has a morefortable angle. And Vaughn keeps staring as if he can catch me lying without a lie detector. Maybe he can. Hailey says he¡¯s a master at reading people and Rhett agrees. ¡°Where were you the night of Jonathan¡¯s murder? November seventeenth,¡± he grits out, every syble sharper than thest, a stato rhythm bouncing off the walls. ¡°You know where I was, Vaughn.¡± Unlike his crackling voice, mine holds steady despite the storm brewing inside me. Dante¡¯s words bounce inside my mind, a survival mantra to help me along:¡°Interrogation rooms are like poker tables. Never show your hand. Leave emotion at the door.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll have no problem stating it for the record, Mr.Beckett.¡± I take a deliberate sip of coffee and flush the survival mantra down the drain. ¡°We both know I¡¯m here because Hailey told you about a guy called Nash Wright who¡¯s been lying to her for two fucking months, and you took a magnifying ss to him. Tome.¡± His lip twitches and his fists clench, a flicker of doubt or surprise shadowing his features before his stoic fa?ade returns, masking it all. But it¡¯s toote. I already know I¡¯m getting to him. He¡¯s good. I¡¯ll give him that. Despite the minuscule slip-up, his eyes wrinkle at the corners, feigning amusement. Most people wouldn¡¯t notice the tics that betray his real feelings. Most, however, doesn¡¯t meanall. I know where to look and Charles Vaughn is far from amused. He¡¯s a ball of nerves. ¡°Where were you the night of the murder?¡± he insists. I drag a heavy hand down my face. He¡¯s a cop through and through. Everything must be spelled out,ts crossed andis dotted for the fucking record so it holds up in court. ¡°I was at Lakeside College until about midnight. After that, I went looking for my girl.¡± ¡°Yourgirl?¡± ¡°You heard me,¡± I deadpan. ¡°When I couldn¡¯t find her, I headed out of the Berkshires toward Ohio, so I was on the interstate the rest of the night.¡± His forehead lines, another uncharacteristic flicker in his eyes, but he catches himself so fast I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s skepticism or surprise. ¡°Ohio? Why Ohio?¡± ¡°Where else would I start? I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be careless enough to hide Hailey at home, but I figured you¡¯d want her closer this time.¡± The tension in his shoulders ratchets up as he leans forward, muscles feathering his jaw, a vein pulsing on his neck. Something is off. Aside from the anger and determination to see me and Rhett rot in jail, there¡¯s more in his blue eyes¡­ Desperation. He¡¯s having a hard time hiding it, along with the fear beading in a sweaty mist at his hairline. ¡°You thinkIhid her,¡± he mutters, revealing the face of apletely deranged man at the end of his wits when he meets my eyes. ¡°She never got home.¡± Color drains from my face for the second time this evening, his words pounding like a punch to the gut. Saving Hailey: Chapter 5 THREE DAYS EARLIER The door to the room I¡¯ve been locked in for four days opens wide and two bulky men enter. I recognize Darius first, the scorn across his face when he killed Matthews will live forever in my nightmares. Behind himes Jax, carrying a tray with a sad-looking sandwich and a ss of orange juice¡ªthe same thing they¡¯ve brought three times a day since Matthews abandoned me here. I didn¡¯t touch anything for two days, but yesterday I caved, gulped the orange juice in one go, then sat in the corner, waiting forsomethingtohappen. I was certain the juice was spiked but two hourster there was no adverse reaction. My stomach growled whenever I caught sight of the sandwich, but the mere thought of taking a bite shook me with nauseous dry heaves. I can survive much longer without food than drink so the juice will have to do for now. Dad¡¯s teaching has been bouncing around my mind since I arrived:the average human can survive three minutes without oxygen, three days without water, and three weeks without food. It¡¯s only been four days. I¡¯ll be fine. Darius waits for Jax to leave my breakfast on bed number one and exits the room. Once we¡¯re alone, he steps further in,ying a flowy pink negligee beside the food. I¡¯m still wearing the same clothes I arrived in: Nash¡¯s hoodie and a pair of jeans. I don¡¯t smell so hot, but that¡¯s a problem for another day. Darius stalks closer to where I sit in the corner, my knees bent close to my chest. They haven¡¯t gagged or tied me up. I guess there¡¯s no point limiting my movement while I¡¯m locked away. That makes sense but what doesn¡¯t is that no one¡¯s spoken one word to me all this time.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . The light¡¯s been on since Jax shoved me in here, and I haven¡¯t moved other than to grab the juice or use the bathroom: a bigmunal room with a row of showers down the left wall and a row of toilets on the right. No separators, walls, curtains¡­ no privacy if more than one person were using it. Darius crouches before me, his eyes narrowing as he rakes his heated gaze over me. ¡°Wash up, eat, and get dressed.¡± I push myself further into the wall, marginally increasing the distance between us. My body¡¯s a lead weight and I¡¯m so hungry I barely care that they might¡¯ve sprinkled drugs on the sandwich but thinking about chewing makes me sick. ¡°Don¡¯t think you have a choice,¡± he barks. ¡°You have thirty minutes. Unless you enjoy showering with a crowd, you better start moving. Believe me, it¡¯ll be better if you cooperate.¡± With that, he stands back to his full height, casting a quick nce around the room. He frowns at the perfectly made beds but shrugs it off and leaves. I haven¡¯t used the beds. I couldn¡¯t pick a number, obsessing over what the order might mean, Jax¡¯sI¡¯d choose very carefullyechoing in my mind over again. If there are more peopleing, would I be safer in bed number one or thirty? Maybe somewhere in the middle? I¡¯d be safest with Nash. My insides coil, twist, and turn whenever I think about him¡­ in the stark fluorescent light of this room, that¡¯s all I¡¯ve done. Instead of choosing a bed, I¡¯ve been sitting by the wall, battling sleep, thinking about Nash, and analyzing my reaction to the shback. I should¡¯ve stayed at Lakeside. I¡¯d still be safe. Or as safe as one can be with a liar. Safer than here, that¡¯s for sure. Nash never hurt me. No one hurt me here, either,yet, but Jonathan¡¯s lifeless body lying on the gravel, still holding onto his dead daughter, haunts me every time I close my eyes, so I guess it¡¯s only a matter of time before they do. After all, they brought me here because they want the evidence¡­ and I don¡¯t know where it is. I also don¡¯t understand why no one has asked me a single question about it yet. It makes no sense and waiting for the ball to drop is slowly driving me crazy. Maybe that¡¯s their tactic: drive me to the brink of insanity before they torture the information out of me. I stay awake as long as possible but my brain takes short naps. Humans can¡¯t survive longer than eleven days without sleep¡­ most would die after a week. The electronic clock on the wall tells me I don¡¯t sleep for longer than two or three minutes at a time, my body inbat mode, ready for war at any moment. Exhaustion threatens to pull me under, but despite the weakness in my limbs, I¡¯m on high alert, thinking through my time at Lakeside. I¡¯m constantly dissecting the information, looking for clues I might¡¯ve missed, scrutinizing every word my father spoke, every word from Matthews, every fucked-up memory of Alex, and everything Nash said but I have nothing beyond what I wrote in the diary. I¡¯ve also had precisely zero new shbacks, as if my mind¡¯s rebelling against remembering the past while I¡¯m scared to death of the present. The evidence these men are after must be priceless given the trouble Nash went through to retrieve it¡ªthe trouble whoever¡¯s in charge here went through to kidnap Jonathan¡¯s daughter to make sure he¡¯d deliver me¡­ I strain to remember, hoping sheer will might help, but the gaping hole of my memories doesn¡¯t clear. I have no idea what or where the evidence is. One thing I am sure about is that I made a bad situation worse by running from Lakeside. Maybe I should¡¯ve asked Nash for an exnation first. Hewasusing me, but he kept me safe. He made me feel wanted, needed¡­ loved. I can¡¯t remember ever feeling happier than I did when we were together. It was an illusion but it felt so fucking real. I miss him. Well¡­ nothim, whoever he really is. I don¡¯t know him. I miss the character he created. I miss Nash as he was with me. The fire burning in his eyes whenever he touched me, the possessiveness in how he held me, the safe fantasy he crafted. I miss it so much that with every passing hour my heart¡¯s slowly being shredded like a wad of unwanted papers. Pushing my feelings aside is impossible. Nash buried himself deep in my heart and I can¡¯t evict him. I don¡¯t think I want to. I repeat everything I¡¯ve learned, trying to muster the hatred he deserves. He¡¯s not a college student. He¡¯s no armyman, either. He¡¯s like the men holding me captive. Like the man in my shback, the one with blood running down his hands. Like the men my father¡¯s spent his career chasing. A lying, maniptive con man who gave me everything I never knew I wanted, then ripped it away. I don¡¯t lovehim¡­ but I love the illusion. Dad always said mafia men are a ruthless, unforgiving breed. No sentiments. They use any and all means to get what they want and don¡¯t care about the destruction they leave behind. My grandfather was brutally murdered by the mafia some thirty years ago. Dad said Grandad was one of them¡­ and they turned on him. I think that¡¯s when Dad vowed to clear the streets. He¡¯s kept that vow, sending dozens behind bars. Dozens of dangerous men no one else was brave enough to target. The same men I¡¯m surrounded by now. Ruthless killers. It¡¯s been four days, but my breath still hups every time I remember the shback when Nash pulled the trigger. Deep, red blood covering the hands of an older version of Nash. My stomach churns with a mixture of disappointment and longing. He lied for weeks, wrapping a security nket around me while simultaneously weaving a web of intricate lies. I thought he had feelings for me¡­ Even if they were less powerful than mine, I believed what he felt was real. Silly me. After Alex, I should¡¯ve known better. I¡¯m not good enough to keep, just a cheap solution to boredom. The door opens again no more than fifteen minutester. Darius steps inside, cocking one eyebrow as he ps the door closed and turns the key, pocketing it quickly. ¡°You¡¯re running out of time. If you won¡¯t shower yourself, I guess I¡¯ll have to help you.¡± He stalks closer, rolling the sleeves of his ck shirt past the elbows, uncovering veiny, muscled forearms with ck serpents snaked around. I shrink further, praying the wall behind me will swallow me whole. His heavy boots touch my toes as he bends to grab my elbows, digging his fingers so hard into flesh and bones that tears blur my vision. I¡¯m on the floor one second, the next my feet dangle three inches off the ground. He settles me down, gaining a better grip under my arms, then hauls me up again. ¡°Let me go!¡± I croak, the words like razors shing my tongue. ¡°Put me down.¡± ¡°Oh, I will.¡± He enters the shower room, settling me under the closest nozzle, and turns the water on. I squeal, trying to get away from the ice-cold stream spattering my back. My legs barely hold my weight, weak and wobbly fromck of movement, but I back myself against the wall where the water doesn¡¯t reach. ¡°You should¡¯ve done this yourself,¡± Darius snarls, a twisted, deranged smile curling his lips. ¡°We don¡¯t have all fucking day. The next shipment will be here soon.¡± My brows furrow. ¡°What shipment?¡± I mutter. ¡°You didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be alone here forever, did you? There are thirty beds and every single one will be filled within the hour. You¡¯re gettingpany.¡± I don¡¯t have time to wonder how often that room is upied or why. He grips my neckline, ripping the flimsy t-shirt I¡¯m wearing down the front to expose my bare stomach and breasts covered by a bra. They¡¯re not covered for long. He rips it off, then quickly moves lower to the zipper of my jeans. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll do it myself!¡± I shove his hands away. His eyes turn darker when he zeroes in on my boobs. I can¡¯t keep them covered while I¡¯m trying to save myst shreds of dignity by not letting him undress me further. ¡°You had your chance. Now it¡¯s my turn.¡± He grips my wrists and pins them to my stomach, staring at my chest while he makes quick work of shoving my jeans down my legs. He doesn¡¯t do the same with my panties. Instead, he tears them at my hip like he did with my bra, and I¡¯m naked, my skin heating despite the ice-cold water. I shut my eyes, diving deep into my calm, happy ce: early morning at Lakeside in Nash¡¯s bed. His arms around me, cradling me close, his lips on my head, kissing me awake, the warmth of his body, the scent of his skin. ¡°Morning, pretty girl. Sleep well?¡± ¡°You¡¯reing out at my end,¡± Darius grunts, shattering my artificial calm. He snaps me out of the happy ce and I¡¯m back in the bathroom, shivering, scared, and silent while his calloused fingers toy with my nipples. I close my eyes, desperately clinging to Nash, but ourzy morning can¡¯t be summoned, my happy memory forever tainted by the truth: Nash isn¡¯t real. Nothing we had was real. The memory is suddenly out of reach and I feel Darius¡¯s touch like a bare electrical cable. I thrash against his hold, but my struggle is useless. He¡¯s much stronger, his grip on my wrists like a vice. I can¡¯t kick him while my jeans are pooling around my ankles. Humiliation floods my system as the scent of vani assaults my nose. He squirts cold shower gel over my boobs, letting it drip down my stomach. Gritting my teeth, I block the feel of his hands kneading my breasts under the guise of washing me. Every inch of my body is covered in goosebumps. Bile burns a hot path up my throat, but I summon my acting skills and ward off the overpowering helplessness. I won¡¯t break down. I can¡¯t fight him while his hand travels lower, along my waist, then to the other side, getting closer to where I never want him to touch me. I¡¯m assaulted on all fronts. My mind reys the hell Alex put me through, amplifying the most horrific moments, and past fear mixes with present. Without warning, Darius swipes his fingers along my pussy. ¡°Make sure you¡¯re wetter or it¡¯ll hurt, little princess.¡± A pained whimper tears from my chest. I bite my lip, copper pennies dancing on my tongue. Every muscle in my body knots so hard it hurts. I¡¯d wee the pain if it distracted me, but it can¡¯tpare to my mental anguish and only fuels my misery. ¡°Almost done,¡± he pants, his breathing heavy, charged with primitive desire. ¡°Let¡¯s see how tight you are.¡± He shoves two fingers inside me, opening the floodgates that hold my tears at bay. A filthy groan vibrates the air, the warmth of his foul breath fanning my cheek. ¡°So fucking tight. Now I definitely want you. I¡¯ll ruin that little cunt as soon as you¡¯re done choking on my cock.¡± His words barely register, my body a drawn string when he wiggles his fingers, pumping in and out of me for what feels like centuries before he retreats, dipping his head to take my nipple between his teeth. He mps down hard, making me cry out and writhe against him. ¡°Turn around. I¡¯m not done here.¡± He doesn¡¯t give me time to obey. Not that I would. Cuffing my wrists in one hand, he spins me to face the other way and nts my hands on the tiles above my head. He washes my back and ass, shoving his bulky fingers between my cheeks to briefly toy with the other hole. ¡°I bet you never had a cock here, did you?¡± He heaves a darkugh. ¡°You will.¡± He grabs the showerhead, streaming ice-coldwater down my back. ¡°I¡¯ll let go of your hands now. You¡¯ll keep them where they are so I can wash your hair¡­ unless you want me to call my friends over and have them fuck you in every hole you have. Your choice.¡± All I can do is nod, my cheek stered against the wall, eyes leaking tears, legs quivering from fear, cold, and humiliation. Mimicking the roughness of his fingers in my pussy, he¡¯s just as brutal with my hair, almost tearing out the tangled mess I haven¡¯t brushed in days. He works fast, probably because my hair isn¡¯t as interesting as my tits, ass, and pussy. Shoving me against the tiles, he turns the water off and stalks away. ¡°I trust you¡¯ll do the rest?¡± He throws a towel at my feet. ¡°I¡¯lle back in ten minutes. If you¡¯re not dressed, or there¡¯s one fucking crumb left of your breakfast, I¡¯ll make sure your cunt¡¯s bleeding and you¡¯re too sore to sit for days.¡± He exits the bathroom, his heavy steps stalking away. I slide down the wall, hugging my knees close to my chest, and cry like I haven¡¯t in years. Saving Hailey: Chapter 6 PRESENT DAY ¡°Youdon¡¯thave her?¡± I snap at Vaughn,leave emotion at the doorlong forgotten. Disbelief and fear shake my voice in equal measure. The cup vibrates in my hand, coffee sloshing at the lip. ¡°How the fuck is that possible? Where is she? Have you seen her since she ran from Lakeside?¡± Now it¡¯s his turn to pale, his reaction mirroring mine. His hands shake as he rakes them through his hair. The only sound is our breathing echoing in the near-empty room. His silent expression shifts from anger to something far more chilling¡­fear. Realization. A father¡¯s worst nightmare. He stares and stares and stares at me so fucking long with those vacant eyes that I wonder if he¡¯s gone into shock. Just as I¡¯m about to snap him out of it, he moves andcrack¡­ his palms m hard against the metal table with a resounding ng. It doesn¡¯t startle me, but I bet a few guys watching the show from behind the one-way mirror got a good scare. Vaughn lunges forward. I¡¯m about to retaliate, thinking he¡¯s going for my throat, but instead, he grabs the recorder, hurling it at the wall. It splinters on impact. His chest heaving and a Molotov cocktail mix of emotions carving deep lines into his forehead, he marches out, mming the door with a finality that echoes in my head. The room must be soundproof because when he returns two minutester, I haven¡¯t heard a thing from outside. ¡°Are you trying to fucking tell meyoudon¡¯t have her?¡± Vaughn seethes, his clenched fists hammering the table. ¡°Are you fuckingcertainRhett doesn¡¯t?¡± I nce over his shoulder, noting that the cameras have stopped blinking. I guess he disabled them. ¡°No one¡¯s watching or listening,¡± he says like he read my mind. He must have cleared out the observation room too. ¡°Just¡­fuck!¡± He tangles his fingers in his hair. ¡°Tell me you know where she is. Tell me your sick fuck of a father has my daughter! Tell me she¡¯s okay. It¡¯s been a week!¡± He paces the room, lost in his own turmoil. ¡°Vaughn,¡± I seethe, trying to ground us both, my mind whirring through possibilities. How does henotknow where she is? ¡°Matthews picked her up that night,¡± I speak my thoughts aloud. ¡°How would Rhett have Hailey?¡± ¡°Matthews¡¯ car was found inOhio, Carter. What else would I think?!¡± Shit. Was Matthews working for my father? No¡­ Rhett would¡¯ve told me if he bought a cop close to Vaughn. On the other hand, given the nagging feeling I have that Rhett¡¯s only been showing me half the picture, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he kept that information firmly in the other half. I massage my temples, forcing a calming breath past my teeth. Rhett doesn¡¯t have Hailey. If he did, he wouldn¡¯t be able to keep himself from gloating. ¡°I was fucking certain you found her a new hiding spot. The only reason I let you cuff me is because I thought you¡¯d tell me she¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°Idon¡¯thave her!¡± His voice quivers, the terror of a father scared about his child taking center stage. ¡°I didn¡¯t know she¡¯d left until the dean called the next morning.¡± There¡¯s a pause, his eyes darting left and right, chasing his own express train of thoughts. Mindless panic and fear mix in his eyes. His knuckles whiten with how hard he clenches his fists and sweat trickles down his forehead. Every part of him is jittery like an outmanned gunman unsure where to aim. I¡¯m not doing any better. Though Iamhiding it well. ¡°Don¡¯t fuck with me, Wird. Tell me where my daughter is!¡± Once more, he ms his hands on the table. It serves no point other than channeling his rage. Better the table than my face. ¡°You were thest one with her! You need her to help your father!¡± My temper soars at the tone of his voice and the shit he¡¯s spewing. He has no idea about the bigger picture. The unspoken usation that I don¡¯t care about Hailey sends me flying off the handle. I bolt upright, grabbing his cor to yank him forward so hard his thighs hit the metal edge of the table. ¡°Don¡¯tunderestimate how far I¡¯ll go for Hailey.Don¡¯tthink there¡¯s a single line I won¡¯t cross to get her back.¡± I shove him away, slumping back into my seat. I¡¯m shaking inside, engulfed in a chill that feels like I¡¯m lost in the Arctic Circle. Fear threatens to drown me. It strips me of the one thing that can help me find my girl: control. Cold, harsh, calcted control. Holding onto it when my mind¡¯s stuck in a loop, chantingsevendaysonrepeat is damn near impossible. All this time, I was convinced Vaughn pulled a Houdini trick and hid Hailey out of my reach, off the radar. Hiding her at Lakeside had questionable results, but people learn from their mistakes. I was certain Vaughn learned to hide his daughter better. Our only concrete lead was the Lakeside security footage. I¡¯ve watched the video of Hailey leaving the building with her suitcase and getting into Matthews¡¯ car a thousand times. I was right there, less than three hundred feet away, behind the tree line, pacing a path while on the phone to Dante and Broadway. I was rightthere, oblivious that she was slipping right through my fingers. Ryder and Jackson have barely slept since I came back, scouring Vaughn¡¯s entire digital footprint, but they found nothing. Not even when they hacked his precinct. I was on the road, berating my men over the phone while checking all the holes but every lead I followed turned up empty. No wonder. I¡¯ve been chasing shadows the whole time, assuming Hailey was with her father. I put the biggest magnifying ss to Vaughn, tracing his every step, hoping he¡¯d go see her and betray her location. We sent bugs to his phone, but he¡¯s too smart for that. He either changed the device or started using burners. At least that¡¯s what I thought. Whenever we hit a dead end, I conjured an exnation, a reason why I still haven¡¯t found my girl after seven days. My knuckles whiten more the harder I grip the table. Instead of fixating on Vaughn, I should¡¯ve cast my wider, considered Rhett¡¯s enemies. God knows how many there are who could benefit from the evidence that Hailey¡¯s the key to. ¡°Matthewswas with her that night,¡± I grit out, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth, barely holding myself together. ¡°Where was he taking her? What were your orders?¡± Vaughn pales further, a man on the brink of copse as he folds into himself, sinking into the chair opposite mine. I¡¯ve known him by reputation for years. Despite Rhett and Vaughn¡¯s mutual hatred and the obvious mafia man/cop issue, there was always an undertone of respect in Rhett¡¯s voice when he mentioned Charles. The man is a war machine. Methodical, strategic, with a code of honor few possess. Rhett depicted him as the epitome of unbreakable control. A man who holds his own, even in situations where others would fall apart. He¡¯s been responsible for taking down the most vicious, vengeful men in the business. Nothing ever sways his judgment. No amount of money or promises canbuyCharles Vaughn. But there¡¯s nothing of that man in the person sitting across from me. Not even a fucking shadow. There¡¯s no courage, no control, no n. His eyes brim with tears, his gaze hollow with despair and deep, all-consuming fear for his daughter¡¯s life. It matches my own¡­ probably knocks it right out of the park because he¡¯s herfather. Hailey¡¯s all he¡¯s got left since he lost his wife. Everything he¡¯s done until now was to protect her after hefailed to see how close she and Alex were. Both our problems stem from that sleazy motherfucker but it was Vaughn who sent him on his mission to destroy my father. And now it¡¯s destroying him. Poetic fucking justice. Too bad it¡¯s at Hailey¡¯s expense. He swallows a sharp breath, lifting his eyes to mine. ¡°I swear, Wird, if you¡¯re lying, if you¡¯re¡ª¡± ¡°I.Don¡¯t. Have. Her,¡± I grit out through clenched teeth, holding his gaze so he¡¯ll read the truth in my eyes. I doubt it¡¯s enough, but it has to be. I can¡¯t prove it. ¡°Then where is she?! Why were you at Lakeside?¡± ¡°Why do you think?¡± I lean forward, the cold table a doubtful barrier between us if he decides to smash my face against the handcuff rail. ¡°She knows where Alex¡¯s evidence is and Rhett wants it.¡± I deliberately omit that¡ªording to Hailey¡¯s most recent shback¡ªsheis the evidence. There may be some paperwork hidden in the bank, or God knows where, but her testimony will be crucial. She¡¯s an eyewitness. An anomaly in the world where Rhett Wird reigns. No one ever testified against my father because no witnesses ever lived to tell the tale. Except Hailey. And Rhett doesn¡¯t know she caught him red-handed. ¡°You sent Matthews to pick her up,¡± I say, watching Vaughn grab the table as if to keep himself from pacing the room. ¡°Where was he taking her?¡± He squeezes the metal hard enough to leave dents. The stubble along his jaw hints that he¡¯s not been in the right frame of mind to shavetely, and his shirt¡¯s stained and wrinkled. It all confirms he truly has no idea where Hailey is. Some things you can¡¯t fake, and the sorrow in his eyes, the fuckingguiltthere, is one of them. ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± he murmurs, almost to himself. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Ididn¡¯tsend Matthews.¡± He rakes one hand through his hair, then drops it back down, staring at his fingernails; he¡¯s bitten them so short they look sore. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Hailey was leaving. I didn¡¯t even know about you until recently.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you he was picking her up?¡± I ask, narrowing my eyes. Why wouldn¡¯t he? ¡°She called him toe get her and given how fucking paranoid you were, I get why she calledhimnot you, but¡ª¡± ¡°How is that relevant?! Her life is on the line!¡± ¡°You think I don¡¯t fucking know that?!¡± Now it¡¯s my hand banging against the table, my patience fraying beyond its limit. ¡°You¡¯re not the only man here who¡¯ll move heaven and hell for her. Don¡¯t forget I let you put me in handcuffs for a chance to find out she¡¯s okay, Vaughn.¡± ¡°You think I believe you care about her? You only want her because your father needs the evidence. Don¡¯t take me for a fool.¡± ¡°How can I not when you¡¯re acting like one? I was sent to Lakeside with orders to extract information. My mission was to break Hailey,¡± I seethe, the confession a bitter pill. ¡°But she broke me and now she¡¯smine. Better get used to that idea.¡± ¡°Over my dead body!¡± ¡°That can be arranged,¡± I shoot back. ¡°Don¡¯t tempt me.¡± His mouth falls open, but he snaps it shut quickly, eyeing me with a newfound intensity. ¡°I¡¯m an open book, Vaughn. No need for mind reading.¡± I lean back, my voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside me. ¡°Stop wasting time. She¡¯s not with you and she¡¯s not with me but she¡¯s out there somewhere. She¡¯s too important to kill, because she knows too much, but there are many ruthless fuckers out there who know about the mole you nted.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t know about Hailey¡¯s involvement,¡± he counters, a hint of hisposure resurfacing. ¡°They do. There are no lines they won¡¯t cross when their lives are on the line. And¡­ Rhett has a rat in his ranks. It¡¯s safe to assume everyone who¡¯s in the business of knowing knows. Hiding her at Lakeside wasn¡¯t such a smart move. My father paidoff a nurse at the hospital. She told him where Hailey was going before you even signed the admission papers.¡± ¡°We both know what your father is capable of.¡± He rubs his neck that¡¯s glowing red with exasperation. ¡°I did everything I could to protect her. We didn¡¯t talk about her memories in case Rhett had tapped my phone.¡± Better safe than sorry, I guess. I get why he put that particr safety measure in ce, but if Vaughn had ignited a stronger sense of trust in Hailey from the get-go, she¡¯d have called him, not Matthews. ¡°Where exactly did you find Matthews¡¯ body?¡± I ask, my mind grabbing the scattered puzzle pieces. ¡°He obviously got paid to bring her to someone at the first opportunity.¡± ¡°No,¡± Vaughn clips, a hint of ruthlessness piercing his hurt. ¡°Matthews wouldneverept a bribe, Wird. Believe it or not, some men just aren¡¯t built that way and if there¡¯s one man I¡¯d bet my money on, it¡¯s Matthews.¡± I scoff, my knuckles rapping a steady, cynical rhythm. ¡°Loyalty is a luxury. In our world, it¡¯s often the first thing to be sacrificed. We all have our limits, Vaughn. We all have our vices and most of us have weaknesses. Looks like Matthews¡¯ weakness was his daughter. I bet you can rte.¡± I let the words hang between us, a cruel smile ying on my lips. ¡°If I had Hailey at gunpoint and told you she¡¯d die if you didn¡¯t drop the investigation, would you really sacrifice her to protect a wed system?¡± His throat works, a hard swallow betraying his struggle, a bead of sweat tracing a path down his forehead. His silence is louder than any words he could utter.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°I didn¡¯t think so,¡± I continue when he doesn¡¯t answer. I won¡¯t lie, I thought he¡¯d disagree and stay on his high horse. We¡¯re on opposite sides of an invisible line, but he¡¯s desperateto find Hailey, and the line between right and wrong he tries so hard not to cross has begun to blur. ¡°I need a phone.¡± ¡°Forget it,¡± he snaps, the clean-cop fa?ade crawling back over him. ¡°It¡¯s been seven days. Hailey¡¯s being held captive and you don¡¯t have a clue where. Think about what they could be doing to her.¡± I lean in, my eyes locked on his. ¡°Your usation won¡¯t stick. I didn¡¯t kill Matthews. You have zero evidence, so I¡¯ll walk out of here the minute I call mywyer. Do you want your daughter back or not?¡± ¡°Of course I want her back, but we¡¯ll do it my way.¡± ¡°Your way?¡± I let out a cold, humorlessugh. ¡°Because that¡¯s worked so fucking well thus far? You had your chance and you failed. I have resources you can only dream about, zero inhibitions, and the capacity to do what¡¯s necessary. Get me a phone.¡± He bristles at my words, but that clean-cop fa?ade he¡¯s barely put on starts sliding away again. ¡°If you think I¡¯ll work with some criminal to¡ª¡± ¡°Iwillget her back.¡± I shut him up. ¡°You have my word.¡± ¡°You¡¯re fucking delusional. You think I¡¯ll let my daughter end up with someone like you? The trash I¡¯ve spent my whole life sweeping off the streets? Youwon¡¯ttouch her.¡± ¡°Unless it¡¯s over your dead body, right?¡± I scoff, folding my arms over my chest. ¡°By that logic, you should¡¯ve dropped dead weeks ago. Hailey¡¯s mine. Either get on board or get out of the fucking way.¡± The air between us crackles with hostility. I know this won¡¯t go down easy. He¡¯ll do everything in his power to separate us the moment she¡¯s safe. I¡¯m not arrogant enough to take his silence as an admission of defeat. Men like Vaughn don¡¯t turn the other cheek whenthey¡¯re pped, but he¡¯s out of options, so, at least for now, I have the upper hand. ¡°Now¡­¡± I say, forcing him to choose a path. ¡°Get.Me.A.Phone.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 8 Vaughn gnashes his teeth between his lips, ring from where he leans against the wall, fingers tightening around the phone he pulled out of the inside pocket of his jacket. The air in the room grows thick with tension, the silent battle of wills between us almost tangible. He¡¯s been standing there for five minutes, chewing his teeth, lost in his desperate need to save Hailey but restrained by his principles. ¡°You¡¯re wasting time,¡± I grit out, cracking my knuckles to keep my hands upied with something other than battering him to death. That sure would mean time behind bars. ¡°You think this is easy?¡± He straightens his spine against the wall. ¡°You think I want to rely on you?¡± I resist the urge to sneer. ¡°This isn¡¯t about what you want, Vaughn. It¡¯s about getting Hailey back. What other choice do you have? What¡¯s your n? You had seven days and you¡¯re nowhere.¡± ¡°You had just as long,¡± he grumbles, rubbing his temples. ¡°And yet here you are, empty-handed, needingmyhelp.¡± ¡°Your help?¡± I scoff, losing my goddamn patience with this clown. ¡°I haven¡¯t found her only because I was convincedyouhad her. You don¡¯t, so I don¡¯t need you. It¡¯syouwho needs help. I still have my one phone call and I¡¯ll walk once mywyer gets here. We both know you forged that warrant.¡± Vaughn scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. ¡°I tried getting a real one but, as you pointed out, the system is wed.¡± ¡°Wee to the dark side of the line. I¡¯ll know where Hailey is by morning.¡± That¡¯s a bluff. I have no fucking idea where she is, but I have a few suspects. Suspects inmyworld which means my sources of information are infinitely more useful. ¡°I¡¯ll have her back in forty-eight hours max. You really think you¡¯ll find her first?¡± He shifts his weight from one leg to another, clutching his phone like a lifeline. Like it¡¯s a manifestation of his principles. Either he stands his ground, holding onto the illusion of being the bigger man, or he waves the white g. I want him to relent. I want him to hand the fucking phone over, inadvertently admitting he needsme. ¡°If she¡¯s been off the radar this long, she¡¯s with someone who won¡¯t offer you the same decency Rhett did,¡± I continue, swaying his judgment. ¡°You¡¯ll be dead the moment you get there, and that¡¯s only if your deputy allows the raid. You need me more than I need you.¡± I don¡¯t need him at all, but while he¡¯s been standing there, sulking, I realized that while Hailey¡¯s all he has left, he¡¯s also her only remaining family. She¡¯ll want him in her life and there¡¯s no way he¡¯ll ept me unless I give him no choice. ¡°What lengths will you go to, to protect your daughter?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever it takes,¡± he snaps. ¡°Then give me the phone.¡± ¡°You¡¯re part of the world I¡¯m protecting her from.¡± ¡°I am, but don¡¯t throw me in the same bag as the scum you¡¯ve been chasing your whole life. Unlike them, unlike anyoneelse in this fucked-up world, I¡¯ll happilydietoprotect her. Open your eyes and smell the fucking music.¡± The corner of his lip twitches. ¡°My wife used to butcher that saying the same way.¡± ¡°I bet I¡¯d get along with her better than you.¡± ¡°Yeah, I bet you would.¡± He inhales a sharp breath, his pain still evident in that sound. His Adam¡¯s apple bobs as he swallows, wiping the sweat glistening around his temples. ¡°You¡¯re wasting time, Vaughn. You want Hailey to end up like Matthews¡¯ daughter?¡± ¡°Of course not. She¡¯s all I have left. I can¡¯t lose her.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t.Wewon¡¯t. I¡¯ll bring her back. I have more than enough means and no need to abide by thew. What doyouhave?¡± He exhales heavily, his gaze shing with mine, reluctant eptance in his eyes. ¡°I have you.¡± He tosses the phone across the room. ¡°Good choice,¡± I say, plucking it from the air. ¡°Now fetch Jeremy.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re right.¡± I set his phone down on the table, tapping the screen twice. ¡°This might be tapped.¡± ¡°Then why did you ask for it?!¡± I cock an eyebrow, staring him down. He really is an intelligent man. It takes him less than ten seconds to figure it out. ¡°You wanted me to cave and admit I need your help.¡± ¡°Now I know where Hailey gets her analytical mind.¡± I jut my chin at the door. ¡°We need Jeremy. No time to lose.¡± With visible hesitation, he does as instructed. I bet it costs him all his pride to take orders from me, but for Hailey¡¯s sake, he exits the interrogation room. I press the side button on his phone. My stomach twists into borate knots when Hailey stares up from the screen, all smiles and blue eyes. We¡¯ve been together for weeks, but other than the headshot Rhett gave me, I don¡¯t have a single picture of her. Hundreds of her diary, but not one of her pretty, radiant face. The headshot doesn¡¯t capture that innocence I love so much and the fire burning within. Vaughn¡¯s phone wallpaper does a better job, though I¡¯d rather have a picture taken seconds after I make here. The satisfaction sparkling in her eyes, the bliss painting her face, the multitude of emotions visible in her exhausted smile. When she¡¯s back and mine again, I¡¯ll spend my days photographing her when she least expects it. The door swings open and Jeremy walks in, shoulders squared back and a look of superiority crossing his features when his eyes catch mine. ¡°Looks like I underestimated you, Beckett,¡± he denotes, purposefully ncing at Vaughn. ¡°Had I known you were so persuasive, I would¡¯ve paid you more attention.¡± ¡°Lesson learned. I need your phone. And get Foley in here. He should make a show of dismissing the charges before I walk out, don¡¯t you think?¡± Jeremy nods, pulling two phones out of his pockets. He pushes the one he uses strictly for Dante my way. The other stays in his hand to call Foley. From memory, I tap in a number, press the cell to my ear and lower the call volume so Vaughn can¡¯t eavesdrop. It takes half a dial tone before Ryder picks up. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± I say. ¡°Hailey¡¯s not with Vaughn.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we suspected after you were escorted out ofDelta.¡± ¡°I trust you¡¯ve not been sitting on your ass the past hour?¡± ¡°Who do you take me for?¡± he scoffs. ¡°Of course not. Given this is Jeremy¡¯s number, I assume you¡¯ll be back soon?¡± ¡°Depends how quickly Foley arrives for his performance.¡± I run a heavy hand down my face. ¡°Any leads?¡± ¡°Nothing concrete yet, but given where the bodies were found, we¡¯re betting on Noretto. Some fisherman found Matthews floating in Tappan Lake. That¡¯s Ohio, but just an hour outside Pittsburgh.¡± Fuck. That¡¯s Noretto¡¯s turf. He has good reason to be particrly interested in Alex¡¯s evidence against Rhett. When Vaughn told me he didn¡¯t have Hailey, I suspected Noretto, but I didn¡¯t want to let that thought sink. Not only because the man is a fucking nutcase but also because of his chosen line of work¡ªselling girls from Eastern Europe to American brothels. The thought of Hailey in his house, surrounded by men with zero respect for women, is enough to send my temper skyrocketing. ¡°ze has the most to gain, and his ce isn¡¯t that far from theke,¡± Jackson adds somewhere in the background. ¡°We¡¯re looking into how Matthews¡¯ daughter was taken.¡± ¡°Good. I doubt they threw up too many smoke screens. If you can pinpoint where she was kidnapped and whodid it, we¡¯ll have confirmation.¡± I purposely don¡¯t say ze¡¯s name out loud. Vaughn caved but I don¡¯t trust him not to make a move on Noretto¡¯s ce. That would not go down well. He¡¯s a cop. He has to follow protocol, and protocol would get him killed if he got anywhere near ze¡¯s mansion. Fucking perfect¡­ caring about Hailey means I need to keep her father¡ªa cop¡ªalive. His death would leave her devastated¡­ that¡¯snotsomething I can handle. With this new information, it¡¯s almost too fucking obvious ze Noretto has my girl, but I need proof. Dante won¡¯t let me go in with all guns zing based on a suspicion. We don¡¯t need another war, though I¡¯d start one to get Hailey back. I hope she won¡¯t tell them what she sees in her shbacks. She should know better. She gave in to me without much of a fight, but I think¡ªwell, I hope¡ªher feelings were to me. Though, given her history with Alex and me, she¡¯s not the best judge of character. The only constion is that she¡¯s much more valuable alive than dead. On top of the evidence, she¡¯s awitness. I doubt ze wants the evidence to send Rhett down for life, but an eyewitness makes a great bargaining chip. I fucking hope she hasn¡¯t told him she saw Rhett perform an execution. ¡°I¡¯m trying to hack his security system but it¡¯s a tight ship,¡± Ryder says and the faint sound of fingers tapping a keyboard confirms he¡¯s working. ¡°I¡¯ll be home soon. Tell Broadway to wait at my loft.¡± ¡°Got it. He and Koby are out in the city asking the right questions now we think we know where she is.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Good. Keep me posted.¡± I cut the call, tossing the phone back to Jeremy. Fifteen tense minutester, mywyer arrives, which means Dante briefed him about the situation and Foley spent the past hour waiting for the call. A knock shakes the doorframe and a lower-ranking officer, one of those who arrived inDeltawith Vaughn, flings it open after a resoundine infromJeremy. Without a word, he steps aside, letting Michael Foley dressed in a suit worth more than his Merc into the room,his all-business-and-zero-bullshit attitude overpowering the atmosphere. Working as the leadwyer for Dante pays well, and the guy is a fucking magician, so he often gets a bonus. His eyes lock with mine as he crosses the threshold. Vaughn dismisses the other cop and stands his ground despite Foley¡¯s skeptical look. ¡°He stays,¡± I say. A nod is all I get in return while Michael pulls out a wad of papers. He came prepared. Getting Dante¡¯s men out of interrogation rooms isn¡¯t amon urrence, considering we rarely get caught, but it does happen, so Michael knows the drill. ¡°Give him a burner.¡± I motion to Vaughn. Still saying nothing, Michael opens a separatepartment in his briefcase and assembles a burner phone before passing it over. If this weird turn of events fazes him, he doesn¡¯t let it show. ¡°Keep it on you at all times,¡± I tell Vaughn. ¡°I¡¯ll call you when I have Hailey.¡± ¡°Just like that? No demands?¡± ¡°Demands?¡± I scoff. ¡°You think I¡¯ll use her to ckmail you into doing whatever I want? Think again.¡± He swallows hard, watching me with a dubious look. ¡°You really love her¡­¡± I don¡¯t know where he¡¯s going with this. It¡¯s not a question, more like he¡¯s stating it for his own benefit, so I don¡¯t answer. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want her to lose the only parent she has left, would you?¡± he asks, after taking the moment I gave him to wrap his head around this. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re wondering, but you¡¯re not guaranteed a spot in Hailey¡¯s life. Not unless you learn to live with the fact your daughter is mine.¡± ¡°You want my fucking blessing?¡± he snaps, growing defensive. ¡°Fine, but I want something in return. I want to be the first person you call when you find the evidence, Beckett.¡± The fucking audacity. The fuckingnerveofhim. How can he blindly focus on the evidence while his daughter¡¯s life is on the line? ¡°You¡¯re in no position to issue demands. You put a gun to your own head when you forged that warrant. I won¡¯t use Hailey against you but don¡¯t mistake that for a weakness. I have more than enough ammunition. Keep the phone on you.¡± I nod at Michael, who passes the paperwork to Vaughn. He doesn¡¯t even look at it, which¡ªI guess¡ªis why Michael doesn¡¯t bother reciting any of the legal jargon he always has primed. Instead, he opens the door, perfectly confident that we can walk out as if I weren¡¯t used of murdering a police officer. I pass Vaughn, his face pale, eyes jumping side to side. He¡¯s scared. Rightly so. His only daughter is held captive and it boils down to one bad decision he made: trusting Alex, the piece of shit who infiltrated my father, took my sister¡¯s innocence, and hurt Hailey. For one fleeting moment, I consider stopping, patting his back or squeezing his shoulder and spewing a few words of reassurance. I¡¯ll find her, get her back, and keep her safe. But I don¡¯t do or say any of that. I have too many reasons to hate this guy with everything in me. Fuck him. Shouldering past him, my entire focus goes into mental preparation. Once Ryder confirms Hailey¡¯s with ze, it¡¯s full steam ahead. Noretto¡¯s no rookie. He¡¯s a vengeful fucker with an army of equally vengeful men ready to die for the cause. Saving Hailey: Chapter 9 TWO DAYS EARLIER The sound of the door opening behind me stops me in my tracks. I can¡¯t judge how far I¡¯ve crawled, but it can¡¯t be more than ten meters. Every inch brings me closer to Darius. Closer to rape, but despite the pain of whips and beltsshing at me relentlessly, I can¡¯t bring myself to crawl faster. ¡°Good evening, gentlemen,¡± a voice, dripping with authority, vibrates the air. Darius sounds menacing, but this man, whoever he is, takes the crown. The room falls silent save for choked-back sobs. Even the grunting stops and, along with it, their attack on me. ¡°I see you¡¯re breaking in our newest shipment.¡± ¡°As always,¡± Darius replies, less venomyering his tone. He¡¯s not as menacing as when he yelled at me a moment ago. ¡°How can we help you, Boss? Would you like to join the fun?¡± ¡°You know better than that. I do, however, have a question. See¡­¡± The click of elegant shoes moves slowly along the line of the carpet. ¡°I checked on our guest and found her bedroom empty. It doesn¡¯t look like she spent one minute there¡­ You wouldn¡¯t know where she is, would you?¡± It¡¯s a seemingly innocent questionced with a threat that¡ªjudging by his answer¡ªDarius doesn¡¯t detect. ¡°Right here. I¡¯ll be breaking this one in myself.¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Oh, you will, will you? I don¡¯t recall giving you permission to touch my guest.Guests,¡± he corrects, the word like a vial of poison. ¡°Strike one, Matthews. Strike two, his daughter. You¡¯re running out of strikes fast this evening.¡± A nervous murmur traverses the room. ¡°Silence,¡± the man snaps. ¡°Will my guest be auctioned with the others, Darius?¡± There¡¯s a scraping on the polished floor like someone¡¯s nervously stepping from one foot to the other. The room¡¯s so quiet you¡¯d hear a pin drop. So quiet I hear Darius swallow loud enough to prate the rug. ¡°No, Boss, she won¡¯t.¡± ¡°And which girls are you allowed to ydate with here?¡± ¡°The ones for auction.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± the boss clips. A faintclickfills the air, making my stomach somersault. I know that click. It¡¯s the click of a gun¡¯s safety being flipped. ¡°Let this be a lesson.¡± ¡°Boss, it was¡ª¡± ¡°Strike three.¡± A deafening shot cuts Darius off. My ears ring, girls scream, and there¡¯s a shuffle of men¡¯s feet scurrying away from the rug. And then, as if in slow motion¡­ a heavy thud. ¡°Jax, consider this your promotion. You¡¯re in charge here. Don¡¯t make me regret it.¡± Anotherclick, the safety being flipped back on. ¡°What are you waiting for? Lift the fucking rug.¡± Another shuffle of feet, and light breaches the darkness ahead. The first thing I make out is the sole of a ckbat boot. Then the other. Darius¡¯s boots. Heys where he stood, crimson blood pooling around his head and glimmering under the lights. Angling my head, I see a man towering above the others. He steps closer, a perfect blend of strength and elegance highlighted by a ck suit, tailored to hug every inch of his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He crouches on my left, slicking back his neatly styled hair before holding his hand out. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Hailey,¡± he coos, his ck eyes boring into mine, tone soothing, like he¡¯s talking to a wounded animal. ¡°You¡¯re okay.¡± He extends his hand further, bending two fingers in e heremotion. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you settled into your room.¡± Part of me wants to stay where I am. I don¡¯t know if I can trust this man but he killed Darius, who threatened to rape me and let others do the same. I have a choice: stay in a room full of men palming their dicks, eager to assault the girls crowded by the exit, or take his hand and leave, not knowing whether he¡¯ll just rape me in a less public setting. There¡¯s a softness in his features which tells me he¡¯s young. Very young, considering he¡¯s the boss around here. I doubt he¡¯s Nash¡¯s age. Probably a few years younger. I swallow hard and start crawling on my hands and knees, my new mantra leaping from the depths of my subconscious:one man is better than thirty. ¡°Attagirl,¡± the boss says. ¡°Just a little further.¡± No one speaks. No one moves. Even the girls are fighting to stay quiet. I bite my cheek, swallowing every sound that wants to escape my lips each time I move. There¡¯s not a part of my body that doesn¡¯t ache. I doubt I¡¯ll be able toy on my back for days. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they broke my ribs with the carpet beater. ¡°Almost there, keep going.¡± He shuffles forward to reach me sooner. ¡°That¡¯s it. Take my hand.¡± I do. Lacking better options, I let himce our fingers, expecting a sharp tug, then his hand fisting my blonde, damp locks so he can yank me to my knees. But it doesn¡¯t happen. There¡¯s no urgency in his touch. No brutality. His fingers gently weave with mine and he helps me up. I don¡¯t stand for long. Bending down, he sneaks one arm under my knees, the other around my back, and scoops me into his arms, bridal style. ¡°You,¡± he barks at a man to our left. ¡°Cover her up.¡± The man drops his whip, tearing his suit jacket off. He drapes it over me, bowing his head low. I hardly breathe, pulling in scraps of air because every deep breath sends a wave of pain screaming along my ribs. Once the jacket is tucked under me, covering everything I don¡¯t want to show, the boss starts walking. Desmond herds the girls into the corner, out of our path, his arms outstretched to grab any who might dare run. I lock eyes with the violet-haired girl, wishing I could do something.Anything to help her. Helpthem. They¡¯re not escaping this fate. They¡¯ll end up under the rug, crawling, crying¡­ gagging. Nausea twists my insides, intensifying further when she offers me a small, reassuring smile. She wasjustraped but here she is, helping me along. Where does she get her strength from? ¡°Look at you,¡± the boss tuts, exiting the ballroom. Two men in ck sunsses trail behind us like bodyguards, staring straight ahead. ¡°You¡¯re shaking. It¡¯s okay. No one will hurt you again. You have my word.¡± The rational part of me knows I can¡¯t trust him, but there¡¯s a small, desperate part, the one seeking safety, that swells with hope. I don¡¯t risk saying a word as his bodyguard steps forward, opening another door halfway down the hall. Instead of being flung to the ground like Jonathan¡¯s daughter was, I¡¯m set down carefully, and the boss makes sure I hold my weight before he gives me space. This plush-carpeted room isn¡¯t the same one I¡¯ve been locked in for thest four days. There¡¯s only one bed, covered in fluffy pillows, the white sheets crispy clean. The sunset spills through arge bay window, bathing the small reading nook on my left: a single armchair and hundreds of books I could lose myself in under different circumstances. ¡°Where are your clothes?¡± the boss asks. ¡°Um¡­ I don¡¯t have anything other than what I arrived in.¡± He squeezes the bridge of his nose, pushing out an exasperated breath. ¡°Fucking dimwits. Rex, fetch somethingfortable from the East Wing.¡± He looks over his shoulder, giving me a quick once-over thatcks any sexual innuendo. ¡°The smallest size you can find.¡± Rex nods, marching out the door, every move stiff, as if he¡¯s the Terminator himself. The boss turns back to me, his features softening. ¡°We¡¯ll get you out of thisce soon. You must be freezing.¡± He gently sitsme on the bed and covers me up better with the ck, oversized jacket. ¡°No more tears,¡± he adds, swiping his thumbs under my eyes. ¡°I gave you my word, remember?¡± A tight nod is my only answer, my vocal cords tangled like the ivy hanging outside the window. I don¡¯t trust myself not to break down into ugly cries the second I part my lips. My heart¡¯s still fluttering faster than a hummingbird¡¯s wings and I¡¯m so fucking confused my head¡¯s spinning. Why is he so nice? Because he wants the evidence. ¡°Terrence, get the cook to prepare a light meal. Soup and a cup of tea would be best. And send one of the maids up. I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll be able to dress herself.¡± ¡°I will,¡± I croak, panic slicing through me at the thought of anyone else putting their hands on my naked body. Terrence marches out, closing the door behind him. I¡¯m alone, locked in here with the boss, who spins on the heel of his elegant leather boot, eyes boring into mine. I¡¯m waiting for the curtain to drop and his temper to make an appearance. I¡¯m waiting for pain, curses, demands, but¡ªagain¡ªnothing happens. If this is some borate way of fucking with my head, it¡¯s working. ¡°How about a doctor? Have I arrived in time, or were they already on round two?¡± Roundtwo? They make them dive under the rugtwice? ¡°That terrified look on your face tells me you didn¡¯t know about round two, but I still need to know if anyone¡¯s touched you since you arrived here.¡± ¡°Other than the dead man?¡± I whisper, staring at my fingernails. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I see Darius deserved more than one bullet.¡± He crosses the room, taking a seat in the armchair. ¡°My name¡¯s ze Noretto. Do you know where you are, Hailey?¡± ¡°Somewhere in Pennsylvania?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. And do you know why you¡¯re here?¡± I do, but the less I say, the better, so I shake my head, curling up when a lightning bolt of pain pierces every vertebra of my spine. ¡°You¡¯re here because you have invaluable information that you don¡¯t yet remember. From what I¡¯ve gleaned, you¡¯ve been recovering well since your ident and your memories are returning faster than your neurologist anticipated.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what information you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°I believe you met a certain Carter Wird recently, though Nash Wright might ring a louder bell. The information I need involves his father.¡± I twist the hem of the jacket, blinking away another wave of tears. Nash isn¡¯t even his real name. Nothing about him was real. They¡¯re two people in one body. Nash is mine, and Carter¡­ Carter is a monster. There¡¯s a rap on the bedroom door before Rex enters, holding a gray hoodie and gray tracksuit bottoms on the palm of his hand as if he¡¯s presenting a king with a crown. ¡°Ah, good. We¡¯ll finish this conversation once you¡¯ve rested,¡± ze says, setting the clothes beside me. ¡°Rex here is my personal bodyguard. I trust him with my life, so he¡¯ll stand guard at your door. You can be sure no one will enter without my explicit permission¡ªI don¡¯t hand that out lightly.¡± Another knock rattles the door and Rex lets in a maid. The smell of tomato soup breaches the room, making my rioting stomach somersault back. ¡°You should eat something. If you can¡¯t eat, then at least drink your tea. It¡¯ll help you sleep. I¡¯ll stop by in the morning.¡± With that, he marches toward the door, every step like a man on a mission. He stops in the doorway, where Rex waits, eyes hidden behind ck sunsses. ¡°No one other than me and this maid enters this room. Is that clear?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. Orders?¡± ¡°Shoot to kill.¡± My blood runs cold and my eyes dart to the guns strapped around Rex¡¯s torso. There¡¯s two more on his back and I bet he¡¯s got another pair at his ankles. He looks capable of taking down twenty men without breaking a sweat. If he¡¯s guarding my door, the information hidden in my broken synapses must really be invaluable. The door closes behind them and I¡¯m finally alone. I hold my breath, listening for the characteristic click of the lock, but it doesn¡¯te. The warm clothes on the nightstand beg me to slip into them while the fear coursing through my veins tells me I should curl into a ball or hide in the corner. I don¡¯t listen. Fear won¡¯t get me through this. If I want to walk out of here alive, I need to calm down and focus. Aware of the cameras pointing my way, I hold the ck, oversized suit jacket against my chest and slowly stand, every move igniting a charge of blinding pain down my back. Getting dressed will be a challenge. Tucking the clothes under one arm, I limp toward the bathroom. There¡¯s a camera here as well¡­ but there¡¯s also a shower curtain to hide behind. I take a moment to steady my breathing, then fling the clothes over the rail. Grinding my teeth, I grip the hem of thepinkcy negligee and cross my arms. I can¡¯t lift it far, doubling over when painnces my back. It¡¯s like I¡¯m being whipped all over again, but with no rug to absorb the impact. Once the pain subsides, I try again, and again, until sweat trails a path along my spine. If I can¡¯t take this off, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll get the hoodie on. I¡¯ve survived worse. Centering myself, I recall the idents that left me scarred. I remember what it felt like to wake up in hospital without any pain meds. I remember the agony of my dislocated shoulder. How tender the sprawling purple bruise on my thigh was after I tucked and rolled out of Nash¡¯s¡ªCarter¡¯scar. And then I remember how much it hurt when my mother was dying. How I had to go through it again, reliving it night after night as my memories returned. How much it hurt when I discovered Nash wasn¡¯t who he said he was. The pain currently streaming through me as I realize I might never see Dad again. I close my eyes, grit my teeth, and tug the pink fabric off like I¡¯m ripping a Band-Aid. My knees give in, my vision blurs, but the negligee is off. I use that momentum to shove my hands into the sleeves of the hoodie like my life depends on getting dressed and no amount of pain can stop me. It¡¯s amazing how much the human body can withstand in life-threatening situations. Adrenaline pushes our limits, giving us strength we never had. Resting my back on the cold tiled wall, I raise my foot, tugging the tracksuit bottoms half up one leg, then repeating the operation on the other until I can finally drag the pants over my hips. Whatever size this is, it¡¯s bigger than I usually wear, but it¡¯s warm, soft, and creates the illusion of safety. I pull the curtain aside and almost jump out of my skin when I spot ze in thedoorway, two wrinkles between his brows, anger simmering in his dark eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that,¡± he says, lifting his gaze to the cameras. The diodes aren¡¯t blinking anymore. ¡°I switched them off. You have your privacy in here.¡± As evidenced by youing in without knocking¡­ ¡°Now, I need to see your back, Hailey. It sounds like your ribs are broken.¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± I¡¯m so exhausted and sleep-deprived there¡¯s nothing I can do about the shaking. There¡¯s also nothing I can do to fight him off if he decides to take a look without permission. ¡°You¡¯re not okay,¡± he insists. ¡°Can I help you out of there?¡± I¡¯m about to shake my head when I remember the pain. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine,¡± I say. I got in by myself, so I¡¯ll get out by myself, too. At least that¡¯s what I hope, but one thing I didn¡¯t ount for is that the wall behind the tub saved me from falling t on my face while I was getting in. There¡¯s no wall on the other side. Well, there is, but it¡¯s too far away. Still, I don¡¯t ask for help, using the shower curtain to steady myself as I fling one leg over the edge. It takes everything I have not to wince. The moment my foot touches the cold floor, a wave of relief washes over me. I can do this alone. I lift the other leg, holding on to the curtain with both hands, and that¡¯s when the rail snaps, leaving me falling, grasping at thin air, on course to add more injuries. But instead of connecting with the floor, I stop against a hard chest. ze¡¯s hands snap around my waist, saving my bones from breaking. Well,those which aren¡¯t already, because I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s right and at least one rib on either side is broken. Maybe more. ¡°Easy,¡± he says, steadying me slowly. ¡°Rex!¡± The bulky bodyguard appears in the doorway like a stealthy ninja. I¡¯d expect his footsteps to thump across the bedroom floor, but I didn¡¯t hear a single step. ¡°Boss?¡± ¡°Get me some pain pills.¡± ¡°No,¡± I protest quickly. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°You¡¯re far from it. Painkillers will help.¡± I shake my head, ignoring the stabbing down my spine. My imagination conjures all kinds of scenarios involving questionable pills. I can¡¯t tell the difference between prescription and illegal drugs, and I don¡¯t want to end upatose, unaware of what¡¯s happening around me. ze narrows his eyes, clearly unappeased. ¡°No one here needs to drug you to do as they please. You¡¯ve seen that. Either you swallow the Tylenol, or I¡¯ll force them down your throat. You can barely walk, Hailey. I want you toe for a ride with me as soon as possible. Right now, I don¡¯t think you¡¯d get to the end of the hallway. So? What will it be?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I whisper, aware there¡¯s no point arguing. ¡°I¡¯ll take the pills.¡± He flicks his wrist at Rex who soundlessly marches away. ¡°Now, let me help you to bed.¡± Another protest dies on my lips. I can fight him all I want, but what will it aplish? Nothing much. Like he said, anyone who wants to can rape me here without drugs. ze doesn¡¯t have to act nice. He could manhandle me to suit his will. He could kick my legs from under me, undo his belt, and fuck my throat, but he¡¯s being helpful. Inhaling as deep a breath as my aching body allows, I hook my elbow with his when he offers. Whatever¡¯s hiding in my mind is what will keep me alive. I need to figure outwhatandwherethe evidence is so I can use it to get out. Saving Hailey: Chapter 10 Foley only had one question on the ride back to my loft. ¡°How did you sway the cleanest cop in the country?¡± How indeed. Many before me tried to buy Vaughn offering more money than he could ever spend. And they¡¯re all wearing orange jumpsuits behind steel bars, serving twenty-five to life. ¡°Everyone has a weakness, Michael. You should know that better than anyone. Vaughn¡¯s weakness is his family. Or what¡¯s left of it. He¡¯s stubborn, but not stupid. He knows I¡¯m his best chance at getting Hailey back in one piece.¡± That seemed to satisfy his curiosity and he remained silent until a rehearsed¡°It¡¯s always a pleasure¡±once he stopped his beloved Merc outside my building. I exit the car, taking care not to m the door and send the usuallyposed Foley into a fit. Broadway¡¯s custom, bulletproof Range Rover is haphazardly parked by the curb, the owner notably missing, which means he already let himself into my ce. When I collected my phone, onmy way out of the precinct, there were three missed calls from him waiting on the screen. As soon as I enter the elevator, the urgency in my veins forces me to dial Rhett¡¯s number, the phone weighing down my hand. The line connects almost as if he were waiting for my call, and Rhett¡¯s gruff voice fills my ear. ¡°That didn¡¯t take long,¡± he says. ¡°I expected Vaughn to put up more of a fight.¡± I guess Dante already told him Vaughn took me in for questioning. Either that, or Rhett¡¯s keeping tabs on Vaughn. It wouldn¡¯t surprise me. ¡°He¡¯s out of bargaining chips,¡± I say, watching the elevator doors slide shut. It¡¯s a short ride to the third floor, so the signal never cuts off. ¡°Hailey¡¯s not with him and¡ª¡± ¡°She¡¯s not?¡± he cuts in. ¡°Are you certain he¡¯s not leading you by the nose?¡± He¡¯s not you. ¡°I¡¯m certain. He thought I had her.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t,¡± he states the obvious, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. ¡°So if we don¡¯t have Hailey, and he doesn¡¯t have Hailey¡­ who does?¡± ¡°The evidence could make a lot of people very rich and very powerful, but Matthews was found in Tappan Lake, so one name stands out on your long list of enemies.¡± ¡°Fuck¡­ you¡¯re thinking Noretto.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± I trip over the word, correcting myself quickly. ¡°Wecan¡¯t afford to lose any more time. Her memories started rushing back before she ran. If she remembers where the evidence is while she¡¯s away, she might not be able to protect the information.¡± I don¡¯t mention that she no longer trusts me, or that she¡¯s most likely made the connection between me and Rhett, or that she saw the old fool perform an execution. He can¡¯t know. If hefinds out, he¡¯ll pay Noretto Hailey¡¯s weight in fucking rubies to get her back and kill her himself. ¡°You had one fucking job,¡± Rhett mutters under his breath. So did he: keeping the cops a long way away from his business dealings. We wouldn¡¯t be in this predicament if he were more careful. Then again, I would¡¯ve never met Hailey¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll make some calls, see what I can dig up,¡± he adds, frustration edging his tone. ¡°We should¡¯ve considered this sooner. You were too certain she was with Vaughn.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a littlete forwe should¡¯ve, Rhett.¡± ¡°I suppose it is. One¨Cone, son. We both fucked up. Stay put for now. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± I clench my jaw, knowing the implications of Rhetthandlingshit. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid. If you reach out to ze, he¡¯ll tighten his grip. He¡¯ll triple her security or move her off the grid. While he doesn¡¯t realize we¡¯re onto him, we have the upper hand.¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll be discreet. Let me know if your tech guys find anything before I do.¡± ¡°I will.¡± The elevator opens and I enter my loft through the main door I barely ever use. I mostly enter from the parking lot, using the old-fashioned, private,ttice-gated elevator that stops in the open n living area. Broadway¡¯s not alone like I expected. Ryder, Koby, and Jackson are stationed around the spacious kitchen ind, threeptops before them, cables, hard drives, and other tech equipment taking up most of the dark-wood counter. They barely notice me enter, their eyes glued to the screens illuminating their faces. ¡°Should I open a bottle of champagne? Celebrate your newfound freedom?¡± Broadway asks, his cynical tone not escaping my attention. ¡°Stop pouting. I told you I knew what I was doing. The warrant was forged. He had nothing on me.¡± ¡°Well,Ididn¡¯t knowthat. A little heads-up would¡¯ve been nice. I don¡¯t read minds, Carter.¡± ¡°Ignore him,¡± Jackson rumbles. ¡°He¡¯s a bit touchy because he mouthed off to Dante when Vaughn took you.¡± A smirk curls my lips, the closest thing to a smile I¡¯ve managed since Hailey disappeared. ¡°You¡¯re still breathing, so I guess he took it easy on you.¡± ¡°Yeah, special treatment seeing as you were in grave peril, and after your time at Lakeside everybody knows Broadway doesn¡¯t handle separation all that well,¡± Koby pipes in, twisting the knife a little further. ¡°Fuck you,¡± Broadway grumbles. ¡°So? How did the run-in with your future father-inw go down?¡± ¡°As you¡¯d expect. A lot of theatricalities, fist-on-table banging, and growling, but once we established neither of us had Hailey, he changed his tune. I have his blessing to¡ª¡± ¡°What?¡± Ryder¡¯s head whips to me so fast I hear a crack. ¡°He doesn¡¯t mind his only daughter dating a criminal?¡± ¡°I have his blessing to do whatever it takes to bring Hailey back safe,¡± I finish, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. ¡°He¡¯s not happy about the dating part.¡± I stand behind Ryder, watching him attempt to¡­ I don¡¯t really know what the fuck he¡¯s doing or what he can decipher from the gibberish on the screen. ¡°You got anything?¡± ¡°Not yet. Patience, Carter. We¡¯ll find her.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been saying that for a week.¡± ¡°Yeah, I have. Good job we never blindly follow your every order. I¡¯ve been checking out Rhett¡¯s enemies since the start.¡± Another small smirk curves my lips. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re my people.¡± He rolls his eyes, still annoyed at my shortsightedness. Hailey¡¯s been turning my brain to mush since day one, but this puts me on a brand-new level of bad decisions. ¡°Maybe if Rhett hadn¡¯t screwed over half of North America, I¡¯d havended on Noretto sooner.¡± Ryder waves me off, eyes back on the screen, fingers tapping the keyboard so fast they¡¯re almost a blur. ¡°Call Dante. He wants an update.¡± I grab a burner phone and spend ten minutes briefing my boss. Turns out it wasn¡¯t him who tipped off Rhett. So, like I thought, Rhett somehow bugged Vaughn¡¯s phone. Or maybe his house. Or the precinct. Probably all three. ¡°Did you ever get a chance to look through Hailey¡¯s texts?¡± Ryder asks when I¡¯m done talking to Dante. ¡°I did.¡± And I still break out in fucking hives thinking about it. I read them a few days ago when Jackson emailed over the contents of Hailey¡¯s phone. I wanted her and Vaughn¡¯s old messages, hoping I¡¯d find clues. Ibed through every single word, but instead of clues, all I found were more reasons to kill a dead man and new reasons to maim Vaughn. Jackson sent over the file while I was in Ohio, chasing improbable leads. I checked into a hotel for the night, opening the Alex-Hailey exchange first, a badass headache licking my temples. I promised her I wouldn¡¯t invade her privacy again, but I had little choice. She stopped hiding her diary after I slipped up and told her I¡¯d read it, and started handing it over willingly whenever she added something new during ourst days at Lakeside. But reading her texts, diving into a past she herself can¡¯t remember, wasn¡¯t something I took lightly. With a ss of Bourbon in hand, I dived right in, skimming over the pages at first to find keywords. Anything rted to Vaughn, Aalyiah, or the evidence. It quickly be obvious Alex didn¡¯t pay Hailey a tenth of the attention he did my little sister. His messages were short, clipped, to the point. Downright rude. Few and far between. But Hailey texted him a few times a day, asionally getting a crappy response. Her vulnerability, how much she craved his attention and any shred of contact, bled from the electronic pages, tearing me a new one. The list of Alex¡¯s sins has been growing for weeks, and in that moment, I seriously considered digging the fucker from his grave for the second time to stamp on whatever my men left of his skull. I was in Ohio anyway. It wouldn¡¯t be the same as killing him, but it¡¯d take the edge off the fury writhing inside me. Hailey: I made your favorite pie. Will youe over? No answer. Then hourster: Hailey: Maybe drive by on your way home. I wrapped a slice for you. Again, no reply. Hailey: I¡¯ll give it to Dad. He¡¯ll pass it along to you tomorrow at work. I hope you¡¯ll love it. Alex: Don¡¯t. He¡¯ll ask questions. Stop texting. I¡¯m busy. Hailey: Are you with her? No reply.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ording to the date, it was June fourth. Almost three months before the ident. Three months before my sister tookher life. Hailey knew about Aalyiah¡­ yet she still craved Alex¡¯s attention, even though she was perfectly aware she wasn¡¯t his first choice. The messages carried on in the same pattern. Short, clipped answers,ck of affection. She did something nice for him, invited him over, tried every trick in the book to earn half an hour of his time, and he ignored her. Until he didn¡¯t¡­ June sixth, nh, fourteenth and seventeenth. On those days, Alex texted first. And all messages went down the same way, word for word. Alex: Is Charlie home? Hailey: No, he¡¯s at work. Are youing over? Alex: Yeah. Ten minutes. It¡¯s been a hell of a week and I need you. I need your lips wrapped around my cock, sweetheart. Get ready. I had to flex my fingers and push calming, steady breaths past my lips to stop myself throwing theptop at the wall. June seventeenth¡­ he wasn¡¯t fucking my sister then. That started on June twenty-sixth. I doubt those dates will ever leave my head. Neither that one, nor all those days when Alex hurt Hailey, using her to get off, then leaving her alone and¡­ sad. She deserved so much better than she ever got from Alex. So much better than she ever got from me. Reading through the messages, I thought¡ªI fuckinghoped¡ªAlex had stopped abusing Hailey once my sister put out, but no. Every next message I read hit harder. Her need for attention was so clear¡­ as was the sadness. It was just text on screen, but I felt how resigned she was. How lost. How fucking lonely. They never mentioned Aalyiah by name, but every time Hailey askedare you with her, I knew that¡¯s who they were talking about. Even when Alex repliedyes, she didn¡¯t stop trying. She waited a day and tried to lure him in with something else. Cookies, dinner, his favorite pie. It never worked. And it hit me like a low blow when I got to the part where Hailey invited him over for a blowjob. Hailey: If you¡¯re not busy, Charlie¡¯s workingte again. He said you two had a stressful week, so I¡¯m here if you need some stress relief. How lonely was she to offer herself up like that? Too fucking lonely considering what I read in the texts between her and Vaughn. It was like another bucket of ice-cold water over my head. I knew he escaped into work after his wife¡¯s death but, given how worried he was about Hailey, I expected they were close. Unfortunately, their texts painted a very different picture. He worked non-stop. The document had a wall of messages, all on the same theme. Dad: Workingte. Don¡¯t wait up. Dad: I¡¯ll be homete. Order a pizza. Dad: Got an emergency here, won¡¯t be home for hours. I purposefully cross-referenced the date of Hailey¡¯s blowjob text to Alex against the Hailey-Dad texts. Dad: I¡¯ll be home around seven, sunshine. Hailey: Don¡¯t bete. I rented out your favorite movie and I¡¯m making pasta. Dad: Sounds perfect. And then, two hourster, close to eight in the evening, Hailey sent another text. Hailey: Where are you? The food¡¯s getting cold. It took Vaughn another hour to reply. Dad: Sorry, kiddo. Guys from work dragged me out for a drink. Leave me a te in the fridge. My imagination immediately pulled Hailey¡¯s sad face to the front. I could easily picture her hunched over a dining table set for two, the food on her te cold as she read that text. It¡¯s been days since I read it, but it still kills me to think about her spending hours in the kitchen, getting everything ready, then clearing the table because Vaughn preferred a drink with his buddies to an evening with his daughter. It wasn¡¯t the only time that happened. The same pattern repeated itself every ten days or so. He told her he¡¯d be there; she made an effort to cook, clean, rent a movie or set up board games, and then he stood her up. But she never gave up. She kept trying and trying, getting nothing but disappointment in return. Both Alex and Vaughn took her for granted. It¡¯s good she can¡¯t remember it. She keeps her father on a fucking pedestal and he doesn¡¯t deserve it. He failed her time and time again. Gritting my teeth, I shake off the moment, frustration amplifying the headache I¡¯ve been battling for a week. Waiting for Rhett or my men to find confirmation that Noretto has Hailey feels counterproductive but, save for driving to Pittsburgh without a n in ce, I have no other choice. ¡ô¡ô¡ô ¡°Carter, wake up.¡± Broadway¡¯s poking my shoulder, standing over me with my phone. ¡°It¡¯s Rhett.¡± I sit up, running a hand down my face to chase the sleep away. It¡¯s barely three in the morning, which means I nodded off for two hours after settling into the leather couch with a ss of whiskey and Broadway forpany. The faint sound of fingers tapping at a keyboard echoes in the quiet space while my men still work behind me. I grab the phone, sliding my thumb across the screen. ¡°Working overtime, I see. Any news?¡± ¡°Would I call for a chit-chat?¡± he spits back. ¡°Of course I have news. Hailey¡¯s right where we thought she would be.¡± My heart lurches and my mind whirs around all the things Noretto¡¯s men could¡¯ve done to her by now. I inhale a deep breath, marshaling the worry gnawing at my frayed brain. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes I¡¯m fucking sure, Carter.¡± The sound of a safety being flipped clicks on his end and I no longer need an exnation. Sounds like he tortured the information out of some poor fucker and ended the interrogation in his usual fashion with a bullet between the eyes. ¡°I have one of ze¡¯s men here. Well¡­ his corpse. He clued me in on a few details. Like the fact ze holds his monthly auction in the basement of his strip club. It starts at seven pm and he always attends, so he won¡¯t be home. Neither will most of his goons. That¡¯s our window. Less security, less guns, less chance of dying. I¡¯m sending Apollo with a team. You want in?¡± Fuck. I did not anticipate Rhett taking matters into his own hands. I was certain he¡¯d leave the extraction on my head as punishment for losing Hailey in the first ce. With his men in the picture, my chances of taking her off the grid without being followed are slim. Rhett¡¯s either tired ofwaiting and decided to take care of Hailey himself, or he doesn¡¯t trust me for shit and ns to take me out. Let him try. ¡°We¡¯ll stop by Columbus at four in the afternoon. Have your men ready to roll out.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be waiting,¡± he confirms, dragging the sentence in a way that tells me he¡¯s onto me. If that¡¯s the case¡­ if he realizes my allegiance has shifted from him, Dante, and everyone else in this world, to Hailey, then he¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make me pay for insubordination. He drops the call first, leaving my mind racing through the possibilities. As it stands, Rhett¡¯s one step ahead. He¡¯s never showed me all his cards, withholding information that might be crucial, likehowdoes he know Hailey has the evidence orwhoit was he killed at the warehouse. The devil always lies in the details and I¡¯m seriouslycking those. ¡°What did he say?¡± Broadway prompts somewhere behind me. ¡°Where is she?¡± I turn to find all four of them staring, ears perked, shoulders squared, backs straight like drawn strings: ready to spring into action at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°Noretto has her. Rhett¡¯s sending his men with us which means we need to figure out how we¡¯ll move her to the safe house without being followed.¡± ¡°How many is he sending?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t say.¡± ¡°Do you have a n?¡± Ryder asks, eyes on me, but fingers flickering over the keyboard. ¡°Because if you don¡¯t, I may.¡± ¡°Hold that thought. I¡¯ll call Dante and the rest of the crew. You can exin it atBravo.¡± They all nod, new energy coursing through them, evident in every hastened move they make while packing up. Time to even out the ying field. Saving Hailey: Chapter 11 ONE DAY EARLIER My eyes pop open from where I¡¯m hunched in bed, propped against a stack of pillows. I was determined not to sleep and managed until three am before my brain started phasing into those infuriating short naps. Once sunrise breached the room, I fell asleep for good. Well, for an hour ording to the electronic clock on the night table. ze leans against the wall by the door, both arms crossed over his chest, another immacte ck suit hugging his tall frame. He¡¯s at least six feet, but not half as bulky as Nash. He¡¯s slender, though doesn¡¯tck muscles. ¡°My men tell me you don¡¯t sleep,¡± ze says, a hint of annoyance in his tone, butced with¡­ worry. And that worry¡­ it makes the choking anxiety ease up. I knowhe¡¯s dangerous. He¡¯s holding me captive to get information, but he did save me from a terrible fate. ¡°I just woke up,¡± I counter, struggling as I pull myself up. Pain is still there, still potent, but the hour I slept took the edge off. Maybe I¡¯m not as broken as my body makes out, the agony amplified by hunger, thirst, and exhaustion. ¡°An hour in four days?¡± he counters, raising a skeptical brow. There it is again¡ªworry. Why would he worry about me? It doesn¡¯t make sense, but¡­ it calms me down. Technically, that was my fifth night of skipped sleep. I¡¯m aware humans can¡¯t survive long without it, but that¡¯s why my brain takes those tiny naps. It switches off and regenerates enough to keep me alive. ¡°No one will enter this room without my permission, Hailey. You can sleep without fear.¡± Easy for him to say. I watched his men fling Jonathan¡¯s lifeless daughter onto the ground like gone-off meat for the dogs. They killed Matthews, dragged me out of the car, and locked me in that dormitory without exnation hours after I learned that the man I fell in love with was lying through his teeth to extract information. And if that¡¯s not upheaval enough, there are guns everywhere and men raping women a few doors down the hall. Men who didn¡¯t touch me thanks to ze¡­ ¡°No amount of reassurance will make me feel safe,¡± I say, reminding myself that no matter how helpful and kind he seems, he can¡¯t be trusted. I made the mistake of trusting men merely because they offered me a little attention before: Alex, then Nash¡ªI¡¯mnotdoing it again. ¡°But youaresafe,¡± he insists, pushing away from the wall. ¡°Maybe if I exin why I went above and beyond to acquire you, you¡¯ll understand why nobody here can hurt you without my permission.¡± He raps the door before taking a few measured steps toward the bed. ¡°Boss?¡± Rex enters the room, blocking the frame. ¡°Let the kitchen know Miss Vaughn¡¯s awake. Have them send painkillers and¡­¡± His eyes swing to me, ¡°¡­how do you take your coffee?¡± He¡¯s a big man with an army at his disposal. There¡¯s no need to drug me, he could easily hold me down and do whatever he pleases. He¡¯s got more than enough soldiers to hold me for him. Drugs would be overkill. And would he have saved mest night then promised I¡¯d be safe if he was nning to hurt me? I don¡¯t think so. ¡°ck¡­¡± I say. ¡°Three sugars.¡± I don¡¯t usually even take one in my coffee, but sugar is energy and I need a boost after five days of surviving on less than the bare minimum. ¡°Please.¡± Rex nods, his enigmatic responses bing quite familiar. ¡°Get Terrence to stand ground while you rest,¡± ze says as Rex turns, one hand on the handle. ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± The door closes silently behind him. ze sits at the foot of the bed, popping the button of his suit jacket and pivoting my way. ¡°Your father nted an undercover spy in Rhett Wird¡¯s ranks,¡± he starts. ¡°I believe you remember Alex Fletcher?¡± ¡°A little.¡± ¡°A little is enough. He wasn¡¯t someone worth remembering if I¡¯m being blunt.¡± My eyes widen, a boulder lodging in my throat. There¡¯s no rational exnation for this onset of sadness. I shouldn¡¯t feel it,but my brain understands the implications of referring to Alex in the past tense. ¡°You saidwasn¡¯t¡­ does that mean he¡¯s dead?¡± ¡°He is. He died the night of your ident.¡± ¡°So he was the driver¡­¡± I mumble, my mind whirring. ¡°Do you know what happened?¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Partly. Rhett found out Alex was working for your father so sent his men after the pair of you. See, earlier that day, Rhett¡¯s daughtermitted suicide. Alex dated her so he could drill out information on Rhett, all the while, I believe, maintaining a rtionship with you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s up for debate. What was her name?¡± ¡°Aalyiah.¡± My whole body stiffens, the familiar haze taking over as a shback hits. Relief that my memories aren¡¯t lost for good floods my system, mixed with the feelings eating me that day. I¡¯m whisked from the mansion to be confronted by Alex in a living room. His blonde hair falls carelessly over his forehead, a waxy quality to hisplexion. He¡¯s sprawled on the couch, dark circles framing his eyes, clothes crumpled. I think he¡¯s drunk¡­ ¡°I should¡¯ve never dragged Aalyiah into it.¡± I stop breathing. I¡¯m not sure whether in the past or present¡ªmaybe both. Pulse whooshes in my ears asAalyiahechoes louder and louder inside my mind. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have draggedyouinto it,¡±he adds, running a hand down his face.¡°You were supposed to be my insurance policy.¡± My eyebrows knot in the middle.¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore. Nothing¡¯s going ording to n and I have no fucking idea what to do. We¡¯re all dead if I can¡¯t figure out how to do everything Aalyiah wants.¡±A sadchuckle falls from his lips.¡°Well, I¡¯m dead. Maybe for real or maybe only inside, but either way¡­ I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°You¡¯re scaring me, Alex,¡±I whisper, my voice tight, a lump forming in my throat.¡°You need to quit.¡± ¡°Quit? I can¡¯t quit. That¡¯s not a fucking option.¡± ¡°Of course you can. You¡¯re not safe! You can¡¯t risk your life for work. My dad will understand.¡± Another chuckle vibrates his chest.¡°You don¡¯t know your dad all that well, Hailey. If I quit, I¡¯ll spend the rest of my life in jail. You think I¡¯m risking everything to put Rhett Wird behind bars?¡± ¡°Rhett Wird?¡±I echo, my heartrate speeding up. ¡°I¡¯m doing this because I don¡¯t have a fucking choice,¡±he continues.¡°I can¡¯t quit. Even if there wasn¡¯t a life sentence hanging over my head, quitting means risking Aalyiah¡¯s life. But if I don¡¯t quit it¡¯s just a matter of time before Rhett puts a bullet in my head.¡±He sits up, his shoulders slumped, anguish twisting his face.¡°Like I said¡­ unless I figure out a way to end this, I¡¯m dead for real, or dead inside.¡± He grabs my hand and the gentleness of his thumb grazing my palm makes my heart stutter.¡°Don¡¯t worry, Hailey. You¡¯ll be fine. Sad and broken, but alive.¡± ¡°I want to help. What can I do?¡±I ask, the resignation in his voice making me cold. Cold, distant, and blurred. I open my mouth, but the words stretch like cheap stic,ing out distorted as the memory copses. ¡°Hailey?¡± ze covers his hand with mine. ¡°Are you okay? You¡¯re shaking.¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I mutter, marshaling the emotions and the hundreds of new questions the shback triggered. ¡°Are you sure? You¡­ zoned out.¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡ª¡± I bite my tongue, applying the brakes before more words spill from my lips. ze believes I know where the evidence is. While he¡¯s waiting for me to remember, I¡¯m safe. He won¡¯t kill me until he gets what he wants. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s the first time I heard her name. Please continue.¡± He rakes his narrowed gaze over my face as if trying to read my mind. ¡°All my informationes directly from the source,¡± he says. ¡°One of my¡­allies, if you will, has rats nted in Rhett¡¯s ranks. Based on their reports, the night of your ident went something like this. Rhett found Aalyiah¡¯s body after she threw herself out of a window. He also found a suicide note. It painted the picture that Alex was a cop¡­¡± He pauses to chuckle under his breath. I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s so amusing, but I don¡¯t get to ask before he adds, ¡°¡­and that he was dating someone besides Aalyiah. Naturally, Rhett sent his pawns to bring you both in. Unfortunately for him, he surrounds himself with men of questionable intelligence.¡± I have half a mind to tell him he¡¯s no better. He surrounds himself with men who like to rape young girls, but I keep my tongue in check. He might be more inclined to hurt me if I criticize his setup. ¡°Babyface, Rhett¡¯s used-to-be muscle man, bumped into the back of the car you and Alex were in and it rolled off a steep incline, colliding with a tree.¡± At least Dad didn¡¯t lie about that part of the ident. Dad. He must be worried sick. ¡°You were unconscious when Babyface lost thest shred of his questionable intelligence. See, instead of utilizing his limited time to secureyou, he emptied the seven bullets left in his gun into Alex¡¯s head¡­ which was pointless considering Alex was dead on impact; the tree already killed him.¡± ¡°Why shoot a dead man? Sounds like a crime of passion.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a clever thing, aren¡¯t you?¡± he praises, a genuine smile curling his lips ¡°Aalyiah was beautiful. Pure and kind. Even Rhett¡¯s goons loved her. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if some felt their own kind of fatherly protection over her.¡± The sudden fondness vibrating his tone tells me he was as much enamored by Aalyiah as the men he¡¯s describing. ¡°Babyface shot Alex,¡± he continues. ¡°And I believe he was going to shoot you, but the cops wereing and he got spooked.¡± My heart thumps faster, though my body¡¯s so tired even my pulse isgging. It should be pushing the cardiac-arrest needle given I just learned I¡¯m only alive thanks to shing red and blue lights and screaming sirens.¡± ¡°I guess Rhett is Nash¡¯s father?¡± ¡°You meanCarter¡¯s. Yes, he is. Though Rhett kept him hidden by burying him in the ranks of Chicago¡¯s boss, Dante Carrow. Being Vaughn¡¯s daughter, I bet the name rings a bell.¡± I nod. Dante Carrow would be the crowning jewel on the long list of criminals my father put behind bars. I overheard him say, during his many poker nights with colleagues back in Florida, that Dante Carrow is equally powerful, ruthless, anduntouchable. Dad¡¯s dreamt for years about busting him, but his colleagues managed his expectations, calmly stating that Dante won¡¯t go down until he¡¯s dead. And Carter works for him¡­ An eerie chill shakes me despite the warm hoodie I¡¯m wearing. What have I gotten into? ¡°What information do you want from me?¡± I ask. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not just me, Hailey. A lot of powerful men would like to steal you from me. I only recently learned about your involvement and Carter¡¯s existence. Rhett¡¯s getting sloppy withage. When your amnesia came to light, Rhett sent Carter to hurt you so much you¡¯d neverrecall where the evidence is.¡± ¡°But¡­ how does he know Alex told me about the evidence? Why would he?¡± Given mytest shback, it¡¯s usible, but it doesn¡¯t exin how Rhett found out. He learned about Alex the same day he had him killed. They didn¡¯t talk. He couldn¡¯t have tortured the information out of Alex, so how does Rhett know more about my past than I do? ¡°That¡¯s unclear,¡± ze admits. ¡°But Rhett wouldn¡¯t go to all this trouble without a reason.¡± I begged Dad to tell me what was happening, Matthews too. Alex used me for more than just sexual favors, all the while keeping secrets. Nash lied through his teeth for weeks but ze¡­ ze ishonest. He¡¯s the first one to give me any of the information I¡¯ve been dying for since I woke up at the hospital. He¡¯s not being evasive, not treating me like a silly little girl who can¡¯t handle the truth. He answers the questions I¡¯ve been trying to get answers to for weeks. I¡¯m so¡­grateful. Which is fucking ironic given my predicament. ¡°So Rhett thinks I know what Alex did?¡± I ask, organizing the clues. ¡°He believes Alex gave you the key to ess the evidence, even if he never actually told you about it.¡± ¡°A key?¡± ¡°Not literally, although¡­ maybe. The point is no one knows where the evidence is. Not even your father. He can¡¯t arrest Rhett without it, which was the whole point of this endeavor and the reason he nted a loose cannon like Alex in Rhett¡¯s ranks.¡± ¡°Rhett needs the evidence for himself¡­ Nash is his son, so he¡¯s helping¡­¡± I meet ze¡¯s dark eyes. ¡°Why do you want it?¡± He stretches his long legs, getting morefortable. ¡°That¡¯s simple. Revenge.¡± ¡°You want Rhett to serve twenty-five to life?¡± ¡°Not at all. That¡¯s not how we do business, Hailey. Rhett doesn¡¯t have allies but he does work with a lot of powerful people. Not nearly as powerful as Dante Carrow, of course, but powerful enough. If the evidence exists, some of it might implicate more people than just Rhett.¡± He smirks at me, cocking one brow. ¡°Information is power in this world. Whoever has the evidence controls everyone involved.¡± How have I found myself on the brink of a mafia war? It¡¯s abstract. Iprehensible. Fucking unfair¡­ but it exins why Dad was so keen to keep me in a cage¡ªblind, deaf, and dumb to everything going on outside it. ¡°I don¡¯t remember any evidence.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware. If you knew, Carter would too. He¡¯d have his hands on it by now.¡± He massages his temples. ¡°I have your medical records so I know it wouldn¡¯t take much to instigate brain damage and permanently erase your memories. You have my word nothing bad will happen to you within these walls.¡± ¡°Because the evidence is too valuable¡­¡± ¡°Yes. If I hold the key to his fate, I can make Rhett, and a whole load of others, bow to me.¡± I wonder if he wants to make these men bow because he¡¯s so young. From my father¡¯s many rants, I¡¯ve learned that mafia men are gradually starting younger and younger. Over thest fifteen years, it has be theprofessionof men in their twenties, thirties, and forties, rather than those in their fifties and sixties. Technology caused a rift. So much crime takes ce online now that the older generation can¡¯t keep up. Still, ze looks extremely young to have risen so high in this line of work. ¡°Can I ask a personal question?¡± I look up, finding the courage to hold his gaze. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°Like I said, smart cookie.¡± He smirks. ¡°I bet you think I need this evidence to prove myself?¡± ¡°More or less. You look young, so I figure you haven¡¯t earned respect or your ce yet.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Respect from my menes as a given, but I want more, Hailey. I¡¯ve wanted the throne since I saw my father kill a man when I was five. I¡¯ve been preparing for this my whole life, but this business changes rapidly. While Dante Carrow may have climbed to the very top of the food chain¡­ every king must fall from grace.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 12 PRESENT DAY ¡°Come in,¡± I say, startled by the politeness of hearing three firm knocks on my door. ¡°How¡¯s the pain this morning?¡± ze says as he enters. He smiles when he spots me on the edge of the bed, toweling my hair dry. ¡°I guess you¡¯re doing better?¡± ¡°Yes, a little better. Thank you for the clothes.¡± Last night, along with dinner, the maid delivered a rack of clothes: warm hoodies, sweaters, tracksuit bottoms, leggings, and in cotton underwear. ze waves his hand dismissively, resting near the doorway. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving soon.¡± I stop toweling my hair, my heart thumping a little faster. He wasn¡¯t here when his men dragged me into the ballroom. Hewasn¡¯t here while I was locked in the room with thirty beds, or when Darius attacked me under the icy shower. Having ze around has made me feel¡­fortable. Safe, even. But only when he¡¯s in the room. He stopped by for a chat a few times yesterday, and he¡¯s here now, his presence soothing me like a warm nket. Once he leaves, the illusion of safety gives way to fear¡­ and if he¡¯s nowhere in the vicinity it¡¯ll be twice as potent. I don¡¯t want him leaving the house. ¡°It¡¯s auction night,¡± ze adds. Auction night¡­ ¡°Will my guest be auctioned with the others, Darius?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°No, Boss, she won¡¯t.¡± ¡°And which girls are you allowed to ydate with here?¡± ¡°The ones for auction.¡± ¡°You¡¯re selling the girls,¡± I whisper. I want to scream that what he does is sick, vile, in wrong. Thatheis sick, but survival instinct makes me bite my tongue. He¡¯s been kind since he arrived, but it doesn¡¯t mean he won¡¯t hurt me if I insult him. ¡°Yes,¡± he confirms. ¡°Contrary to what you might think, they know the endgame when we round them up in Russia, Latvia, Slovenia, some of those other eastern European countries, I can¡¯t remember all their weird names. They¡¯re not forced into this life, Hailey. Theye willingly.¡± ¡°They willingly agree to what happens in the ballroom?¡± His jaw mps tight, his nostrils ring. He doesn¡¯tsh out like I expect. He simply shrugs it off, eyes boring into mine. ¡°Think of it as test-driving a car. It¡¯s usually the new owner who takes it for a ride, but it¡¯s different at an auction. My clients expect the best, so the girls need to be tested. Besides¡­ a night in the ballroom keeps my men happy.¡± That beautiful rug shes before my eyes. The pattern distorts with girls crawling beneath, I hear their cries, pleas,the foul, satiated groaning of men. The p of fleshing together, the gagging¡­ I shut my eyes, swallowing the bile climbing my throat. Tears burn my eyes because I can¡¯t save them¡­ Helplessness might be the worst feeling. A soft knock centers me back in the present. ¡°Come in, Marai,¡± ze says. A young maid enters, carrying a tray with breakfast, two coffees and painkillers. The scent of French toast wafts through the air, but instead of my stomach growling, it tightens painfully, protesting any food intake. Idly conversing aboutRapeahead of breakfast will spoil any girl¡¯s appetite. Or maybe I¡¯m still clinging to Nash¡¯s words like I have since day one. Smarter. You need to be smarter, Hailey. I haven¡¯t eaten since I arrived, other than that sandwich I couldn¡¯t keep down for Darius. I don¡¯t think I should drink either once ze leaves. I¡¯m not safe here without him. Darius might be dead, but he wasn¡¯t the only man eyeing me like a toy in that ballroom¡­ With ze gone, who¡¯ll stop them slipping me a few roofies, then climbing through the window once I can¡¯t call for help? It¡¯s not a rational thought, but fear is rarely rational. ¡°Can Ie with you tonight?¡± I ask, twisting the towel between my fingers. He cocks an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the request. He¡¯s not the only one¡­ I just asked to watch those girls get auctioned because I feel safe with the mansellingthem. What the fuck is wrong with me? ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not possible,¡± ze says, weighing every word. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t worry, Hailey. Most of my men areing along for the show. I¡¯m leaving a few behind, including Rex, who will stand at your door the whole night. You¡¯ll be safe.¡± The maid sets the tray on the nightstand, hands ze his white coffee and retreats with a respectful bow of her head. ¡°You need to eat, Hailey,¡± ze says. I nod, even though one look at the French toast has me covering my mouth with the back of my hand. I¡¯ve never been good at keeping food down in stressful situations. I do, however, reach for my coffee with less suspicion today. It took me two hours to finish the first cup yesterday morning because I took long breaks between every mouthful. Nothing happened, so I drank the cup Marai brought up in the afternoon much faster, enjoying the bitterness while it was still warm. I¡¯m also no longer pathologically weak. No longer than twelve hours ago, my hands trembled like an alcoholic on their first sober day, but today, the coffee¡¯s barely sloshing in the cup. I guess the energy from the sugar is helping. ze rounds the bed, his eyes narrowing on my hands as I lift the cup, taking a small sip. ¡°Lean forward.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a request.Nicedoesn¡¯t work on you. Either you let me take a look at your back voluntarily, or Rex will hold you down while I check your bones.¡± I bite my lip, a shudder passing through me. Looks like he ran out of patience. I set the cup aside and grit my teeth as I scoot forward, ignoring the pain, locking it at the back of my mind with all the other feelings I can¡¯t deal with right now. It doesn¡¯t work particrly well, but it helps brace the agony. ¡°I¡¯ll pull the hoodie up, so keep the duvet close,¡± he denotes, rubbing his hands together to warm them up. I can¡¯t figure him out. He¡¯s nice, but it might be a fa?ade, a ploy to ignite a false sense of security before he strikes. He doesn¡¯t want to use force in case it jams my memories, butwhat happens when he realizes ying nice is fruitless? Will he threaten me with a gun or beat the information out of me? No¡­ he wouldn¡¯t, would he? He keeps saying I¡¯m safe. I close my fingers on the duvet, pulling it up just as ze softly lifts my hoodie. There¡¯s no gasp or sharp inhale. No clues to how bad my back looks. He gathers the fabric up, then rubs his palm against his pants to warm it up. ¡°I¡¯ll touch you now.¡± I give him a curt nod. Even though I know what¡¯sing, I still jerk when I feel his hand at the small of my back. Not because he¡¯s touching me, but because ithurts. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he says, his tone emotionless, like a robot spewing pre-programmedfort. He presses his whole palm to my skin, making me twitch away, my skin crawling. He doesn¡¯t retreat, holding still like he¡¯s getting me used to his touch. And it works¡­ I rx a little once he slowly works his way up, pressing various spots and tracing lines all around before moving to my ribs. Everythinghurts, though not as much as yesterday. I guess exhaustion andck of energy really does make things worse. ¡°Nothing¡¯s broken,¡± he says, covering my back and purposefully striding away. ¡°I¡¯d suggest bandaging in case there¡¯s a hairline fracture somewhere, but I have a feeling you¡¯ll sayno.¡± Of course I¡¯ll say no. Wrapping my ribs would require shing my breasts and no way that¡¯s happening after what Darius did to me in the shower. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I say, leaning back against the pillows. He makes a disgruntled noise at the back of his throat, clearly unappeased. I can¡¯t figure him out. He looks genuinely concerned about my wellbeing, even though he doesn¡¯t have to be personally involved. He doesn¡¯t care that his men torturewomen down the hall, leaving them broken in more ways than one, but he does care that Darius shovedmeunder the rug. ¡°You should take a bath, eat, and rest, Hailey,¡± he adds, his tone firmer. ¡°A tired mind is a useless mind.¡± He doesn¡¯t add that unless I¡¯m useful, there¡¯s no reason to y nice. There¡¯s no need for rification. It¡¯s obvious. Up to now, I¡¯ve been far from useful. The tiny shback I had about Alex mentioning Aalyiah is my only new memory since Lakeside. ¡°I¡¯ll stop by before I leave,¡± he says and, with a curt nod, he leaves me alone, closing the door behind him. The room falls into a suffocating silence, interrupted only by the muffled groans of the mansion. Thankfully, I can¡¯t hear any girls crying, screaming, or howling, just men wandering the corridors. A strange mix of relief and fear settles in my gut. Relief that ze, with his unsettling calmness, is gone. He may make this ce more bearable, but it¡¯s still his ce. Fear, because every moment I spend in this gilded cage without giving him the evidence is a moment closer to pain. He won¡¯t be this patient forever¡­ Saving Hailey: Chapter 13 Our car led Rhett¡¯s little convoy all the way from Columbus to the outskirts of Pittsburgh, where Noretto¡¯s mansion hides in dense woond. After weeks at Lakeside, the scent of wet leaves, pine needles, and wind whooshing high in the trees feels familiar. Calming¡­ thoughcalmis not the correct word to describe me while I hide behind the tree line with Broadway, Apollo, and two of Rhett¡¯s goons. He sent more, butcuriously, three miles after we all stopped for gas, their car¡¯s onboard electronics threw every error imaginable. What acoincidence. Ryder did a great job of nting a small device which he then remotely activated, tampering with the car¡¯s electronic systems. He went on for half an hour, exining how the small, modified device works, but he lost me at OBD-II port. I love my cars, but my mechanical knowledge doesn¡¯t extend to motherboards and remotely activated wire fryers. Whatever his techy tech did, it left five other goons grounded a few miles back, so we only need to worry about these three and their escape driver. He¡¯s about a mile away, ready to bust through the iron gate and lift us out the moment we find Hailey. That¡¯s the official n. We go in, extract my girl, kill those standing in the way, then head to Rhett¡¯s safe house. He made it crystal fucking clear during his briefing earlier that Apollo¡¯s responsible for Hailey. He calls the shots and keeps his eyes on her at all times until we arrive in Clevnd, which means she¡¯s joining his team for our escape. Over my dead body will I let that happen. If Rhett gets Hailey, he¡¯ll force the information from the depths of her mind by any means necessary. The ground¡¯s slipping from under his feet with every passing hour. News spreads among the likes of us fast. Rhett¡¯s a hot topic these days, so more and more rivals are getting word about Alex. ¡°We¡¯re heading your way,¡± Koby¡¯s voice rings loud and clear through my earpiece. Last night, after hours spent hacking into Noretto¡¯s surveince system, Ryder and Jackson concluded the feed must be wired to an offline server, making remote hacking impossible. After much digging, they found thepany dealing with ze¡¯s security and located the server room a few miles from the mansion. Then, in Jackson¡¯s words, ¡°fucking child¡¯s y.¡± I wouldn¡¯t call it that considering Koby and Ryder had to go into the physical server room and wire it up to give us remote ess: without triggering any security alerts during both the breaking-and-entering part and while interacting with the system remotely.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Since I¡¯m not a tech whizz, I left that part of the n in Ryder¡¯s capable hands. Koby¡¯s driving him. Broadway¡¯s by my side, hiding in the shadows after throwing a few raw,sleeping-pill-spiked steaks over the fence to sedate the two huge Rottweilers guarding the perimeter. Apollo¡¯s goon suggested bullets between the dogs¡¯ eyes. He¡¯s fucking lucky I can¡¯t kill him or he¡¯d be bleeding out on the damp forest floor right now. The mansion stands in the distance, unusually dark. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think it¡¯s a trap. I¡¯ve been a guest here twice over the past four years whenever Dante had a meeting with ze Noretto. They¡¯re not allies. They don¡¯t work together or socialize, but Dante¡¯s shipment channel between the US and Europe was something Noretto needed for his dealings. Dante indulged him until the fucker turned to human trafficking a few months ago. Both times I¡¯ve been here the ce has been buzzing, full of people, women, drugs, music¡­ ze is young. At twenty-three he¡¯s loud, ostentatious, and loves to party, which makes him downright dumb sometimes. He took over after Noretto Sr. was shot dead by none other than Rhett Wird as a settlement of debt. Talk about twisted bonds. The fact ze is a party boy with no moralpass works in our favor tonight. He¡¯s out, and so are most of his men. Thest Saturday of the month is reserved for ze¡¯s underground auction, selling the girls he¡¯s smuggled into America to brothel owners. Though I hear he¡¯s been allowing private buyerstely. Broadway¡¯s voice breaks the tense silence. ¡°They¡¯ve left her lightly covered. Eight guards, by my count.¡± He lowers his binocrs, eyes sharp. ¡°Three at the main door, two on the rounds, and three upstairs on the left.¡± ¡°There¡¯ll be more inside,¡± Apollo says, stopping by my side. ¡°After all the trouble he went through to get her, ze wouldn¡¯t leave her with eight men.¡± ¡°Agreed. That¡¯d be fucking childish.¡± Her memoriesare too precious. She¡¯s too fucking precious to leave with minimal security. Soon enough, she¡¯ll be on the radar of every boss my father wronged¡ªif she isn¡¯t already¡ªeven though there¡¯s no concrete confirmation Hailey knows where Alex hid the evidence. All Rhett said was¡°I have reasons to believe¡­¡± I grip my gun tighter, every second stretching into eternity. It doesn¡¯t matter how much Hailey knows. She¡¯s got a big redXon her back. I need to get her out and hide her. ¡°Once we¡¯re seen, they¡¯ll alert ze,¡± Apollo adds. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± But I don¡¯t fucking care. ¡°The auction isn¡¯t far from here. We¡¯ll have a five-minute window at best before this ce is crowding with Noretto¡¯s men.¡± Broadway pulls his Glock out, checking¡ªfor the third time already¡ªthat his clip is full. ¡°We should wait for Koby and Ryder. We could use the backup, Carter.¡± ¡°Damn right you should wait for us,¡± Koby pipes in over thems. ¡°You got eyes on this ce yet?¡± I ask, my hands tingling. ¡°Can you see Hailey?¡± ¡°Not yet. Ryder¡¯s pulling up all the different feeds.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be doing it faster if you could take a corner properly,¡± Ryder¡¯s voice cuts in. ¡°Quit whining,¡± Koby retorts. ¡°We¡¯re only fifteen minutes out, Carter¡ªas long as he doesn¡¯t make me go any slower than I already am. Wait.¡± ¡°Your men are right,¡± Apollo says. ¡°My men may still be trekking through the forest but they won¡¯t be long.¡± All the more reason to get a move on. ¡°Listen to him,¡± Ryder says, though it¡¯s just for show. Apollo and his men can hear their every word, so we¡¯re pulling the wool over their eyes. We have a n that¡¯s not meant for their ears. ¡°He won¡¯t wait,¡± Koby clips, feigning annoyance. ¡°No, I won¡¯t,¡± I admit. ¡°We don¡¯t have time to lose.¡± I doubt I¡¯d wait even if Rhett¡¯s men weren¡¯t catching us up. I need Hailey back right fucking now. It¡¯s been over a week. Every ticking second is one more she has to endure, trapped in this hellhole, surrounded by scum who willingly sell girls like her into sex very. Chills slither down my spine, my heart rhythm speeding up. I don¡¯t want to think about how scared she must be or what she¡¯s been through. I can¡¯t think about it. Not now. Not when my head needs to be in the game if we¡¯re going to leave that house alive. Reading the determination in my eyes, Broadway sighs, then attaches his silencer. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re going in,¡± he tells the guys, and nudges me to screw my silencer on. ¡°The longer we don¡¯t draw attention to ourselves, the higher the chance we¡¯ll get out before Noretto¡¯s goons from the auction show up.¡± ¡°Fuck!¡± Koby ms his hand against the wheel, making the Range Rover beep, a loud st that vibrates my earpiece. ¡°At least stay on the line. Ryder will guide you through the ce, so you don¡¯t get spotted.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll get spotted long before they get near the door,¡± Ryder muses. ¡°ze has this ced wired through and through. Every inch is under surveince. Motion detectors, panic buttons, cameras scanning both outside and inside.¡± ¡°Find Hailey,¡± I order, tugging the straps of my bulletproof vest, making sure it sits where it should as I look over my shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s get this done.¡± Apollo juts his chin at the two men with him. I didn¡¯t bother asking their names. If things go ording to n, their obituaries will be all that¡¯s left of them. I take us around the back of the sprawling mansion, over the tall, chain-link fence, then through the shadows until we have no choice but to step into the lights illuminating the pool area. Broadway stalks the unsuspecting guard, a predator on the hunt. His muscles tighten as he lunges forward, making quick work of snapping the guard¡¯s neck in one swift move. I tackle another. Pressing the barrel of my gun under his chin, I pull the trigger. He lets out a whine, but that sound, coupled with the bullet tearing through his brain, is much quieter than the thud of his body hitting the tiles by the pool¡¯s edge. Blood seeps from both entry and exit wounds, dripping into the calm water. The lights illuminate the expanding red tendrils, turning the pool into a canvas of carnage. It¡¯s beautiful. In a twisted, deranged way, it¡¯s fucking breathtaking. Rhett¡¯s trio stalks after us, guns raised, eyes scanning the windows. Neither one notices the third guard until a bullet whizzes by my head. Either they didn¡¯t notice, or theychosenot to¡­ I have a feeling Rhett wants me out of the picture by the end of the night. Another body thuds behind me. Broadway res from across the pool, his gun drawn. ¡°Focus!¡± he mouths. I nce over my shoulder at the gaping hole between the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°That was close,¡± Ryderments. ¡°Pull your shit together, Boss. I¡¯ve got eyes on your girl, she¡¯s in one piece.¡± An ecstasy of relief rattles through me, sharpening my instincts like a picture regaining focus. It¡¯s so fucking potent my knees threaten to fold. ¡°Where is she?¡± I ask, every instinct screaming to break off the tight leash, fuck caution, andrunto her. ¡°Upstairs. You¡¯ve triggered the motion detectors, so fun¡¯s heading your way. Two iing on your twelve o¡¯clock.¡± A curt nod is my only acknowledgment. Apollo and I retreat into the shadows as two guards step out of the building, guns drawn, eyes searching the backyard. Before either spot us behind the huge pirs supporting the balcony, they¡¯re down, a bullet each. ¡°Ten more inside,¡± Ryder says over the distinct, rapid click of keyboard keys. ¡°Fifteen total¡­¡± he adds in a dubious tone. ¡°Not the security I¡¯d expect ze to install for Hailey.¡± Him and me both. ¡°The rest are probably on their way,¡± Apollo chimes in, stering himself by the window. As if to confirm it, a shrilling rm cuts the tense silence like a scalpel, setting my nerves on edge. ¡°Move, Boss,¡± Broadway urges, jutting his chin toward the sliding doors. ¡°Upstairs. I¡¯ve got you covered.¡± I enter the house, gun drawn, every step calcted as I tear through the mansion. ¡°Main door,¡± Apollo tells his two goons, sending them off to the left¡ªa surprise for ze¡¯s men once they begin to amass in fucking throngs. They nod, rushing away, their steps barely audible. ¡°Not that staircase, Boss,¡± Ryder clips in my ear. ¡°Take the left corridor.¡± He keeps talking, his sharpmands leading us through the maze. ¡°Turn right here, you want the back stairs.¡± It¡¯s a fucking godsend that he hacked the surveince system, or it¡¯d take me three times as long to find my way. The ce is enormous. A modern castle with tall ceilings. The motion lights flicker low on the walls, illuminating the rooms with every step I take. I keep moving, front and center, while Broadway stays back with Apollo, covering the rear. Spotting a shiver of movement, I aim and shoot, shattering the reflection of Apollo¡¯sbat-ready posture in a floor-to-ceiling mirror adorning the wall. ¡°Where the fuck is everyone?¡± Broadway hisses when we emerge out of a second hallway, and no one¡¯s tried shooting at us. ¡°Upstairs,¡± I say, hearing muffled, yelled orders from above. ¡°They¡¯re grouping by Hailey¡¯s door.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ryder confirms. ¡°Still just ten.¡± ¡°Not for much longer,¡± Koby pipes in. ¡°I bet the ce will be crowding with ze¡¯s men inside five minutes.¡± I inhale deeply, pushing forward, eyes darting left and right for any sign of movement as we enter a foyer. I¡¯ve retrieved kidnapped people while looking death straight in the eye, surrounded or trapped, many times before but I¡¯ve never been this scared. Now it¡¯s Hailey¡¯s life on the line, cold hands grip my throat shattering myposure. There¡¯s no room for error. Staying focused while my pulse pounds my ears and my heart lurches into my throat takes immense effort. Shaking off the stiffness, I start climbing upstairs. A guard emerges from the hallway above, quick to take aim. I¡¯m quicker. A shot rings out¡ªhis¡­ missed. Mine¡¯s nothing but a hiss. I¡¯ve still got the silencer on, but his dead body rolling down the stairs echoes through the mansion. With that distinct sound, the house bes a warzone. I take a deep, centering breath as I lose the silencer. There¡¯s no point keeping quiet now. They know we¡¯re inside. Besides, the sound of my gun firing jolts me with the kind of invincibility I need. Broadway and I bolt the rest of the way up and ster ourselves to the walls nking the wide hallway. ze¡¯s men scramble, their shouts echoing through the house. Footsteps thunder closer. And finally, bullets rain down on us in fucking clouds. They ricochet off the walls, the floor, the gilded railings¡­ ¡°I stall, you kill,¡± I yell at Broadway when he peeks around the corner and a bullet narrowly misses his head. Dropping to one knee, I aim and shoot, aim and shoot, targeting their legs. Kneecaps shatter, throwing the goons off bnce. Broadway takes the short window I¡¯ve provided, picking them off one by one. Bullets find their marks, head, neck, head, neck. Even Apollo joins the fun, emptying his clip in seconds. It takes a minute, maybe two, before the corridor is littered with lifeless bodies, blood staining the floor and walls. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re all clear,¡± Ryder says, the tapping in the background telling me he¡¯s checking the feeds. ¡°We need to move.¡± Broadway nudges my shoulder, reloading his gun. ¡°Ryder, where¡ª¡± He falls silent when a muffled whimper perks my ears. I sprint toward that sound, not waiting for confirmation it¡¯s Hailey. Iknowit¡¯s her. A choked-back sob follows, stopping me in my tracks outside one of the many rooms lining the corridor. Adrenaline overpowers my system as I brace against the wall opposite, and lunge forward, the sole of my shoe connecting with the hardwood. The door flies open, banging against the wall and¡ª There she is¡­ hiding in the corner by a king-sized bed, wild eyes staring right at me. She¡¯s wearing gray sweatpants and a matching hoodie, her feet bare, skin ghastly pale. Recognition twists her features and her whimpers hup when Ie closer. Instead of flinging herself into my arms, she jerks away, trying to melt with the wall. She frantically scrutinizes my face, the blood spattering my shirt, until she stops on the gun glistening in my palm. Her breath visibly hups, cheeks pale further, and she drops to the floor, wrapping her arms around her head as if that¡¯ll make her invisible. ¡°Hailey.¡± I let go of the gun, crouching down and reaching out to touch her. ¡°It¡¯s me, pretty girl. I¡¯m here.¡± She peeks a little. Then a little more, shaking all over as she zeroes in on my face and her shoulders slump. ¡°Nash¡­¡± she mouths. I cup her face, swiping my thumbs under her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m here now. I¡¯ll get you out.¡± ¡°You came,¡± she utters, her voice weak. She trembles harder, tears carving narrow paths down her cheeks. Tears ofrelief. It¡¯s so fucking clear. Hope sprouts inside her, sending my pulse into a gallop. ¡°Of course I came. I¡¯ll alwayse for you.Always.¡± Craving a sliver of reassurance, a sliver of connection, I lean in, pressing a kiss to her forehead. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± She shakes her head, lips parting, but instead of words, faint sobs fill the space between us. ¡°Shh, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here,¡± I chant, twining my arms beneath hers to help her up. ¡°I¡¯ll get you out, baby. Stay close to me.¡± Yanking my bulletproof vest off, I wrap it around her, securing the straps, then snatch my gun off the floor. ¡°We should get moving¡± Broadway says from where he stands guard at the door, gun drawn. ¡°Yep. Get out of there. You¡¯ve gotpany,¡± Koby adds in my ear. ¡°We¡¯re eight minutes away.¡± The rm dies, reced swiftly by the sound of car tires kicking up gravel outside. ¡°Fuck,¡± Broadway clips, peeking out into the hallway, his shoulders squared back. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Three cars, twelve men. I expect more areing.¡± The sound of the main doors hammering against the walls shakes the very foundation of the mansion. It gets worse when the first volley of bullets erupts downstairs. Either they¡¯re firing warning shots, or shooting blind, hoping for a lucky hit. My instincts kick in. All-consuming determination annihtes the fear that¡¯s controlled me since I lost Hailey. I grip her in the middle, yank her up then behind me. My left arm twists to hold her flush against my back, the gun in my right hand. ¡°Stay with me, Hailey. Don¡¯t run. Just follow my lead.¡± She shakes like a leaf but grasps a handful of my shirt, giving me a small nod, so pale she doesn¡¯t look far off fainting. Broadway leaps forward, following Ryder¡¯s instructions, and pulls the trigger as he turns left. Once, twice, three times. Bodies drop, thudding against the wooden floor, the sound followed by aimless gunshots: death-twitches pulling triggers. The huge crystal chandelier above shatters, showering thending with glittering shards. I instinctively grip Hailey¡¯s middle, sweep her off her bare feet, and carry her over to where she won¡¯t cut them. ¡°The staircase andnding are clear,¡± Ryder tells us. ¡°Get downstairs. You¡¯re sitting ducks up there.¡± We rush after Broadway, following his lead. Hailey stays close, reacting so fast we almost move as one, but as we reach the stairs, a gun aimed for my head appears at the bottom. My world slows to a crawl. The next second is a fucking blur. A gunshot rings out. Hailey screams. Apollo rounds the corner, shoving us out of the way a second before the bullet hits the wall. At the bottom of the stairs, the shooter falls, two holes marking his head courtesy of Broadway¡¯s Glock. He¡¯s still aiming the smoking barrel ahead, waiting for another target. ¡°Saved your ass too many times to count.¡± He smirks at me over his shoulder, but the humor¡¯s surface-level at best. It doesn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Pull it together.¡± More car engines growl outside. Headlights cut through the mansion windows, doors m like whipcracks, and hastened footsteps crunch on the gravel. Reinforcements pour inside, yellingmands, and checking the first wave for survivors. We dash downstairs, two steps at a time. I yank Hailey back when she gets ahead, and we duck together as a flurry of bullets zips overhead. ¡°Stay close,¡± I hiss, tucking her behind me when three goons appear, firing bullet after bullet. Broadway helps quickly, taking out a guy on the left while two pulls of my trigger deal with the others. Ryder helps us along while Koby swears in the background whenever we get surrounded, clearly unhappy he¡¯s missing the fun. The engine thunders in the background, growing louder in time with Koby¡¯sfucks. ¡°Left, Boss,¡± Ryder says. I follow his barked instruction, taking Hailey with me. ¡°Four on your right,¡± he adds. More bulletse. A stato rhythm punctuated by Noretto¡¯s pawns scrambling to gain the upper hand. ¡°Fuck! Carter, on your right!¡± Koby¡¯s voice bleeds in my ear. ¡°Focus on the damn road, Koby,¡± Ryder snaps. If I had time, I¡¯d chuckle, but as Koby pointed out, there¡¯s a man on the right sending three bullets my way. I let Hailey slide under my outstretched arm, out of the way, while I aim and fire. She briefly clings to my legs when I pivot, killing a fucker taking a shot at Broadway. It¡¯d would¡¯ve been nice if Ryder saw that oneing. ¡°She stays here!¡± someone yells a secondter. Hailey¡¯s safely back behind me. ¡°If you want to get out of here alive, give me the girl!¡± Wishful thinking. I doubt he imagined those would be hisst words, but Apollo¡¯s bullet hits him square in the throat. The guy falls in cinematic slow motion, his face contorted in shock. I bet he thought we¡¯d negotiate¡­ his mistake. The calmsts three seconds. Two more men take the dead guy¡¯s ce, and I tuck Hailey to my left, using my body as a shield in case either of them even thinks about taking a shot. Bullets follow bullets. Bodies thud all around, littering the parqueted floors like oversized, blood-smeared confetti. We¡¯re barely moving. I count five more dead at my hand, another however-many at Broadway¡¯s and Apollo¡¯s, but ze¡¯s men keeping. For every one we kill, two new threats materialize. ¡°Behind you, Boss,¡± Ryder says, keeping a cool, level tone. I spin round, shooting the approaching man. ¡°We¡¯re four minutes out. Stay alive!¡± Koby booms, the squeal of tires telling me he¡¯s drifting his way over here. Hailey¡¯s breath is hot against my neck, her fingers sinking into my side. She¡¯s close, so close I feel the rapid thrum of her heart¡­ Nothing has ever felt as reassuring. I curl my fingers tightly around the gun, my other hand bunching the fabric of Hailey¡¯s hoodie. She¡¯s so fucking detached I don¡¯t dare let go. ¡°Where¡¯s Hank?¡± Apollo asks when one of his men joins us a few minutester. ¡°Dead.¡± That¡¯s one problem solved without my involvement. Apollo doesn¡¯t falter, barking out an order that gets lost in the surrounding chaos. We¡¯re getting closer to where Koby and Ryder are supposed to pick us up. The rest of Rhett¡¯s goons might make it through the forest at any minute so we¡¯re running out of time. I reload my gun while whisking Hailey behind me. We move fast, but it feels smooth, almost rehearsed, like a twisted, gory tango. I lead, moving her to my left, then sliding her under my right arm, keeping her away from the line of fire. The contrast between the power charging through me and her delicate body twirling around me however I decide is sharp. I spin her again, then draw her back and tuck her behind me, all the while pulling the trigger, aiming my gun so fast it¡¯s almost like I¡¯m ying a fucking video game on cheat codes. I don¡¯t miss. Ican¡¯tmiss. The stakes are too high. Each bullet finds its mark. A man to the left¡ªdown. Two to the right¡ªdead. Theye from all directions, aiming, missing, dying¡­ And I¡¯m the maestro leading a deadly orchestra. I control the rhythm. My crippling fear disintegrated the moment I got my hands on Hailey. She¡¯s here. Alive. She¡¯s with me andI¡¯mkeeping her safe. She follows my lead, despite those gorgeous blues I¡¯ve missed so much brimming with fear. She gasps whenever a bullet flies past too close forfort, but she stays close, reacting to my faintest cues. I tug, she sinks, I pull, she turns. ¡°Left hallway!¡± Broadway shouts, his gunshots a rhythmic backdrop to my own. Hailey stumbles, letting out a small yelp and my hands shoot out, snapping around her waist. I mold her into my chest, starved for her, drunk on the emotions she ignites. ¡°Easy, there,¡± I whisper in her ear. ¡°Deep breaths.¡± I take a second to inhale in sync with her. She¡¯s cold to the touch, trembling all over, but she nods along, determination flooding her features. ¡°Good girl. You¡¯re doing so fucking good. Just a little longer. We¡¯re almost out of here.¡± Her lips part but no wordse. We¡¯re on the move again. She¡¯s scared, her heart beats so hard it resonates against me every time she nuzzles into me, but she¡¯s not stalling. She¡¯s not breaking down. She¡¯s not covering her head with both hands to pretend she¡¯s invisible. She moves with me, follows my lead. We burst into arge sitting room. It¡¯s closed off, private with only one exit. We¡¯re trapped, but at the same time, there¡¯s only one narrow point of entry, which gives our guns a tactical advantage. Taking a stance on the far side with Hailey behind me, I shoot everyone who peeks their head through the doorway. Broadway picks up those I don¡¯t kill on the spot while Apollo¡¯s barking instructions into his phone¡ªsummoning the escape driver. Hisst remaining goon slides down the wall, clutching his stomach, hands red with fresh blood. I don¡¯t spare him more than a second of my attention, but that second is too fucking long. One of ze¡¯s personal bodyguards¡ªTerrence, I think¡ªbursts in, taking cover behind another couch. With a cold, detached look crossing his ugly face, he takes aim. I don¡¯t pause to wonder whether it¡¯s me or Hailey he¡¯s targeting. My instinct kicks in, my armunching out like an arrow to shield her and I cover her with my body. The bullet tears into my shoulder. The searing pain barely registers as I twist, returning fire. So does Broadway and so does Apollo¡­ too many bullets for one man to dodge. Terrence falls, sharing the same fate ze¡¯s other bodyguard did upstairs, his face like Swiss cheese. ¡°Stay down!¡± I tell Hailey. Sheplies, pooling at my feet, sheltered by a sprawling mid-century couch. ¡°More iing!¡± Broadway warns, reloading his gun while slumped behind a huge bronze statue. ¡°Yeah, us,¡± Ryder says. ¡°Get away from the window.¡± The Range Rover¡¯s engine roars outside as the ck car speeds past, kicking up the pristinewn. Koby ms the brakes, throws the car in reverse and ms through the ss. He always knew how to make an entrance. ¡°Carter¡¯s going to steal the fucking target!¡± Apollo¡¯s goon yells from where he¡¯s bleeding out by the wall¡ªtoo fucking slowly for my liking. Bullets ping off the Range Rover¡¯s armored exterior, Noretto¡¯s goons flooding the room while Koby reverses toward the back of the room where I wait with Hailey. ¡°Get in!¡± he yells, throwing himself into the back to push the door open. Hailey bolts upright before I can fucking blink. The safety the car offers makes her momentarily forget she¡¯s supposed to follow my lead. She stands tall, bracing to dash forward. It¡¯s the only mistake she¡¯s made. We both pay instantly when her scream pierces my eardrums as a bullet tears into her upper arm. It feels like it hitmeright in the chest. I bet it was destined for me on Rhett¡¯s orders¡ªkill him if he tries taking her¡ªbut Hailey shot up, straight into the line of fire. My stomach heads for my knees like a thirty-floor elevator with a snapped fucking cable. Time slows to a crawl as I yank her back, my gun pointed at Apollo¡¯s goon, pure unadulterated wrath scorching my veins. But before I pull the trigger, another shot rings out. Not Koby¡¯s. Not Ryder¡¯s. Not even Broadway¡¯s. Apollo kills his man, eyes on me, barrel still smoking. He holds my gaze for a beat, speaking without words, then juts his head at the Range Rover, urging me to get the fuck out of here. That¡¯s insubordination. Rhett¡¯s orders were clear.¡°You¡¯re in charge, Apollo. Bring Hailey to Clevnd.¡± I don¡¯t understand why he¡¯s disobeying my father and helping me along, but I¡¯m not about to question him. Apollo¡¯s smart. Smarter than any of Rhett¡¯s men. Maybe smarter than Rhett himself. Whatever his train of thought is, it works in my favor. A spray of gunfire has me shoving Hailey inside the car and pressing her into the plush back seat with all my body weight. ¡°Don¡¯t move! Koby, window!¡± He rolls it down, stomping on the gas. The car lurches toward the other side of the room. ¡°Broadway! Get in!¡± I rain hellfire on anyone aiming at him as he dashes to the back door. The vile taste of guilt covers my tongue at the thought of leaving Apollo behind, but it melts away when his getaway car pulls up. The short escape window Apollo provided just closed. Saving Hailey: Chapter 14 Ryder takes over the shooting while Koby makes ready to leave. I maneuver Hailey out of the way just as Broadway jumps inside. Before the door¡¯s fully closed, Koby floors the gas, flying through the gaping hole where the window used to be. We¡¯re swallowed by the dead night, crushing wilted rose bushes under our wheels until we skid onto the driveway and past the gate. Hailey¡¯s in myp, straddling my hip, trembling and silent, her head whipping every which way to assess the situation. ¡°Let the fun begin,¡± Koby says, ncing in the rearview mirror. ¡°Better put your seatbelts on.¡± On cue, a ck sedan pulls out behind us¡ªRhett¡¯s getaway driver with Apollo in the passenger seat. Ten secondster, two more cars join in¡ªNoretto¡¯s. Good job we¡¯re prepared for this eventuality. Dark trees blur outside the tinted window as we twist round the woond path toward the main road at a hundred miles an hour. Adjusting Hailey in myp, I whip a seatbelt around us. It clicks in ce just as uneven terrain judders the Range Rover. Every move I make isced with a shadow of fear I can¡¯t control. She¡¯s here, I have her back, but we¡¯re not out of the woods yet¡­ neither literally nor figuratively. ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± I ask, frantically skimming her body. She flinches away, staring at me with wide eyes. ¡°You came.¡± I cup her face with both hands and pull her to me, my lips dancing with hers quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll alwayse for you.¡± I stamp a kiss on her forehead, then inhale a shaky breath, filling my lungs with her. ¡°You¡¯re okay now. I promise.¡± ¡°Seven miles,¡± Broadway denotes, gripping Koby¡¯s headrest. He leans toward the middle to see the road better. ¡°Don¡¯t get us busted. Ryder, get them on the phone.¡± Ryder breaks the previous connections in our earpieces, setting up new ones with the guys waiting at a nearby gas station. Hailey inches away when the car straightens out, and my eyes are drawn to the crimson staining her arm. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Nash. It doesn¡¯t hurt, just¡­ burns,¡± she stammers, pointing to where the bullet hit. Carter, baby. My name¡¯s Carter. ¡°Hold on!¡± Koby booms, mming the brakes and turning the wheel so fast his hands are just a blur. My arms snap around Hailey, pinning her against my chest as the ground beneath the wheels shifts from dirt to asphalt. We buck onto the road, the car filling with the stench of burning rubber when Koby floors the gas pedal. I nce out the back window at the sedans, their headlights following us through the darkness. ¡°Alright, get ready, boys,¡± Ryder says into his mouthpiece. ¡°Put them on speaker,¡± Broadway demands, his knuckles gouging into Koby¡¯s seat. I push Hailey away, searching her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding, pretty girl. I need to see how bad.¡± Gripping her sleeve under and over the stitching, I tear it off in one hard tug. Using the scrap of fabric, I dab the wound, cleaning the excess blood to get a better look. ¡°It¡¯s just a graze, baby. Not deep. You¡¯ll be okay.¡± ¡°Fuck!¡± Koby yells, mming the brakes again. Hailey ms into my chest with a yelp, gripping my sides and pushing her face into the crook of my uninjured shoulder. The sedans whizz past, braking thirty meterster, the unexpected move giving us a few precious seconds. ¡°We¡¯re taking a short cut,¡± Koby announces as my phone starts ringing in my back pocket. Must be Rhett. I can easily picture the rage simmering in his eyes. There was a n¡ªtake Hailey to Clevnd¡ªbut I changed it without telling him and now his head must be swimming with possibilities. He¡¯ll have to wait for a chat, because all I care about is getting Hailey out of here. ¡°Here, Boss.¡± Ryder passes over a first aid kit from the glove box. ¡°Put pressure on the wound. You can clean and dress itter.¡± I wouldn¡¯t dare patch her up while Koby¡¯s zigzagging on uneven terrain. It¡¯d do more harm than good. Pressing a wad of gauze to the graze, my stomach somersaults back at a hiss from Hailey. The car swings again, pushing her into me and she stays there, curled into my chest. ¡°You¡¯re okay,¡± I whisper in her ear. ¡°It¡¯ll be over soon.¡± I force my attention back to the road when we once again jump out onto asphalt, two sedans roaring behind us. The gas station where our calvary awaits erupts from the darkness. No wonder. Koby¡¯s clocking one-forty miles an hour. We fly past three identical Range Rovers waiting by the road, ready for a game of switcheroo. Nate, Rookie, and Jackson join the fray, turning the chase into a disordered ballet. ¡°Fuck yeah!¡± Rookie¡¯s voice booms from the speakers. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve done this.¡± ¡°Eight years,¡± Nate confirms, his tone level as he goes on to spew instructions. Neither Apollo¡¯s driver nor ze¡¯s two sedans seem fazed. All the cars stay on us. Not for long, though, because the next minute, in a sequence of rehearsed moves, we switch ces with Rookie, then Nate, then Rookie, then Jackson, over and over, mimicking the ssic shell game. Koby veers left, right, brakes, then elerates before sweeping us in and out of the vertical formation. All four Range Rovers are identical, down to the tes and cked-out windows, so the cars chasing us have no clue which car is which. At least that was my thinking, but less than a minuteter, Koby¡¯s towing the fuckers again. Broadway nces over his shoulder, confusion etched between his brows. ¡°How the fuck do they know?¡± ¡°Dents from the bullets,¡± Ryder exins. ¡°We didn¡¯t foresee them trying to make a sieve out of the car when we nned this.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got this,¡± Nate says, his resolve bleeding through the speakers. A set of instructions follows. Koby obeys, flooring the gas to make room for Nate to slip into formation. He stays inches from our back bumper for a mile or two, increasing the distance between him and the car behind, then ms the brakes,ing to an abrupt andplete halt in the middle of the road. The driver of the sedan following doesn¡¯t have time to turn the wheel, let alone brake. He crashes into Nate¡¯s Range Rover at full speed. Metal bends, windows shatter, thecrashlouder than a fucking explosion. Almost simultaneously, as if anticipating Nate¡¯s move, Jackson clips the rear end of Apollo¡¯s getaway car, sending it into a spin. It ms into the pileup, amplifying the chaos. Two down, one to go. ¡°Shit! You good, Nate?¡± Broadway asks, staring out the back window. ¡°Nate?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m good,¡±es his strained reply, followed by a humorless chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re in for one hell of a whish im though.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t slow down,¡± Jackson orders. Tension is a living, thick, suffocating thing weighing down on us all as Koby¡¯s maneuvers be more daring, but thest sedan matches us move for move. Rookie¡¯s flying down the road beside us, his expression unfazed as always. He¡¯s been Dante¡¯s star driver since day one, and given his nonchnt skills, I get why. ¡°Nate had a point,¡± he says, stepping off the gas to fall back. ¡°I¡¯m bored of this shit.¡± Immediately, the screech of tires fills the air. Both Jackson and Rookie wrench their Range Rovers sideways, blocking the sedan. It can¡¯t brake fast enough, piledriving into Rookie¡¯s back door. ¡°Score!¡± Broadway exims. ¡°You alright there?¡± ¡°All good. I¡¯ll see you soon.Don¡¯tslow down.¡± ¡°Not a chance,¡± Koby mutters, pushing the car to its limits for twenty minutes, taking a series of turns before he risks slowing down to see if anyone¡¯s still following. After another ten minutes of constant looking over my shoulder, my muscles slowly unwind. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re clear.¡± ¡°You sound surprised,¡± Ryder muses, turning in his seat. ¡°Should we drive around a bit longer?¡± ¡°No. Get us to Illinois.¡± I grab a pack of antiseptic wipes from the first aid kit, tearing it open with my teeth. ¡°Come on, Hailey. I need to patch you up.¡± Slowly, she pulls away, ncing at Broadway who¡¯s hauling out medical supplies. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± ¡°Somewhere safe.¡± She opens her mouth, but it shuts when I start gently cleaning the graze on her arm. The way she flinches with every touch¡­ fuck, I want to go back and kill everyst one of ze¡¯s pawns, then put a bullet in the man himself. Hailey sinks her teeth in her bottom lip, warding off the pain. ¡°Shh,¡± I whisper, brushing a gentle kiss over her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re okay, I¡¯m almost done.¡± She doesn¡¯t say a word, just shuts her eyes, grinding her teeth. Broadway helps, handing over the bandages and skin-closing strips, then puts everything away when I¡¯m done. I pull Hailey close, cradling her head against my chest. The adrenaline starts hissing out of her as Koby lulls the car to a morefortable speed. Everything she went through shakes her petite frame. It¡¯s like now the nightmare¡¯s over, she can barely hold herself together. I know her. I know she¡¯s fighting tears, fighting to calm down, and that sheer will not to break down fucking guts me. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯re okay,¡± I whisper, wrapping her tightly in my arms. It¡¯s not as if saying it enough times will erase whatever she¡¯s been through, but my voice soothes her, so I don¡¯t stop. ¡°It¡¯s over, I promise.¡± My fingers tangle in her hair, brushing it back while she nuzzles deeper into the crook of my neck. The car tires hum against the asphalt; the engine¡¯s rhythmic purr and my hands stroking her back drift Hailey off to sleep. It takes well over an hour before her trembles finally ease.Her breaths even out, but even in her sleep, she doesn¡¯t stop clutching my waistcoat in tight fists. No way I can reach my phone, hidden in the back pocket of my pants, without disturbing her, but Dante needs an update. ¡°Broadway,¡± I say, keeping my volume low so I don¡¯t wake Hailey. ¡°Give me your phone.¡± ¡ô¡ô¡ô ¡°We should stop here,¡± Ryder says, pointing out a gas station. ¡°We¡¯re running on fumes, Boss.¡± Two hours have passed since we lost the sedans. There¡¯s no one following us anymore, but even with no immediate threat, my grip on Hailey unconsciously tightens. ¡°Yeah, alright, pull over. Grab some food; I don¡¯t know how well the safe house is stocked.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± Broadway offers. ¡°You stay with her.¡± His footsteps p against the tarmac. Ryder follows while Koby fills up the tank, his assessing eyes scanning the open area checking if we¡¯re being followed. Taking a deep breath, I draw small circles with my fingers on Hailey¡¯s back, hoping it¡¯s enough to keep her sleeping. She should rest. We still have three hours before we arrive at the safe house Dante¡¯s kindly offered us. Minutes stretch on, and soon, Broadway returns with supplies. He shoves a bottle of water into my door pocket, then hands me a steaming coffee. The bitter smell fills the car as the other two get back in with their cups, letting the cool evening air inside. Immediately, goosebumps dot Hailey¡¯s neck. Leaving a bag of sandwiches on the seat, Broadway pulls a nket from under his arm. He covers her up with the kind ofcare you¡¯d need to dismantle a bomb, probably aware I¡¯ll bite his fucking head off if he wakes her up. ¡°Thanks,¡± I say, adjusting my hold on her to free one hand and sip the coffee. It agitates the bullet-hole in my shoulder, making me hiss loud enough to attract Ryder¡¯s attention. ¡°We need to patch you up,¡± he says, staring at me in the rearview mirror. ¡°It¡¯d be nice if you didn¡¯t bleed out.¡± I grind my teeth, my head hitting the headrest. ¡°Later. I¡¯m fine. You can patch me up once we¡¯re in the safe house.¡± ¡°Carter,¡± Koby insists, his voice a notch firmer than Ryder¡¯s. ¡°What if we¡¯re being followed?¡± He nces over his shoulder at Hailey¡¯s sleeping face. ¡°You don¡¯t have to let her go. Ryder can work while we drive. But if you pass out or get worse¡ª¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Fuck, fine.¡± I, very carefully, tuck Hailey against my healthy shoulder. ¡°Stop nagging.¡± I could easilyst a few more hours without a dressing, but Koby¡¯s right. The more blood I lose, the weaker I be. Risking an infection is out of the question. If anything else goes sideways tonight I¡¯ll need all the strength I can get to protect her. Saving Hailey: Chapter 15 Tires crunch over gravel as Koby maneuvers the car to a halt outside the double-wide garage doors. ¡°Damn, Dante didn¡¯t skimp on this ce,¡± Broadway says, scrutinizing the safe house. It¡¯s bigger than an average American house. Five bedrooms and six bathrooms, nestled deep within the woods, away from prying eyes. It¡¯s even more secluded than Lakeside College. Here, you¡¯re over an hour away from civilization in any direction. A thick canopy of trees shields the property, moonlight filtering through the gaps to cast shadows over the driveway. ¡°I take it it¡¯s bulletproof?¡± Koby motions at the ss living room wall once Ryder opens the car door for me. Sliding out without waking Hailey is a fucking feat, but I manage it while keeping her in my arms. She¡¯s buried herself into my neck so close I feel the quiver of her eyshes againstmy skin with every breath she takes. I wonder how little she slept at ze¡¯s that none of this has roused her. ¡°The entire building is bulletproof, starting with the windows and ending with reinforced steel walls,¡± I tell Koby. ¡°You know how crazy Dante gets with La. He¡¯d lock her in a padded room if he could.¡± Broadway smirks beside me, jutting his chin at Hailey. ¡°Something tells me you¡¯re worse than him.¡± Ignoring their snickering, I approach the main entrance, punching the ess code into a keypad on the wall. The biometric scanner does its thing, illuminating my face with blue light before the locks click, letting us in. Ryder opens the door, stepping aside. The faint scent of pine fills the open-space living area, bathed in the soft glow of warm LED lighting. The sitting room, fully equipped with a huge TV, rows of tall bookcases, and emerald furnishings fills the right side. That¡¯s where Broadway aims, his heavy steps muffled by plush carpet as he flings a drinks cab open. Koby¡¯s on the other side, making a mess in the sleek, modern kitchen. Ryder gets familiar with the security system panel by the front door. ¡°Want me to disarm the internal rms and switch off the bedroom cameras?¡± he asks, the humor in his voice not lost on me. ¡°Yeah and activate the outside motion sensors.¡± I nce at Hailey when she stirs in my arms, expecting her pretty, sleepy eyes to look up, but she¡¯s still asleep. I cross the room and carry her up the spiral staircase, then into the bedroom at the end of the upstairs hallway. As I brace anotherplicated sequence of maneuvers to get her in bed, she finally stirs. ¡°Sleep, pretty girl,¡± I whisper, pulling theforter up to her chin. ¡°I¡¯m still here.¡± She blinks at me but doesn¡¯t say a word. Her eyes close and within seconds she¡¯s asleep again, utterly exhausted. I don¡¯t move for a long time, staring at her while the fear that¡¯s poisoned my mind for days finally subsides. It¡¯s not until she shifts, nuzzling deeper into the pillows, that I decide it¡¯s time to deal with my sorry-ass state. I deliver my luggage to the bedroom across the hall from Hailey¡¯s and take a shower. Standing under the hot stream for ten minutes, I marvel in the sensation of my knotted muscles loosening slowly while the grime, sweat, and blood swirl into the drain. Steam clouds the en suite by the time I dry off. I want to crawl beside Hailey and sleep for a week, but until we talk, I can¡¯t invade her personal space. I have no idea what she¡¯s been through, how much she¡¯s figured out¡ªwhether she still wants me. Instead of sleeping with her, I¡¯ll stay here, alone. I¡¯m about to fall face-first onto therge bed when I catch my reflection in the mirror. Blood seeps from the wound on my shoulder, quickly drenching my t-shirt. Looks like sleep has to wait. On my way downstairs, I crack Hailey¡¯s bedroom door open, checking if she¡¯s still asleep. The nighmp casts a warm, muted glow across her calm face, making me pause. I can¡¯t fucking believe I have her back. The past few days rey like a haunted reel in my head. Every moment she wasn¡¯t with me, not knowing whether I¡¯d find her in time, the dark scenarios infesting my mind every goddamn minute¡­ fucking torture. Theforter rises and falls steadily in time with her breathing, helping me calm the fuck down. She¡¯s okay. She¡¯s safe. She probably has as many questions as I do, but we¡¯ll work through them one by one once she¡¯s rested. It takes a lot ofwillpower to walk out and close the door behind me when all I want to do is hold her close. My men sit by the firece, each with a ss of Bourbon, a fourth waiting for me on the coffee table. ¡°Is she alright?¡± Broadway asks, sprawled in the armchair, his ss resting on his knee. ¡°She¡¯s asleep.¡± ¡°Did she say anything?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t wake up.¡± I open the fridge, taking out a bottle of water. ¡°She¡¯ll be okay. She¡¯s tough.¡± ¡°That she is,¡± Broadway pipes in. ¡°You guys should¡¯ve fucking seen them at Noretto¡¯s. Don¡¯t get me wrong, she was scared, but she kept moving.¡± ¡°I did see them,¡± Ryder says, reminding Broadway he watched the whole thing over the surveince system. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d see the day¡­¡± He pins me with a curious stare from across the room, ¡°¡­when you¡¯d charge through gunfire like a man possessed for a girl.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯ve seen it all.¡± I take a seat, my ears perked up, listening closely for any sound from upstairs. The burn of the amber liquid down my esophagus proves a pleasant distraction from the cacophony of my thoughts and the dull throb in my shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve got it bad,¡± Koby pipes in. ¡°Your precision is nothing surprising, but fuck, Carter, you were shooting left and right, up and down, and still had time to calm her down midbat.¡± ¡°Multitasking.¡± He chuckles, shaking his head. ¡°Yeah, level: hard. It¡¯s odd seeing you like this. The way you handle her¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re always in control,¡± Ryder says. ¡°Always detached, but you¡¯re fucking unpredictable where Hailey¡¯s concerned.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Broadway chimes in, encouraged by myck of scolding. ¡°You, the one who always said a woman in our worldmakes a man weak. You didn¡¯t seem weak tonight. In fact, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen you this fucking ruthless.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t changed my mind. Hailey does make me weak. Sheismy weakness. Anyone with half a brain can ckmail me if they get their hands on her.¡± ¡°No one¡¯s getting through to her again,¡± Ryder promises, pushing his chest out. ¡°We checked the perimeter. All clear. Motion sensors on and rm system armed.¡± ¡°Good. We¡¯ll take turns in the control room.¡± ¡°This ce is a fortress once you lock it down,¡± Koby adds. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it could withstand a bomb drop.¡± ¡°Neither would I,¡± I admit, thinking about how over-the-top protective Dante is toward La since he almost lost her. This ce proves just how overprotective. Every square inch is under surveince, including the bedrooms and half a mile ofnd every which way, all avable via live feeds on twenty monitors in the control room. Armored blinds can cover the house at the flip of a switch, and motion detectors secure the perimeter. Broadway grabs the Bourbon bottle once I set my empty ss on the coffee table. He refills it, then hurls a first aid kit at Ryder, pointing at my shoulder.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. I tear off my t-shirt while Ryderys his equipment out on the table. ¡°Make it quick. I¡¯m fucking exhausted.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t recall you sleeping for longer than an hour here and there the past week. I¡¯m not surprised.¡± Koby watches from the sidelines, a frown lining his forehead. ¡°Does Hailey know your role in this?¡± ¡°After tonight, I¡¯m pretty sure she knows I¡¯m not a college student.¡± I hiss when Ryder soaks my shoulder in antiseptic and starts stitching, every needle prick painstakingly precise. ¡°Wake me up when it¡¯s my turn to man the control room,¡± I say as soon the wound is dressed. ¡°I¡¯m in thest room on the right.¡± ¡°No one¡¯s waking you. You look like death, Carter. Go to bed. We¡¯ll be fine.¡± I¡¯m too exhausted to argue. Saving Hailey: Chapter 16 The world lurches into focus slowly,ing back in stages as I wake, from the darkness behind my closed eyelids to the orange glow of the nighmp illuminating the bedroom. My head pounds, my temples pulse with a headache, and my eyes sting as I pry them open. I¡¯m half-nuzzled into a soft, warm pillow, the faint scent of linen filling my nose. It helps my groggy mind transition from sleep to wakefulness. I don¡¯t immediately pull myself up, lying still while my brain catches on, and the haziness lifts. Memoriese back scattered, a scene here, another there, all mingling inside my head like puzzle pieces colliding in zero-gravity. The room I¡¯m in, the bed, the dove-gray sheets¡­ none of it feels familiar. It¡¯s not the same room ze kept me in. This room is smaller and¡ª My head fills with the memory of gunshots, scattering the puzzle pieces and jostling them together until they drop, snapping into ce. Reality blurs, throwing me into a shback. It isn¡¯t like the others. I¡¯m not remembering something from the broken part of my mind¡­ my brain¡¯s simply reyingst night on fast-forward. Shots punctuate my every breath, the smell of gunpowder mixing with the metallic stench of blood and sweat. I duck under Nash¡¯s arm when he pulls my hand, then pivot around his legs. In the next breath, I¡¯m behind him again, adjusting to his pace and rhythm while he keeps me safe. He moves, I move. The heat of his body seeping into mine, the familiar scent of his skin, the softness of his touch even when he¡¯s urgently sweeping me left and right¡­ it all helps center me amidst the chaos, As long as he¡¯s close, I¡¯m in control of myself. I¡¯m okay. Itrusthe¡¯ll get me out alive. But whenever he pulls the trigger, whenever he pulls me in to face him and I¡¯m confronted by the cool, calcted look in his eyes, my assumptions fall apart. This isn¡¯t Nash. This is Carter. A ruthless killer who hid behind a mask. Still, I move. I let him guide me because, despite his foreign actions, hefeelsfamiliar. Whatever he wants from me can¡¯t be worse than the past eight days. Bodies drop with sickening thuds all around. Blood spatters the walls and my heart gallops so fast it¡¯s not far off breaking out of my chest. Everybangtightens the invisible rope cinched around my throat. I¡¯m shaking. Tears sting my eyes, but I grit my teeth, swallow the fear, and react to Carter¡¯s every nonverbalmand. ¡°Stay down!¡±he snaps, taking a firm stance as I pool at his feet behind a couch. The deafening atmosphere grows worse when a car bursts through the window, raining ss shards across the room. ¡°Get in!¡±someone yells as the car screeches to a halt against the thick Persian rug I¡¯m cowering on. Bullets ping off the exterior and I scramble upright, desperate to get out and hide. I don¡¯t manage two steps before a scream pierces the air.Myscream, caused by blinding pain. The images dissolve, hissing out of my mind, the deafening gunshots reced by still silence. No men, no guns, no blood, just a bedroom bathed in orange light. My heart ms against my ribcage like a caged bird, and fear lingers, thick and suffocating. My breath hitches, panic surging through me in icy waves when I try to sit up and can¡¯t move. Not one finger. I can¡¯t even open my lips to inhale a deep breath. My mind¡¯s a whirlwind of images shing like a strobe light¡­ guns, blood, the cold, dark room with thirty beds, the Napoleonic rug, crystal chandeliers, violet head bobbing up and down¡­ Dr. Seymour¡¯s advice echoes in the depths of my subconscious, a lifeline in the storm.¡°Breathe, Hailey. Slowly, on the count of four.¡± I silently chant those words, my breath sawing in and out so loud it ricochets off the walls while I fight to calm down. One¡­ Two¡­N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. A whimper slips past my lips, shattering my focus. It pulsates through the silent room, simultaneously muffling the fireworks explodingin my head. It¡¯s enough that I recognize where I am. Safe house. With Nash. No. Not Nash.Carter. Carter who murdered a dozen men as if it was nothing. Tears slide down my cheeks, gaining momentum in time with the words barely slipping past my lips. One¡­ Two¡­ Three¡­ Another wail tears my chest wide open. I escaped hell, but I have no idea where I¡¯ve ended up. How safe am I with a liar? My pulse pounds my ears, my chest constricts, and my lungs swell as if they¡¯re filling with water. The door to the bedroom bursts open, sending my heart rhythm sky-high. It bangs against the wall as Nash storms inside, gun drawn¡­ No, not Nash.Carter, eyes cutting across the room, scanning the space before they shift to mine. ¡°What happened?¡± He swiftly holsters his gun and in three long steps, he¡¯s beside me. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hailey?¡± There¡¯s a barely perceptible tremor in his voice that betrays he¡¯s worried. Carter has the same vor of worry that Nash showcased at Lakeside when he found me after Chloe and I got lost deep in the forest. And the time I tucked and rolled out of his car. He¡¯s so familiar¡­ so much like Nash. I¡¯m drowning in paralysis, my thoughts a jumbled mess of fragmented memories. One¡­ Two¡­ Three¡­ ¡°Bad dream?¡± Carter scoots closer just as one of his men¡ªBroadway, I think he¡¯s called¡ªjumps into the room, gun in hand. ¡°Fuck, you scared me,¡± Broadway huffs, wiping his forehead. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Carter tries to take my hand, maybe pull me into a hug, but he can¡¯t evence our fingers together. His eyes widen and his Adam¡¯s apple bobs as he swallows. ¡°I don¡¯t know, she can¡¯t move,¡± he tells Broadway, never taking his eyes off me. ¡°You¡¯re okay, I¡¯m here. You¡¯re fine.¡± I¡¯m still trapped in this stiff, unresponsive body, incapable of calming down enough to lift the paralysis. Another breathless whimper escapes my lips when Carter stares into my eyes¡­ he¡¯s so much like Nash right now. I¡¯ve seen him worried; I¡¯ve seen him angry, but I¡¯ve never seen him scared. It¡¯s an odd look. It doesn¡¯t suit him but it makes him feel real¡­ familiar. I want to reach out, touch his face, and tell him I¡¯ll be fine, but I can¡¯t speak. One¡­ Two¡­ I stare into Nash¡¯s eyes. Of all the people in my life, I knowhewon¡¯t hurt me. He might lie to me and deceive me, but the way my pain throws him into this anxious state shows he¡¯d never hurt me. ¡°Shh, pretty girl, you¡¯re okay,¡± he coos, his warm hand covering mine, the other brushing my hair. ¡°Calm down, it was just a dream.¡± But that¡¯s just it¡­ it wasn¡¯t. I focus on his voice as he continues whispering, telling me I¡¯m safe and he¡¯s here. That he won¡¯t let anyone hurt me. One¡­ Two¡­ Three¡­ Four¡­ The knots in my muscles unwind slowly, the paralysis easing off enough for me to flex my fingers around his. ¡°That¡¯s it, you¡¯re doing great. Focus on me.¡± I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s figured out what¡¯s wrong or if he¡¯s running on instinct, but he¡¯s helping. His soothing tone, the monotonous rhythm of his fingers through my hair, the way he watches me, the warmth radiating from him in waves¡­ it all helps me push the panic down. My heartrate slows and the stiffness ebbs away. I inhale a shaky, abrupt breath, whipping myself into a seated position. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I gasp, gathering fistfuls of sheets to work my fingers. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I scared you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Broadway says. ¡°As long as you¡¯re fine.¡± I inhale another deep breath, pins and needles dancing along my muscles. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Broadway nods, backing out of the room. ¡°Shout if you need me,¡± he adds. ¡°I¡¯ll be downstairs.¡± Nash moves closer, his hand tracing a gentle path down my back once Broadway¡¯s footsteps are echoing down the hall. ¡°What was that?¡± Nash asks. ¡°You couldn¡¯t move. Does it happen often?¡± ¡°More oftentely,¡± I sigh, craning my neck left and right to ease the tension. ¡°It¡¯s called sleep paralysis. It started when I was little but it went away for years and came back after the ident.¡± I scoot away from him, resting against the headboard. ¡°When it hits I can¡¯t speak, I can¡¯t move, I can¡¯t even breathe properly.¡± ¡°How can I help?¡± he asks, taking my hand in his to massage my palm like he¡¯s loosening invisible knots. ¡°Nothing. I can¡¯t stop it and I never know when it¡¯ll happen, it just¡ª¡± ¡°No, Hailey,¡± he cuts in, curling his index finger under my chin. ¡°How can I help while it¡¯s happening? What do I do when you wake up paralyzed?¡± ¡°Nothing more than you just did. I¡­¡± I bite my tongue, unsure whether I should tell him what¡¯s on my mind. The moment I looked into his eyes and focused on him, the paralysis melted away faster than ever before. Just seeing him, hearing him¡­ it helped me resurface. ¡°How are you feeling? How¡¯s your shoulder?¡± he asks, tiredness making his voice huskier than usual. ¡°Sore. I¡¯m thirsty and¡­ I have so many questions.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go grab you a bottle of water.¡± He points to the door across the room. ¡°The bathroom¡¯s there if you need it.¡± I swallow hard, pinching theforter before flinging my legs over the edge of the bed. ¡°A shower sounds good. I doubt I¡¯ll get any more sleep tonight.¡± ¡°Take your time.¡± He checks therge closet, pulling out a night dress, and hands it over, leaning in to kiss my head. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find a toothbrush and toiletries somewhere in the cabs and drawers. I won¡¯t be long.¡± With visible reluctance, he leaves. I hear his footsteps halt as soon as he¡¯s closed the door, like he¡¯s prepared to wait until I get in the shower in case I need something. Raking a hand through my tangled hair, I enter the en suite, hoping a few minutes alone underneath the warm water will help me organize my chaotic mind. Saving Hailey: Chapter 17 The moment Hailey¡¯s shower stops running, I head over there, clutching a water bottle in one hand and a first aid kit in the other, tension winding my muscles tighter with every step. I enter the bedroom, finding her in the middle of the room, cheeks red hot, myhoodie hugging her frame. My heart swells like a fucking balloon. She loved hiding in my hoodies at Lakeside, so I brought them all here and ran in to leave one on the bed for her after she thought I¡¯d gone downstairs. I didn¡¯t expect that she¡¯d wear it, her apprehension¡¯s visible whenever our eyes lock, but here she is, shrugging the sleeves lower to cover her dainty fingers. She still seeksfort in me. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s my scent or her wearingmyclothes. Whatever it is, it works miracles on her mental state. She¡¯s not pale anymore. Doesn¡¯t look half as frightened as she tugs the cor higher, hiding her chin. ¡°The hoodie¡¯s yours,¡± I say, crossing the room. ¡°But you need to take it off for a minute so I can change your dressing.¡± She gives me a slow, heated once-over, her pupils growing, swallowing the blue irises as she takes me in. There¡¯s a hunger inside her. Longing that closely matches mine. The atmosphere morphs into pure fucking lust when our eyes lock and her attention drops to my lips. And before I react, before a single thought enters my mind, she steps forward, crashing into me like a tiny wrecking ball and her perfect, plump lips catch mine. Our height difference means she has to rise on her toes to make it work, both hands curling around my neck as her hot tongue thrusts into my mouth. Everything inside me boils to unbearable levels. I¡¯ve missed her so fucking much there¡¯s no way I could ever put it into words. I¡¯ve missed her sweet scent, her petite body pressed against me, the taste of her lips, and the tititing sounds she makes. My mind ignites, consumed by a primitive, feralneedto drive myself deep inside her and remind us both who she belongs to. I meet her kiss with equal fervor, drowning in the high of my own bad fucking drug. My hands slide down from her waist to cup her ass and I haul her up, my blood running a fever. I carry her across the room, beyond ready to im her back. Shends on the dove-gray sheets with a bounce, pulling me down with her, both hands wing my shoulderdes so I¡¯ll crush her into the mattress the way she loves most. ¡°I missed you so much,¡± she chants, whipping her legs around my back to hold me in ce. My lips part, but Hailey lifts her head off the pillow, shutting me up with another demanding, hot kiss. We¡¯re done talking for the night. We¡¯re both driven by pure lust and undeniable feelings, wanting to show more than tell. There¡¯s so much I should say. So much she should hear, but the fire scorching my veins cremates my words before they ever have a chance for life. I have her. She¡¯s back in my arms and as desperate to feel me as I am to feel her, so I push the questions aside, drowning in the moment. I need the high only Hailey can ignite. My tongue skims her bottom lip, teeth grazing the soft flesh. My hands fill with her hips, and that fucking kiss is more than our reunion. It¡¯s a battle, a showcase of who craves who more. I think I¡¯m winning when the softest moan flies past Hailey¡¯s lips into mine. I think I¡¯m the king of the world as I grip the hem of her hoodie, pulling it over her head. I¡¯m fuckingshakingas I dive back for her lips. ¡°Whose are you?¡± I whisper, palming her ass. She¡¯s wearing a night dress, if this flimsy piece of spaghetti-strapped silk can warrant the name. Her skin is on fire against mine, blown pupils almostpletely swallowing that gorgeous shade of blue, her body trembling softly in anticipation. ¡°Yours, Nash,¡± she whispers, weaving her fingers through my hair to keep me in ce when I try kissing a line between her perky breasts, her nipples so hard they¡¯d cut ss. ¡°As long as you¡¯ll have me.¡± Instead of the expected adrenaline rush those words should ignite, a cold chill zaps my spine. It¡¯s not justNashthat hits me like a p. It¡¯s her tone that doubles it down, the resigned, uncertain note I catch there. That¡¯s not how she sounded when she said she was mine at Lakeside. Back then, she was certain I was hers too. She knew we were both swallowed by the same intense feelings. She knew I was hers as much as she was mine. It¡¯s different now. That certainty has been reced with resignation, worry, and hurt. So much hurt. She¡¯s mine for the taking but¡­ I¡¯m no longer hers. I rise on my elbows, searching her pretty face, my heart pounding, my cock so hard it¡¯s not far off bursting through the zipper. I want her. All of her¡­mine. Always mine. But something is very fucking wrong. ¡°Hailey, look¡ª¡± The words die on my tongue when my gaze involuntarily roves her body, devouring every soft inch of her. I memorized every line of that milky skin, every mark on her body, and this is new. ¡°What the fuck is that?¡± I grit out, peeling myself off her. I sit back on my calves, my mind in riot mode, every muscle battle-ready. There¡¯s a bruise curling around her right corbone, stretching over her back to disappear under the night dress. My temper res in an instant. It sweeps over me like wildfire, propelling me upright. ¡°Turn around,¡± I demand, cuffing her wrist to help her out of bed. I¡¯m not thinking clearly. Every fiber in me is consumed by pure wrath. The anger gunning through me is so potent it almost kicks my legs from under me. ¡°Now, Hailey. Turn around.¡± She shakes her head, fear clouding her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I promise, that¡¯s nothi¡ª¡± She bites her lip, leaving the rest of the sentence unspoken. ¡°Don¡¯t push me away.¡± ¡°Turn around,¡± I seethe, barely keeping from manhandling her so I can follow the bruise¡¯s path. She shakes her head again but her shoulders sag and she forfeits before the battle properly starts. Clever girl. She knows there¡¯s no fucking way I¡¯ll back down. With visible reluctance, she turns, and I stumble back. Literally stumble when she reveals her injuries. Pure, scorching wrath burns my veins, skyrocketing my pulse. It¡¯sravenous, this need to kill. To slowly, painfully torture whoever hurt my girl. Every inch of her skin that¡¯s on disy is bruised in various shades of green and yellow with pale purple lines running every which way as if¡­ as if¡­ Fuck¡­ my mind soars, heartbeat intensifying so fast it knocks the breath clean from my chest. It feels like an armored gauntlet punched my stomach. Words get lost, tangled somewhere on the way out and¡­ I can¡¯t fuckingthink. My chest dpresses as a gush of air rushes from my lips. ¡°What happened?¡± I step forward, gently spin her around and look into her blue eyes. ¡°Who did this to you?How?¡± My voice shakes with fury. ¡°Hailey¡­¡± I curl my fingers under her chin, dying to hide her in my arms and kiss every bruised inch of her. ¡°Tell me what happened.¡± Tears dance in her eyes as she inhales deeply, biting her bottom lip. ¡°I¡­ it doesn¡¯t matter. Can you pass me the hoodie, please?¡± Her voice is so small, so broken, so fragile¡­ just like her. She¡¯s a strong girl. Has been since the moment we met, juggling grief, amnesia, her father¡¯s paranoia, and her feelings for me, never onceining. New environment, new people, a life she couldn¡¯t remember, and yet she had the strength to dig deep into her memories for answers. Now that strength is wilting away. Too much has happened recently. She looks on the brink of overloading, but somehow, she keeps herself together. ¡°Let me help,¡± I say, wondering how much she¡¯s hurting, and hating myself for dropping her on the bed without a care. I want to touch her, hold her, kiss her. I want the one thing that has the power to numb my mindless anger: her closeness. The feel of her warm body in my arms. ¡°Help?¡± she asks in an incredulous, hurt tone, gently shaking her head. ¡°You lied for weeks and now you want to help? You don¡¯t get to act like everything is okay without a lick of exnation. You pretended to care about me¡ª¡± ¡°I lied but I never pretended. You have no idea how fucking much I care.¡± ¡°All you care about is the evidence,¡± she spits out, injecting a vial of venom into her words. It¡¯s a front to hide her hurt. ¡°You¡¯re just like Alex,¡± she adds, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. ¡°But this time I know how it ends andIdecide how much I give you.¡± That hits me even fucking harder than her bruises. Maybe because I realize that, on some level, she¡¯s not wrong. I spent so much time hating that fucker because he used my sister for personal gain that I didn¡¯t realize I was doing the exact same thing to Hailey¡­ but there¡¯s one distinct difference between Alex and me. ¡°Ineverhurt you.¡± She scoffs, the sound artificially angry while the fire hisses out of her. ¡°You did.¡± I have no words. I can¡¯t stand the sadness painting her face. It guts me becauseIdid that to her¡­ I have no line of defense. A minute passes while I try and think of one, staring into her tear-stained face. ¡°I wanted to tell you.¡± I sit beside her, so close and yet so fucking far. ¡°I should¡¯ve, but¡ª¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± she cuts in, disappointment clear in her tone. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. I know why you came for me. You want the evidence. If I help you find it¡­ will I be allowed to walk away?¡± Nois the first thing that springs to mind. I can¡¯t imagine my life without her. She¡¯s mine. She can¡¯t leave. She doesn¡¯t really want to leave¡­ she just hasn¡¯t realized yet. I broke her trust. It¡¯s too fragile to reconstruct in a day, but I¡¯ll make it work. I¡¯ll makeuswork.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. As bad as it sounds, the hurt and disappointment shadowing her pretty face mean she cares about me. ¡°How do you know about the evidence?¡± I ask. ¡°ze told me¡­ unlike everyone else in my life, he didn¡¯t lie. He answered every question I had.¡± My jaw mps shut, working in small circles as I swallow the bitter pill. She sounds like she respects that piece of shit. Like she¡¯d rather be in his mansion right now than safe here with me. ¡°You think he was protecting you, Hailey? He¡¯d kill you as soon as you told him where the evidence is. And I doubt he told youeverything. He doesn¡¯t know half of it.¡± ¡°Details,¡± she scoffs. Her attitude drives me fucking feral for two different reasons. I hate that she thinks I¡¯m the enemy but I alsolovethose ws on her. I love that she¡¯s fighting, determined toe out on top. I don¡¯t necessarily love how hard her attitude makes me, but there¡¯s little I can do about my aching cock. I doubt it¡¯ll catch a break anytime soon. ¡°Details are important,¡± I insist. ¡°Tell me what you know.¡± She shifts, jutting her chin higher, every next word like a bullet spinning from the barrel. ¡°I know Alex worked as an undercover spy within your father¡¯s ranks. He was in love with your sister who took her life when she found out about me. I know everyone thinks Alex told me where he hid the evidence. I also know you work for Dante Carrow, and you want the evidence to keep your father out of jail.¡± ¡°That was true when I arrived at Lakeside. It¡¯s not anymore. I don¡¯t need to keep Rhett out of jail.¡± She lifts her eyes to me, a hint of cold curiosity in those steel-blue irises. ¡°Fine. Tell me your version.¡± ¡°When Rhett told me Aalyiah was dead and exined why, I wantedyoudead.¡± I rise to my feet, annoyed for two different reasons: Hailey¡¯s attitude, and the shit it¡¯s forcing me to relive and confess. ¡°You¡¯re the only woman I ever considered hurting.¡± By the look of her, she didn¡¯t expect thatte out of my mouth. I bet she thought I¡¯d start with apologies or derations of love, but buttering her up won¡¯t win me any points. I¡¯ve been lying to her for weeks. The least she deserves is the truth, no matter how brutal. No matter how fucking ashamed I am that I ever considered hurting her. ¡°I med you and Alex equally,¡± I continue, every word pushed past clenched teeth. ¡°When I enrolled at Lakeside, my task wasn¡¯t finding the evidence. It was making sure you¡¯d never remember where it was, Hailey. I was supposed to break you by any means necessary.¡± She¡¯s all ears now that this story isn¡¯t going the way she must¡¯ve assumed. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Because instead of a self-centered mean girl, I met a girl full of hurt. I took one look at you in the cafeteria, and knew there was more to the story than Rhett had told me. You didn¡¯t match the boyfriend-stealing bitch I¡¯d envisioned.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t steal Alex from your sister,¡± she snaps, her defenses shooting up and taking my temper along for the ride. ¡°She took him from me.¡± ¡°That worked out fuckinggreatfor her, didn¡¯t it? You both got the short end of the stick with that scum.¡± Hailey pinches her lips. She can¡¯t argue, so she pivots. ¡°So what?¡± She mocks. ¡°You decided to let me live until I remember where the evidence is?¡± It¡¯s like she doesn¡¯t hear what I say. She clings to whatever ze told her, focuses on my lies, and everything else I say flies over her head. It doesn¡¯t stop her wanton eyes following my every move like she wants to rip my clothes off, though. I can rte. My cock¡¯s still hard, the desire so potent it pulses across my nerve endings. ¡°Yes,¡± I grit out. ¡°I still need the evidence. Now more than ever, because once I have it, you¡¯re safe. Whatever Alex has gathered won¡¯t be about Rhett alone. It¡¯ll implicate a lot of other people. Everyone who ever dealt with Rhett is after you now, so until you remember where Alex hid the files, we¡¯re staying here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only had one small shback since Lakeside. What if that¡¯s it? What if I don¡¯t get anything else back? Are you going to hold me hostage forever?¡± That tips the scales on my temper-marshaling skills the wrong way. My fist connects with the wall, pain screaming through my arm. ¡°You¡¯renota hostage.¡± I turn to face her, the fear in her eyes quelling the anger scorching my veins. ¡°I know you don¡¯t trust me, but don¡¯t act like you¡¯d rather be with Noretto.¡± I take a few deep breaths, re-establishing control over myself while she chews her cheek, little torches swimming in her eyes. Theck of shbacks doesn¡¯t bode well, but there could be plenty of reasons for her history staying put. ¡°Maybe your mind was focused on surviving the present, rather than remembering the past. Give it a few days. Once your subconscious epts you¡¯re safe, I¡¯m sure your memories will starting back.¡± ¡°What if they don¡¯t? What if this is it? What if I don¡¯t remember anything else?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll find another way to keep you safe.¡± Her lips part and her eyes widen. That battle-ready posture melts away, revealing the feelings beneath. She¡¯s torn. It¡¯s fucking clear in her every gesture. Half of her wants to climb me like a tree while the other half holds back. I can see the battle raging within her; there¡¯s a simr one raging within me. I¡¯m itching to pull her into me, kiss her head,lips, thentch onto her pussy and bask in her moans. I want her on me, under me, beside me. I want to hold her and never let go, but she needs time to process and realize I¡¯m in way over my head with her. That I¡¯d rather open a fucking vein than lose her. ¡°What else do you want to know? Ask me anything, Hailey.¡± She rolls her eyes and this time, doesn¡¯t shy away. She knows exactly what it does to me, and she¡¯s using it as punishment. My hands ball into fists to stop me grabbing her by the throat and kissing that attitude out of her. ¡°What¡¯s the point of questions when you¡¯ll just lie your way out of them?¡± she asks. ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you again.¡± That¡¯s a gamble. My lies kept her safe¡­ right up until they didn¡¯t. There are things I want to protect her from: things she doesn¡¯t need to hear, but she deserves better than what she¡¯s had from all the men in her life. She deserves better fromme, sobetteris what she¡¯ll get. I¡¯ll rip the stars from the sky if she asks. I¡¯ll steal the fucking moon. I¡¯ll spend the rest of my life atoning for using her. ¡°Let¡¯s test that, shall we?¡± she starts, every word clipped. ¡°That night you came back with bruised knuckles and said your car broke down¡­ where were you?¡± Fuck¡­ maybe lies aren¡¯t that bad. ¡°I was in the forest.¡± ¡°Doing what?¡± ¡°Keeping you safe.¡± With an exasperated exhale, she drums her fingers over her thigh. ¡°Is Jensen missing because of you?¡± ¡°Jensen¡¯s notmissing, pretty girl. He¡¯s dead.¡± She goes rigid beside me, still for a heartbeat before she cautiously turns to face me, eyes wide, lips parted. ¡°Didyoukill him?¡± ¡°Technically, no.¡± That¡¯s not a lie. He was alive when I left him in the woods. It¡¯s not my fault he was such a weak fucking pussy. ¡°We had a¡­chat.I left him strapped to a chair, so he¡¯d think long and hard about whether threatening your safety was wise. When I came back three dayster, he was dead.¡± She jumps to her feet, pacing a path between the window and the door. ¡°He was harmless! Clingy, sure, butharmless! You can¡¯t kill people because they like me!¡± I can and I will. ¡°He wasn¡¯t harmless.¡± I get to my feet, crowding her by the window, the bulk of my body cutting off her escape route. She doesn¡¯t cower. If anything, her defiance shines brighter. My cock stretches my zipper, my balls so fucking full they¡¯re painful. I want to rip her clothes off, drop her on the bed and remind her how good she feels with me¡­ how well we fit together. She wants it too. Her eyes shine, lips part to let out a shaky breath, and cheeks flush a delicious shade of pink. I barely keep from hooking my fingers under her chin, tilting her head back, and taking her mouth. I kissed her half an hour ago¡­ that¡¯s thirty minutes too long. Especially now there¡¯s a Grand-Canyon-sized distance gaping between us because she doesn¡¯t trust me. ¡°What did I tell you at Lakeside?¡± I grit out, flexing my fingers into tight fists. ¡°Ikeep you safe.Idecide how. I toldyou everyone whoes near you will end up dead. I don¡¯t kill for sport, but if your safety is threatened, I won¡¯t think twice.¡± She folds her arms over her chest, fighting to keep up the outrage. It doesn¡¯t work, her anger¡¯s corrupted with fear, arousal, and awe¡­ that¡¯s a dangerous mixture. I think she¡¯s scared of the things I¡¯m capable of, and, moreover, she¡¯s scared because she secretly loves the fact I¡¯ll cross every line for her. My uncontroble jealousy andterritoriality deepen her feelings and that¡¯s why she¡¯s my perfect bad drug. I live for the high she creates when she fuels my psychotic side. It¡¯s a disturbing bnce, one that shouldn¡¯t exist at all, but it works so fucking well with us. ¡°Will you kill everyone who touches me?¡± she asks, her voice thick with emotions. She doesn¡¯t want to love this¡­ she¡¯s a good girl and, on the face of it, my ways are ringly wrong.Murderis fucking wrong, but Hailey¡¯s been neglected for so long that my particr brand of crazy sounds appealing. She wants to be someone¡¯s priority. And that someone wilwaysbe me. ¡°Everyone who does it with bad intent,¡± I agree. ¡°Jensen didn¡¯t die because he touched you.¡± My restraint was admirable. Not killing him the moment heid his hands on Hailey was excruciating. I reach out, brushing a few blonde locks behind her ear. ¡°He died because he was nning to get you drunk and make sure you were incapable of saying no while he fucked you.¡± She leans into my hand, gravitating toward my touch. She¡¯s as starved for me as I am for her. ¡°Now¡­¡± I say, desperate to change the topic before I do something I might regret. ¡°If you don¡¯t have any other questions, tell me where those bruises on your back came from.¡± She snaps out of her trance, jerking back. The alluring pinkness of her cheeks fades, leaving no proof it was ever there. ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night. This can wait until morning.¡± ¡°Hailey¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± she cuts in. ¡°Don¡¯t force me.¡± That¡¯s thest thing I¡¯d ever do. ¡°Fine, but¡­¡± I motion at her bandaged arm, soaked from the shower. ¡°I need to change the dressing. It won¡¯t take long.¡± I gently tug her hand until she sits on the bed, shaking softly. The room is warm but she¡¯s exhausted. She stares straight ahead while I work, doing my best not to look directly at the bruises on her back but it¡¯s impossible. I chew my teeth to stop myself asking how it happened. What did they do to my girl?Whodid it? Have I killed them tonight or do I need to go back and skin the fuckers? But I don¡¯t ask questions, giving her the time she wants. Once done, I help her back into my hoodie, then lift theforter, watching her curl into a ball, her eyes searching mine with an unreadable expression. ¡°Whatever¡¯s going through your head, put it on hold.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sleep in the next room,¡± I say. ¡°Why? You can stay with me, Nash.¡± The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. ¡°That¡¯s not my name. You know that, don¡¯t you?¡± She exhales, resignation flooding her features. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Then why do you keep calling meNash, pretty girl?¡± Her lips pinch into a thin line as her gaze drops from my face. ¡°Nash made me happy.¡± The bullet I took earlier hasnothingonhow much it hurts when the meaning of her words sinks. ¡°Imade you happy,¡± I insist. ¡°Nash was just a name. Carter and Nash are the same person, Hailey.¡± She¡¯s normally so strong, so resilient¡­ She proved it just a few minutes ago, but right now she looks so fucking sad. I hate that look. I hate that it¡¯s my fault. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t call you Nash again.¡± She pats the empty, and so so tempting, side of the bed. No matter how much I want to cave, I can¡¯t. Not while she¡¯s this vulnerable, this fucking confused, and uncertain about both my feelings and, apparently, my identity. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me, but you want to sleep with me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to trust you to want you,¡± she counters. ¡°You¡¯re right but you can¡¯t have me unless you trust me.¡± She looks torn, a war raging within her fragile mind. I half expect her to wave the white g, admitting defeat, but, in the next breath, her determination takes the victory. ¡°Okay. Goodnight.¡± I could push. I could sway her king resolve. It wouldn¡¯t take much, but she needs time. Even though it breaks me clean in two, Idon¡¯ttry to change her mind. She needs to realize I¡¯m still the guy who made her happy at Lakeside. That I wasn¡¯t pretending. She¡¯s here. She¡¯s safe but¡­ I haven¡¯t got her back. Summoning a shred of self-control, I rise to my feet. ¡°I¡¯m right behind the wall if you need me, pretty girl.¡± ¡°Goodnight,¡± she whispers, letting me know I should go. And, with a heavy heart, I do just that. Saving Hailey: Chapter 18 ¡°Sleep well?¡± Broadway smirks over the rim of his coffee cup as I descend the stairs shortly after six in the morning. Whipping my neck left and right, I gouge my fingers into the knotted muscles at the nape, working out the tension the hot shower didn¡¯t ease. ¡°Could¡¯ve been better,¡± I admit, snatching a cup of coffee from the counter. ¡°Anything to report?¡± He shakes his head, pushing another cup under the machine¡¯s nozzle for Koby or Ryder, whoever is in the control room. ¡°Too much. We poked the hos¡¯ nestst night. Rhett called Dante, demanding to know where we¡¯ve gone to ground. ze is counting bodies, but you know he¡¯ll being after us, too. And Vaughn¡¯s been pestering Jeremy all night for updates.¡± Both Vaughn and Rhett have been blowing up my phone, but they¡¯ll have to wait for updates. I¡¯m still reeling from the raid, and there¡¯s more Hailey and I need to work through. Broadway sets another cup on the counter. His head whips up, eyes on my shoulder like he just remembered I was shot and wants to check I didn¡¯t tear my stitches overnight. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I say. ¡°Should I get a coffee ready for Hailey? Is she up yet?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. She¡¯ll probably sleep most of the day. I doubt she slept much at Noretto¡¯s.¡± The distinct click of opening doors grabs our attention as Ryder emerges from the control room, stalking across the living room into the open n kitchen, eyes on the prize. It¡¯s not until he has a cup in hand, inhaling the coffee¡¯s bitter aroma, that he acknowledges us with a simple nod. ¡°Someone should go shopping,¡± he mumbles, opening the fridge. ¡°All we¡¯ve got here are gas-station sandwiches.¡± ¡°No way I¡¯m eating another one of those.¡± Broadway pulls a disgusted face, marching toward the door. ¡°Don¡¯t take the Range Rover,¡± I tell him. ¡°There¡¯s a collection of American muscle and bikes in the garage. Take your pick and use the back roads.¡± ¡°What should I get for Hailey? What does she eat?¡± ¡°BLTs are her favorite. She likes waffles, French toast, bacon, and apples. Take Ryder with you and stock up. I have a feeling we¡¯ll be here a while.¡± They both nod, grinning like kids as they turn their backs on me, heading for the garage. Left alone, I enter the control room. A Mustang and a Kawasaki show up on the driveway camera feed a minuteter. We¡¯ve been at the safe house barely twelve hours, but Broadway¡¯s taking no chances, hence the two-vehicle setup. They make a U-turn around the Range Rover, sneaking out the back way down a dusty track. The cameras upstairs are off as per my instruction. Not for long. I check every feed, switching them on and off until I find Hailey¡¯s bedroom. Every tense muscle in my body unwinds when her sleeping form appears on the screen. A veil of blonde hair is scattered across one pillow, her face nuzzled into another, nothing south of her chin visible. She¡¯s curled into a ball under theforter, every breath steady, eyes closed. God, she¡¯s gorgeous. My kind of perfect. Including the scars she¡¯s finally learned to love. There¡¯s not a thing I¡¯d change about this girl. Not one thing I don¡¯t find alluring. The cupid bow of her upper lip, her button nose, long eyshes¡­ even the small frown crinkling her forehead. Perfect. While watching her sleep, I call Dante, and¡ªreluctantly¡ªVaughn, letting him know his daughter¡¯s safe. It takes an hour before she wakes, and five minutester, she leaves her sheets a tangled mess in the middle of the bed. With two coffees, I head upstairs, entering her bedroom just as she exits the en suite. She¡¯s still wearing the spaghetti-strapped night dress, my hoodie hanging over the back of the desk chair, her bruises on disy. ¡°How did you sleep?¡± I ask, setting the cups down. ¡°I would¡¯ve slept better with you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t test me, Hailey. There¡¯s nothing I want more, but you know why I can¡¯t. Broadway and Ryder won¡¯t be back with breakfast for a while, so how about you tell me about the bruises?¡± ¡°Will you tell your men about it?¡± ¡°Not unless you say it¡¯s okay.¡± She bites her cheek, giving me a wide berth as she sits on the bed. I wait, but her words don¡¯te, so I gently push. ¡°Who did that to you?¡± ¡°They all did¡­ Well, not ze. He wasn¡¯t home.¡± She scoots out of the dip my weight¡¯s leaving in the mattress. ¡°There¡¯s a ballroom with an enormous rug in that mansion. Chairs and sofas line the walls¡­ and a table with leather belts, long whips, riding crops, carpet beaters¡­¡± ¡°Whips?¡± I echo, the images filling my mind wake the merciless beast inside me. ¡°That¡¯s what they did?¡± ¡°They had a delivery¡­ thirty girls about my age. Some younger. From what I understood, they¡¯ll be sold¡ªweresoldst night at an auction.¡± I nod, well versed in ze¡¯s business activities. ¡°They seemed okay until Jax said something in Russian,¡± she continues, absentmindedly ordioning theforter. ¡°Then the girls started crying and the men¡­ the men dragged them into the ballroom. Darius said they do it with every batch of new girls.¡± A single tear slides down her cheek, but she swats it away, inhaling sharply. I¡¯m coiled so tight my back hurts. Her words aren¡¯t the only thing driving me wild. It¡¯s the fact she¡¯s had to live through this, and that, even though she¡¯s here, right next to me, I can¡¯t pull her into my arms and feel her rx under my touch. ¡°He said they break them in before they¡¯re sold. The men all stand around the carpet¡­¡± Another pause to calm her breaking voice. ¡°They lift one end, shove a girl or two underneath, and make them crawl.¡± Fuck. I think I know where she¡¯s going with this. The image she painted describing the room is enough to fill in the nks. I picture Hailey under the rug. I picture those sadistic fuckers raining whips and carpet beaters down on her. It fits. The long purple bruises down her back¡­ Bile scratches my throat when my imagination whirls out of control, showing me her fear, her tears, her beautiful facecontorted in pain. My hands ball into tight fists, my teeth clenched so hard they¡¯re not far off shattering. ¡°They crawl until they get to the edge, and then¡ª¡± Hailey continues quietly, lifting both hands to swat her tears away. ¡°As soon as their head peeks from under the rug, whoever¡¯s closest drags the girl out and he¡­ and he¡­¡± She shuts her eyes tight, like she¡¯s blocking unwanted memories. ¡°He rapes her.¡± My heart leaps out of my chest. The bruises on her back prove she was under that rug. That she went through the same ordeal the girl she describes did. I grab her hand, to gently maneuver her onto myp and mold her trembling body into mine, but she shakes me off, scooting away. Fuck that hurts. Everything hurts¡­ what she went through, that she¡¯s not letting me close, that she doesn¡¯t trust me tofort her. ¡°I¡¯m so fucking sorry, Hailey¡­¡± I croak, frustration and rageyering my tone in equal measure. ¡°You¡¯re okay now. It¡¯s over. I won¡¯t let them hurt you.¡± She sniffles, nodding along. I reach for her again, on instinct, and watch her flinch away, unknowingly stabbing me with a twelve-inch de. ¡°They¡­ they didn¡¯t rape me. ze turned up while I was still under the rug and took me away.¡± Her voice softens when she mentions that motherfucker and my jaw mps, jealousy simmering beneath my rage. It¡¯s a separate being inside me but my overpowering relief wins the spotlight. Sleazy fucker or not, ze didn¡¯t let his men touch my girl. I can¡¯t begin to imagine the hell Hailey lived through under that rug or the scars it¡¯ll leave on her psyche, but it would¡¯ve been ten times worse had they raped her. ¡°Did ze touch you?¡± I ask, curling my finger under her chin so she¡¯ll look at me. ¡°I need to know if anyone did.¡±So I can n their slow, most painful deaths. ¡°One of his men¡­¡± she says, eyes darting away, shame heating her cheeks. ¡°I refused to get in the shower, so he¡ªhe dragged me in there to scrub me down.¡± ¡°Do you know his name?¡± She bobs her head, meeting my gaze when I gently turn her back to face me. ¡°He¡¯s dead now. ze killed him for forcing me under the rug.¡± That¡¯s one sin off the long list attached to ze¡¯s name. He took what I most care about from me. Used extreme measures to ensure Matthews would bring her straight to his house. The list goes on, but protecting Hailey while she was under his roof should earn him a more merciful death, right? Wrong. Hailey¡¯s fondness for the fucker tips the scales the other way. He tricked her into trusting him and he¡¯ll suffer. Fueled by the need to show her I¡¯m the one she should trust, the one she should let close, I lean out, kissing the side of her. ¡°I won¡¯t let anyone touch you. I promise. As long as you¡¯re with me, you¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°They should all be dead,¡± she says, unmoving. ¡°Most of them are.¡± We killed at least thirty menst night. Not enough, but it¡¯s a start. Now I know how they treat the women who make ze his fortune, willingly selling themselves into sex very for American passports, I have a brand-new resolution for the near future: take Noretto down. Expecting her to move away again, I grab her arm, pulling her into me. But shees willingly. In seconds, my back hits the headboard and Hailey nuzzles her face in the crook of myneck, eyes closed. She¡¯s not crying anymore. In fact, she¡¯s so still and quiet for so long that I think she¡¯s fallen asleep. I run a hand down her back, cradling her close, the scent of her hair and skin like a potent sedative. I¡¯ve not been this calm since our Lakeside mornings when she cuddled into me, asking for justfive more minutes. Bad drug. Perfect high. I love having her close. I love feeling her muscles rx while my fingers toy with her hair. I love her delicate body against mine. And I hate that she¡¯s trying to inch away. ¡°Not yet,¡± I say, adjusting my hold. ¡°I know you don¡¯t trust me, but just for a little longer, turn the thinking off and let me hold you.¡± She stares into my eyes, two creases lining her forehead. I have no idea what she sees, but whatever it is, it makes her lean back into me for another long cuddle session.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Broadway and Ryder came back half an hour ago judging by the roar of the bike shaking the house as it rolled into the garage. They¡¯re cooking downstairs and the smells are slowly breaching the bedroom. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± I whisper, grazing my lips along her hair. ¡°You should eat something.¡± She doesn¡¯t reply, but shifts a little, wrapping her arms tighter around my neck and¡­ her lips part against my skin, stamping a tender kiss below the ear. Then another, and one more, each sending a fit of uncontroble shudders down my spine. She sighs, lifting her head, and those soft lips find mine. Her fingers walk a path into my hair as she parts her mouth, running her tongue along my lower lip. There¡¯s not an inch of mybody that doesn¡¯t want to let her deepen the kiss, but what she said earlier cuts through the lustful haze. I break away. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I missed you,¡± she whispers, leaning into me again, eyes heavy with desire. ¡°You said you missed me too.¡± I move her to the side before she kisses me again, then get up, hands balling into fists. ¡°You said you don¡¯t trust me, Hailey. You need time. You¡¯re confused, vulnerable, and not thinking clearly.¡± Her eyes widen, shining desire reced by hurt. ¡°Was¡­¡± She pauses as if needing a moment to digest the rejection. ¡°Everything that happened between us¡­ was any of it real or was it just part of the game?¡± I crouch before her, both hands caressing the soft skin of her legs. ¡°Everythingwas real.¡± Her white teeth sink into her bottom lip. She asked and got an answer, but instead of relief, all I see is resignation on her pretty face. She tries to mask it, but I know her so well she can¡¯t hide anything from me. I spent weeks learning her facial expressions. Every smile and every frown. I know her better than she does herself. ¡°Then why are you pushing me away?¡± she whispers. ¡°Because you don¡¯t believe me.¡± My hands cup her thighs. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me. You have every right not to, but I promise, everything between us was real.Isreal. You hold my heart in the palm of your hand. You just need time to understand that.¡± She looks to her hands, toying with her fingers. ¡°I don¡¯t have time.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± She inhales sharply, straightening her spine and lifting her chin to artificially inte her confidence. She¡¯s done it a thousand times before and it never ceases to amaze me howmuch fight she has in her despite the shitty cards she¡¯s been dealt. ¡°I¡¯m a big girl. I know how this ends. What I don¡¯t know iswhen.¡± My heart stutters in my chest. I fucking broke this girl with my lies. Fixing her, fixing the mess I¡¯ve made while trying to protect her, won¡¯t be easy. She rebuilt herself from the ground up when she forgot Alex. Not even getting those painful memories of him back pushed her off course, but my betrayal hit her hard. I think it mingles with Alex¡¯s betrayal, the two now interchangeable, fueling each other. And all I have are words and promises. They¡¯re not enough to restore her trust. She needs to see how much I care. That among the plethora of mistakes I¡¯ve made, she¡¯s been my priority and focus since the moment I first kissed her. Maybe sooner. I lean out further, pressing my lips to her forehead. ¡°It never ends, Hailey.Wenever end. I¡¯ll show you. I don¡¯t know how, but I will, and when you see it, you¡¯re mine.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 19 There¡¯s so much conviction in Carter¡¯s voice. So much false promise¡­ And what¡¯s the point? We both know I don¡¯t mean any more to him than any other woman. I¡¯m not important. The evidence is. Carter seems to think rebuilding my trust is the only way to get his hands on whatever Alex found out. It isn¡¯t. Not anymore because while he held me in his arms, stroking my back, I realized something important. Happiness is peculiar: a treasure people chase their whole lives, entirely convinced it¡¯s a fixed point, a destination they¡¯ll eventually reach and stay at forever. I fell into that trap. I was certain Nash was my endgame. That I¡¯d found happiness, and it¡¯dst until death us do part. Now I know better. Happiness isn¡¯t a destination. It¡¯s a journey made up of moments thate, go, and linger in our heads, giving us memories to look back on with joy. Sometimes, we¡¯re so wrapped up in our own pain, we miss happiness when ites knocking, only realizing it was there, so close, when it¡¯s toote. The trick is to recognize and seize those moments when they appear. Looking back at my life, my childhood memories are my happiest. Not many from my teenage years make me smile, and judging by my shbacks, none from the past two years. Until Nash. If I drew a line representing my life and added tiny lights for the happy memories, the weeks at Lakeside would shine brightest. I don¡¯t trust him, I don¡¯t believe his words, but that shouldn¡¯t doom me to eternal darkness. I¡¯m not his forever, merely a step he needs to take toward his goal. I¡¯m easily left behind, but the time we have now doesn¡¯t need to be devoid of light. He¡¯ll move on when he finds the evidence, but while he¡¯s here, as long as I don¡¯t hold on too tightly, I can love him. Life is a collection of moments, and with Nash I can make happy ones¡­ if only I can make him drop the mask and stop pretending I mean more to him than the evidence. He still strokes my thighs, the movecking any sexual undertone. It¡¯s an inconsequential touch, but it wakes a kaleidoscope of butterflies in my tummy. It makes me want to smile. ¡°You told me to get dressed,¡± I say, covering his hands with mine and squeezing. ¡°Whose clothes are in the closet?¡± He lets me go, rising to his full, imposing height. Not for the first time today, a wave of heat crashes into my cheeks. I thought he couldn¡¯t get any hotter when I saw him at Lakeside that first day in the cafeteria. The ck, tight-fittingpullover hugged his broad shoulders, honing out every muscle to perfection, but Nash¡¯s sense of style has nothing on Carter¡¯s. In a white shirt, two buttons popped, a waistcoat that matches his pants, expensive watch and leather bracelets on his wrists¡­ he¡¯s scorching hot. Somehow more intimidating, even in white. Nash¡¯s aura of ruthlessness and power is nothingpared to what¡¯s emanating from Carter. He¡¯s sharp around the edges, all harsh lines, and get-this-done-now energy. He¡¯s a weapon. A Princess-Cut onyx. Deadly. Limitless. Vicious. Honed from years spent training with Dante Carrow: the man my father always dreamt of busting¡­ the man who¡¯s proved too many times that he¡¯s untouchable. And Carter¡¯s his right-hand man. ¡°It¡¯s all La¡¯s,¡± he says, watching me open the closet. ¡°Who¡¯sLa?¡± A ghost of a smirk curls his full lips. ¡°My boss¡¯s wife.¡± Oh¡­ I turn back around, jealousy ebbing away. I scan the countless outfits meticulously organized by color. ¡°Your boss is Dante Carrow, correct?¡± ¡°Yes. Most of these clothes have never been worn. La said you can use whatever you want until your clothes arrive.¡± ¡°Tell herthank you.¡± I spin on my heel, one eyebrow raised. ¡°Myclothes? What do you mean?¡± ¡°La¡¯s stylist is assembling you a new closet.¡± I¡¯m about to protest but Carter closes the distance between us, shutting me up with his index finger pressed against my lips. ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t mind wearing someone else¡¯s clothes, but I¡¯m not sure how long we¡¯ll be here, and I want youfortable.¡± He drops his hand, eyes roving my face, then lower, sweeping my frame. ¡°Come down when you¡¯re ready. There¡¯ll be coffee.¡± The door closes behind him with a soft click and I instantly miss him. We¡¯re sleeping under the same roof, but not in the same room, he¡¯s not looking at me, not talking to me¡­ I shut my eyes, shaking off the loneliness and irrational thoughts, but instead of calming down, I grow more restless. A patchwork of memories and shbacks ys before my mind. Alex¡¯s cold eyes, empty words, and schedule too busy to amodate five minutes with me. Dad workingte and leaving early. Even ze had better things to do than keep me near him. Why does everyone always leave? Rubbing my face with both hands, I wipe the past away and stomp my bare foot. I¡¯ve let everyone push me around for years. Enough. With newfound determination, I flip through La¡¯s clothes, looking for an outfit Carter might like. If he truly is the same person I met at Lakeside, he should like the same things. Nash loved it when I wore dresses. Or maybe he just loved the easy ess to my pussy¡­ I guess that¡¯ll work in my favor. Too bad La¡¯s wardrobe leans toward the dark side. Reds, navies, emeralds, grays, and lots of ck.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. The dresses are short, but mostly elegant. A few longer evening gowns hang to the side, the bottom rail filled with jeans, knitwear neatly folded¡­ nothing useful. Nothing that will break Carter¡¯s resolve. With a resigned breath I pull out a usible outfit and lock myself in the bathroom. Saving Hailey: Chapter 20 ¡°Smells delicious,¡± Hailey says, showing up downstairs. I take her in, my cock bulging against the zipper. She¡¯s in a knitted dress¡ªLa¡¯s go-to style. Long sleeves and a mid-thigh hem imitate modesty, but it¡¯s fucking erotic how tightly the royal-blue dress encircles her figure. She moves closer, timidly looking around, cheeks pink, eyes sparkling, the scent of her skin wafting the air. I want her. It¡¯s that fucking simple. I want all of her¡­ Her lips on mine, her legs around my waist, her pussy choking my cock: the primitive side I crave. But there¡¯s also a deeper, emotional side I¡¯d give my right arm for. The calm of knowing she¡¯s mine and I¡¯m hers. The bliss I felt at Lakeside¡­ when I wasNashand she loved me. Him. She sees two different people in me and Carter¡¯s not the one she loves. Nash is. A hot ball of frustration, confusion, and jealousy swells¡ª Jesus fuck¡­ How can I bejealousof Nash? I fucking was Nash! I fuckingamNash! We¡¯re the same person! Too bad Hailey doesn¡¯t see that, and I have no idea how to reconcile the two for her. I have half a mind to send my men away and stay here with her, tucked out of anyone¡¯s reach, away from problems, dangers, and lies. But whilesafe, the safe house won¡¯t stay that way long. Rhett will catch onto us soon enough. I could live a happy life on a deserted ind somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean if Hailey was with me: smiles, lust, and trust. Just us forever. I don¡¯t need more. While those enticing visuals urge me to abandon everyone and everything I know, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Rhett¡¯s name shes on the screen as I pull it out and reject yet another of his calls. The reality is, I can¡¯t escape his wrath any more than I can escape the dozens of men dying to get their hands on Hailey. Until I have the evidence, until I know who¡¯d go down if it ever saw the light of day, I¡¯m stuck here, keeping Hailey safe and hoping she¡¯ll see past my lies and realize she¡¯s the center of my universe. Everything revolves around her. I need her trust more than I need air. ¡°Hungry?¡± Koby asks, looking her over. ¡°Yes.¡± She crosses the room to sit by the kitchen ind where Ryder¡¯s dishing out breakfast. ¡°I¡¯m Hailey,¡± she adds, ncing between them. ¡°Thank you for saving mest night.¡± ¡°We already phone-met,¡± Ryder says, grinning as he pushes a te her way. ¡°I¡¯m Ryder. That¡¯s Broadway and Koby.¡± He motions to the other two. She whips her blonde locks over one shoulder, taking a seat beside me just as my phone starts ringing again. Fuck. I drop the fork, pushing my te aside. There¡¯s no escaping this conversation any longer. Rhett¡¯s been blowing up my phone sincest night, every missed call probably fueling his anger. Reluctantly, I head to the control room, sliding my finger across the screen while I watch my girl take a seat, all artificial smiles designed to hide what she really feels: sadness. Loneliness. Confusion beyond my wildest dreams, I¡¯m sure. ¡°Rhett,¡± I bark, pressing the cell to my ear. ¡°About time you answered my fucking call. You have one chance to exin before I send every single one of my men after you and that little slut.¡± Blood boils in my veins, the derogatory way he¡¯s talking about my future wife ring my temper. ¡°Your safe house ismon knowledge,¡± I spit out. ¡°How long would it be before one of youracquaintancesraided the ce?¡± That¡¯s a shitty defense line, but if I can convince him we¡¯re still ying for the same team, he¡¯ll keep his goons in check. The safe house is well hidden, its location known by only seven men total, but that¡¯s no guarantee Rhett won¡¯t figure it out if he puts his mind to it. I bet he¡¯s already delegated a team to the job. All they need is to dig up information about all thend Dante¡¯s put money into, cross-reference it against building permits, then point, aim, and shoot at every target until they hit the jackpot. While Dante took every precaution possible to ensure the estate couldn¡¯t be traced back to him, I¡¯m sure there¡¯s paperwork somewhere that¡¯d lead Rhett right here. Which is why I need him on my side, firmly believing we¡¯re working together toward a mutual goal¡ªextracting the evidence from Hailey¡¯s fragile mind. ¡°Everyone who went with youst night is dead, Carter,¡± Rhett barks. ¡°Only Apollo made it back.¡± Now that¡¯s interesting. Two of Rhett¡¯s pawns died at Noretto¡¯s mansion, I can believe the escape driver with Apollo didn¡¯t survive the crash, but the foot soldiers trekking through the forest should¡¯ve made it out alive¡­ Looks like Apollo took it upon himself to tie up the loose ends¡­ and that means he¡¯s not entirely on Rhett¡¯s side, which in turn confirms my suspicions. Rhett¡¯s ying me for a fool. He doesn¡¯t just want the evidence to escape jail time. There¡¯s more to it. Something I can¡¯t see. ¡°Then you know exactly how the night went down,¡± I say, hoping he won¡¯t quiz me to check my story tallies with Apollo¡¯s. ¡°Your safe house is not fucking safe and having you breathing down Hailey¡¯s neck wouldn¡¯t help the situation. She didn¡¯t have a single shback the entire time she was at Noretto¡¯s. Her brain jams up when she feels threatened.¡± That¡¯s not entirely true. Hailey mentioned she dived into her past once, but Rhett doesn¡¯t need to know. ¡°It¡¯s taking too long, Carter.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°Tell me about it.¡± As much as I want to tell him that it¡¯s me who¡¯s dictating the rules, thatIhold his fate in a tight grasp, I chose to maintain the fa?ade, hoping it¡¯ll boost his king trust. ¡°You¡¯re not the one ditching your life to babysit her.¡± ¡°Spare me the bullshit. You¡¯re forgetting I had other eyes on Lakeside than you. You think I don¡¯t know you¡¯ve been sticking your cock in that cunt for weeks?¡± ¡°Watch your fucking mouth,¡± I snap on autopilot, my blood boiling, hands itching tond a few precise blows on Rhett¡¯s face. ¡°You dumb son of a bitch,¡± he huffs, incredulous. ¡°You¡¯re not just fucking her, are you? You¡¯re in love with her.¡± Grinding my teeth, I sift through my mental arsenal, hunting for a strong enough defense anding up nk. ¡°Whatdifference does it make?¡± I finally say,cking better ideas. ¡°It changes nothing.¡± ¡°Nothing? She killed Aalyiah! She deservespainbut that won¡¯t fucking happen now, will it?¡± ¡°Fine. It changes one thing. An irrelevant thing given how misced your anger is. Alex is the reason Aalyiah¡¯s dead. Hailey got caught in the crossfire. She¡¯s under my protection, and so are her memories, but rx. You¡¯ll get the evidence once she remembers where it is.¡± ¡°Not all of it,¡± he grits out, abangresounding in the background. ¡°I know you¡¯ll keep some of it to yourself.¡± Some? Why not all? Is he so arrogant he doesn¡¯t realize I¡¯ll keep a copy as an insurance policy. It¡¯s the easiest way to ensure no one ever thinks about touching Hailey. He must fucking knowthat. ¡°The end result doesn¡¯t change, Rhett. You¡¯ll get your get-out-of-jail-free card just like everyone else it incriminates.¡± He makes a disgruntled noise at the back of his throat. ¡°That¡¯s the fucking problem. Not everyone should.¡± Says the man with enough blood on his hands for a thousand transfusions. Crackling follows his words, and the line goes dead. Dropping the phone onto the desk, I massage my temples, a badass headache sprouting at the base of my scalp. I¡¯m sick of this game. Sick and tired of the lies, the concealed information, the evasion, and the cryptic one-liners. I cast a nce at the dining room feed, seeking the one person that makes this shitshow worth enduring. Hailey stares at her te, but doesn¡¯t eat, pushing her food about while watching my men. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Koby asks spearing a slice of bacon. ¡°You want more egg¡ª¡± Broadway trips over his words because the moment Koby starts chewing, Hailey shoves a forkful sorge into her mouth you¡¯d think it¡¯s apetition. My brows knot in the middle. She spent five minutes staring at her te, and now she barely has time to swallow, trembling softly as she packs in more food. Fuck¡­ She was checking it was safe to eat, waiting until one of them took a bite before diving in. I¡¯ve seen her at breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day for weeks. Never once did she choose scrambled eggs. Never once did she eat like she enjoyed food¡­ now she¡¯s practically inhaling it. ¡°Slow down, girl,¡± Koby chuckles. ¡°There¡¯s plenty more in the pan. I can cook, but I¡¯m not good at gauging portions. I always end up making way too much.¡± Her cheeks pink up. As if realizing she¡¯s not alone, her back straightens, and she wipes the corner of her mouth with a napkin, slowing down her chewing. I storm out of the control room, crossing the living room in a few long strides. ¡°When¡¯s thest time you ate?¡± I ask, scrutinizing her body from head to toe. She¡¯s skinnier than she was. Everything she gained at Lakeside while I ensured she ate three meals a day is gone. Instead of answering my question, she sps the orange juice in both hands, taking small, measured sips, blushing harder the longer we stare at her. ¡°Hailey,¡± I urge. ¡°Whendid you eat?¡± She chews her cheek, then takes a deep breath, injecting confidence into her posture. ¡°Remember when you threw my beer in theke?¡± She waits for me to nod. ¡°You taught me well. I wassmarterin ze¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten since Lakeside?¡± I grit out, anger quivering within me like a loose garden hose. ¡°You didn¡¯t eat forninedays?¡± My men don¡¯t wait for confirmation. At once, they push their tes toward her. She sends them a grateful smile but pushes their tes back across the ind. ¡°I¡¯m okay. One portion is enough.¡± ¡°ze needed you alive and unharmed, Hailey. You should¡¯ve eaten,¡± Broadway says. ¡°Maybe¡­ but ze wasn¡¯t home for four days, and his men¡­¡± She pinches her lips together, shaking her head as if dismissing whatever she was going to say. ¡°When ze exined what he needed from me, I considered eating a little, but¡ª¡± Her cheeks re even hotter. ¡°But?¡± I urge, my jaw ticking. I¡¯m almost certain I know what she¡¯ll say and my jealousy reignites. Twice as potent. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I couldn¡¯t hold anything down anyway.¡± ¡°Finish what you were going to say,¡± I insist. ¡°ze didn¡¯t stay with me during mealtimes.¡± Staring at the wall beside me, veins in my neck pulsing rapidly, it takes all my willpower not to throw my fist at it. She would¡¯ve eaten if he¡¯d sat with her. She trusted himthatmuch. Without a word, but with a look that paints a thousand, Koby gets up, his chair scraping along the floor. His shoulders are squared back until he opens the fridge, pulls out the fruit tray and starts peeling clementines. ¡°Eat.¡± I swallow my jealousy and urge Hailey on, nudging her shoulder. ¡°You need to gain back every pound you lost.¡± Her breathing hitches and a small shudder shakes her, the pink of her cheeks spreading down the porcin column of her throat. It¡¯s missing a few strategically ced love bites¡­ She might not trust me, but my words affect her. I have no fucking idea how to proceed, so I take another approach. ¡°I talked to your dad. Told him you¡¯re safe.¡± Her fork tters against the te and her blonde head whips toward me, eyes wide. ¡°Youtalkedto my dad?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the reason I found you. When you left Lakeside with Matthews, I was certain he was evacuating you to a better hiding ce, on your dad¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°Matthews was taking me home, but he turned around after we stopped for gas and took me straight to Noretto. They had his daughter¡­¡± She gives us a rundown of that night¡¯s events, including ze¡¯s goons throwing Matthews¡¯ lifeless daughter at his feet before they put a bullet in his head. ¡°Your man got cuffed for his murder by none other than your dad.¡± Koby¡ªwho¡¯s hacking strawberries into fours¡ªlooks up when no one says a word. ¡°What? You weren¡¯t going to hide that from her, were you?¡± he asks me. ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°My dad had you in handcuffs and you¡¯re not rotting in jail?¡± Hailey cocks an eyebrow, the vulnerability she showcased earlier now a memory. She¡¯s growing more confident around us. ¡°He had me in handcuffs because I allowed it. I wanted him to tell me you were okay.¡± ¡°And he wanted Carter for the exact same reason,¡± Ryder adds, collecting the empty tes. We¡¯re done eating, but Hailey¡¯s taking much longer to force the food down. ¡°We¡¯ve been hunting for you since day one. Just not in the right ce.¡± ¡°Once your dad made it clear he didn¡¯t have you, it took us no time to pinpoint your location,¡± Broadway exins. ¡°How did you convince him to let you go?¡± Hailey asks. Koby finishes his angry chopping and sets a bowl of fruit in front of her. ¡°Dessert,¡± he says, stuffing his mouth with eggs, long gone cold. ¡°Later, I¡¯ll get you some chocte.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sweet. Thank you.¡± ¡°Your dad¡¯s a smart man,¡± I cut in. ¡°He knew I¡¯d find you and get you back faster than he could.¡± She bites her lips, twiddling her fingers. ¡°Did you¡­ did you tell him about us?¡± ¡°I did. He¡¯s not pleased.¡± ¡°Yeah, I can imagine.¡± She doesn¡¯t borate, pouring all her concentration into the bowl of fruit. It takes another half an hour before we¡¯re done in the kitchen. We move into the living room, where Broadway takes it upon himself to light the wood stove. Hailey settles on a plush, white carpet by the fire, picking out strawberries from the bowl. ¡°How long do I have to stay here?¡± ¡°Until you remember where the evidence is. Do you still have your diary?¡± She shakes her head. ¡°My bag was in Matthews¡¯ car.¡± ¡°Which means it¡¯s probably with the police,¡± Ryder says, peering over hisptop. ¡°Want me to check?¡± ¡°The car spent a week underwater. There won¡¯t be much left of the diary even if the cops have it,¡± I counter. ¡°Next time you go out, grab a journal and a supply of colorful fine liners.¡± My attention swings back to Hailey. ¡°What did you remember at Noretto¡¯s?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think Alex ever mentioned your sister¡¯s name, but he did¡­ ze told me she was calledAalyiah, and I saw Alex.¡± A hint of dread colors her voice as she fills us in on the details. ¡°Do you know anything about Alex¡¯s past?¡± she segues, halfway through the story. ¡°Nothing interesting, why?¡± ¡°When I suggested he should quit the case, he said he couldn¡¯t because there was a life sentence hanging over his head. It was either jail or death at your father¡¯s hand.¡± ¡°A life sentence suggests murder,¡± Ryder mutters, head dipping back behind hisptop. I¡¯m not sure what he¡¯s looking for or where. He and Jackson already X-rayed Alex ten different ways and found nothing. It¡¯s almost as if he was born, then lived his whole life off-grid before showing up in Ohio to infiltrate Rhett¡¯s operation. His record¡¯s clean, but Ryder¡¯s must¡¯ve thought of something else. ¡°It sounds like ckmail,¡± Koby says. ¡°And Rhett had nothing to ckmail him with and no reason to do it, which leaves Vaughn.¡± That¡¯s exactly what¡¯s been bouncing around my head, but it doesn¡¯t fit the profile. ¡°Vaughn doesn¡¯t y dirty.¡± ¡°As proven by the forged arrest warrant he flung in your face atDelta.¡± I can¡¯t argue with that. Saving Hailey: Chapter 21 The ck hole at the center of my mind refuses to spit out any new memories. I keep waiting, feeding off the calmness in Carter¡¯s eyes whenever I bring it up. We can¡¯t stay here forever. We need my brain to unlock, but Carter doesn¡¯t seem fazed by theck of new information. I thought that once I calmed down, my brain would rmence recing my lost memories, but days pass and nothing happens. I¡¯m calm now. I feel safe. I¡¯m used to Nash being Carter, seeing guns in holsters, the security measures put in ce at the safe house, and the daily routine. Koby¡¯s taken the role of chef and he¡¯s damn good at it. He spoils me rotten with my favorite foods, never taking¡°whatever you feel like¡±asan answer to his¡°what do you want me to make you for breakfast?¡±He also keeps me stuffed with fruit and sweets between meals. Ryder¡¯s mostly locked in the control room, perfectly content with all the tech equipment at his disposal, while Broadway indulges my love for board games in the evenings. I like him the most. Mainly because he¡¯s usually the only one brave enough to mouth off to Carter. He calls him out on bad ideas and, for some reason, gives him shit every morning about how he slept, asking if he has a sore neck, or if his pillows werefortable. I don¡¯t get it and whenever I ask what it¡¯s all about, Carter cuts the topic short, pivoting to something else. They¡¯re all friends, but there¡¯s no denying he¡¯s in charge. They¡¯re his people, obeying his orders, and despite the asional disagreements, Carter¡¯s word is final. The air of authority surrounding him is thicker than when we met at Lakeside. And it draws me further in. Whenever he sits beside me, there¡¯s less than a foot between us and every move he makes, every flex of his fingers, tells me he¡¯s itching to hold me but keeps stopping himself every time. He maintains a respectful distance, giving me space. Too much space. I shouldn¡¯t trust him. Ican¡¯t, even in those rare moments when I think I could give him my heart again, but they don¡¯tst long. He used me. He pretended to be someone else. But he kept you safe. Happy. That was Nash. I swallow hard, my muscles winding up tight. There¡¯s a fine line between love and hate. I¡¯m teetering on it, tilting toward one side or other depending on how the wind blows. Regardless of what my mind thinks, my heart remains his. Still in love and growing tired of this game as the days go by. He wants me. Every moment we spend together is a rey of those first weeks at Lakeside. I catch him staring at me with his dark, prating eyes, dancing with nothing short of pure want. He worries about me, makes sure I have everything I need¡ªlike books and the brand-new clothes La¡¯s stylist picked especially for me. But beneath the caring and understanding, I see Carter¡¯s patience hanging by a thread. It¡¯s clear in every idental touch of our fingers, every fleeting look at my lips, every word he speaks when he stops by my bedroom first thing every morning andst thing every night. It won¡¯t be long before he drops the act and takes what I¡¯m offering. With one of Agatha Christie¡¯s books in hand¡ªcourtesy of Carter, who ordered the entire set and sent Ryder to collect it¡ªI sit in the wingback chair by the firece, more focused on mes than words. It¡¯s barely noon, nothing but wasting time on the agenda for today. There¡¯s plenty to do around here, the basement brimming with amenities like a movie theater, games room, sauna, pool, and a gym. I think about exercising every time Carter heads down there with Koby or Broadway, but curling up with a book is far more appealing than sweating on a treadmill. Though the sight of Carter exercising would probably more than make up for the burning muscles and exhaustion. Poirothas just discovered the crucial clue to solve the mystery of who murdered Roger when two sets of footsteps batter the stairs from the basement. It¡¯s not just Carter, Broadway¡¯s with him. After five days of listening to their movements, I can tell every member of Carter¡¯s team apart solely by their step. Carter¡¯s heavy on his feet while Broadway¡¯s rhythmic. It¡¯s as if he¡¯s drumming a beat in his head when he walks. They both enter the living room, towels draped over their necks, sweat seeping from their hair. Broadway doesn¡¯t stop, unlike Carter whoes closer. ¡°How is it?¡± he asks, crouching beside me to tap the book, eyes on the pages. ¡°Better than anything I¡¯ve read in a long time.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll want to hear about after I¡¯ve taken a shower.¡± He saysshowerandmy imagination runs wild, imagining warm water trickling down his swollen after-work-out muscles. My blood runs a fever whenever he¡¯s close, my panties damp almost non-stop. But he clings to that high horse of his and nothing I¡¯ve done thus far has gotten me any results. Maybe it¡¯s time for a more drastic approach. Pushing up to his full height, he heads upstairs, his footsteps dying down once he enters his bedroom. My pulse picks up the pace as I squirm in ce, aware of Broadway¡¯s eyes burning holes in my head while he grabs a protein shake from the fridge. My mind fills with enticing images, pushing me to do somethingpletely out of character. I shuffle back and forth for five minutes, talking myself into following Carter upstairs, then talking myself out of it. Need wins the battle. Scrambling to my feet, I dog-ear the page, drop the book on the coffee table and rush upstairs. I stop outside his door, shaking the stiffness off my limbs before turning the handle. His bed looks messy despite being made, as if he took a nap and didn¡¯t straighten the sheets. The windows are cracked open, letting in a breeze that drops the temperature below myfort level. It works a treat at peaking my nipples, though. The water¡¯s running in the shower, clouds of steam escaping through the open bathroom door. That¡¯s enough to steal my focus and dissolve my gnawing unrest. The vision of his muscr, naked body behind the wall shes before my eyes. He used me for weeks¡­ it¡¯s time I use him back. It¡¯s time I take what I desperately want. What I dream about every night and fantasize about all day. There¡¯s something disturbing about the pure lust simmering beneath my skin. I probably shouldn¡¯t want intimacy with anyone after the horrors I witnessed at Noretto¡¯s, but I know Carter¡¯s touch will wash away the foul memories. Swallowing the uncertainty, I shimmy out of my dress. My in cotton panties go next, then their matching bra. Leaving the clothes in a pile, I run my hand through my hair, draping the blonde waves over one shoulder. With a deep breath for courage, my bare feet sink in the plush carpet, then hit the cold bathroom tiles. Carter stands with his back to me, both hands bracing against the wall, his head hanging low, warm water trickling down his back. My heart lurches and liquid heat detonates inside my chest. He¡¯s a sight, this man. All hard lines, dark ink, and sin. He doesn¡¯t turn, but his shoulders wind up tight, betraying that he heard me enter. His fingers clench, and though I can only see his profile, I can tell he¡¯s grinding his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t do this,¡± he says, his tone brooking no argument. He doesn¡¯t turn to look at me. He remains still, tense, and adamantly staring at the mosaic tiles. It¡¯s a showcase shower with a tall pane of ss separating it from the bathroom. A mist of warm water engulfs me, then the sporadic droplets hit my skin. I ignore his order, my heart thudding faster with every step. My mind unwinds and itsmotion mutes, leaving blissful rity. Carter¡¯s what I want, need, and can¡¯t go on without. ¡°Do what?¡± I stop behind him, lifting one hand to run my fingers down the length of his spine. My knees almost give in at his sharp inhale. He shivers under my touch, goosebumps dotting his skin despite the heat of the water. ¡°Hailey,¡± he grits, the word dipped in annoyance and¡­desire. He¡¯s at breaking point. It won¡¯t take much to tip him the right way, and when he snaps, he¡¯ll haul me into his arms like he has a hundred times before. He¡¯ll take me to bed and remind me why I crave him, why no man will everpare. Why I¡¯ll let him do whatever he pleases for as long as he¡¯s interested. ¡°What are you doing, pretty girl?¡± ¡°Touching you,¡± I whisper, stepping a little closer. Now he spins. So abruptly I stumble back a step. He grips my waist, pinning me against the wall, a wild look dancing in his eyes, dark irises almostpletely swallowed by blown pupils. His gaze roves down my body and mine follows, stopping on his hard cock, inches away from my belly. ¡°Do you trust me?¡± he asks. ¡°Are you one hundred percent certain I¡¯m not just using you to find the evidence?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t ever be certain of anything.¡± ¡°Yeah, we can. Come to me when you are.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Nobuts, Hailey. You need to know I won¡¯t hurt or leave you after we find the evidence, and you need to be fucking certain you want me, because there¡¯ll be no going back. If you¡¯re mine again, you¡¯re mine forever.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. No one can nforever. Things change. What if you get bored with me five years down the line?¡± ¡°God, your fucking insecurities will be the death of me.¡± He dips his head so we¡¯re eye level. ¡°I can n forever, and I¡¯mnning mine with you. Come to me when you¡¯re ready for that.¡± My brows furrow. I desperately search his face for any hint of a trick or lie. I want to believe him, but¡­ why would I? He¡¯s too perfect for forever. Too perfect for me. A morally gray fucking God. He can have any woman he wants, any prettier and smarter than me Goddess heys his eyes on¡­ I¡¯m a fleeting moment. A temporary fix, but that¡¯s okay. I want to be his fix. ¡°You want me, don¡¯t you?¡± I ask.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°You know I do.¡± His fingers sink into my skin. ¡°But not like this.¡± A frown mars my forehead, his words throwing me off track. I¡¯mnaked. Ready and willing, handing myself over on a silver tter. I was certain he¡¯d take me. That he¡¯d stop pretending and fuck me like he wants to. Like webothdesperately need to. ¡°Drop the act,¡± I say, my voice strained. ¡°I¡¯m here. I need you and you want me, sotakeme.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a fucking act,¡± he seethes, peeling himself away from me. ¡°I told you I won¡¯t touch you without your trust.¡± Humiliation heats my cheeks. I¡¯m so turned on it¡¯s embarrassing. I can barely hold back from dropping to my knees and testing my gag reflex to its limits. Maybe that¡¯d sway his resolve. Before I decide, he storms away, fetching a big, fluffy towel. ¡°Come here.¡± He holds his hand out. For the first time, I¡¯m shy around him. I don¡¯t take his hand. Instead, I flee, tugging the knitted dress over my head and snatching my underwear off the floor. I¡¯ll have to find a different way to break him. Saving Hailey: Chapter 22 ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve had it up tohere,¡± Broadway snaps, his hand held parallel with his forehead as he exits the control room, probably lured out by the scent of coffee. ¡°What have you had up tohere?¡± Koby asks, mimicking Broadway¡¯s theatrical gesture. ¡°This,¡± he gestures around. ¡°Sitting on our asses all the fucking time.¡± He pins me with a pointed stare. ¡°What¡¯s the n, Carter?You do have one, right? It¡¯s only a matter of time before your father gets here. He¡¯s already too fucking close.¡± He¡¯s not wrong. After weeks of trying, Jackson finally snuck a bug onto Apollo¡¯s phone. I have a nagging feeling Apollo clicked the link knowing full well what would happen. I can¡¯t figure out his agenda. Why help me? Why kill his colleagues? Why give me ears into Rhett¡¯s ranks? Whatever his reasoning, be itck of trust in my father, or cozying up to me as the obvious sessor should Rhett go down in this shitshow, it works in my favor. Thanks to Apollo, we know Rhett¡¯s getting pretty fucking close to finding us. Right now, they don¡¯t have a precise location. Some of the safe houses Dante has dotted around the USA are less anonymous than others and Rhett¡¯s substantially narrowed down the list, raiding one ce after another over the past two weeks. ¡°We¡¯ll be here until Hailey remembers where the evidence is,¡± I say, ¡°or it¡¯s no longer safe. For now we¡¯re staying. I can¡¯t risk another ze-type situation.¡± Time¡¯s not our ally. The list of people interested in Hailey¡ªor rather the locked-away contents of her mind¡ªis growing exponentially. Every time Dante calls, he mentions another name. ¡°You sure there¡¯s nothing we can do to speed up the process?¡± Broadway clips, dropping onto the couch with a soft bounce. ¡°Sitting around doesn¡¯t strike me as the best option. You¡¯re risking the evidence falling into the wrong hands. There might be other routes to it than through Hailey.¡± ¡°If you have any suggestions, I¡¯m all ears.¡± ¡°Alex¡¯s bank vault,¡± he says immediately. He¡¯s been poking me with that stick since the day Hailey went missing. I get why he considers checking the bank is a good idea, but he can¡¯t see the bigger picture. ¡°You made us harvest that fridge-full of freak show,¡± he continues, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. ¡°We collected everything we need for biometrics. We don¡¯t even need to take the guns if we don¡¯t want to make a scene. Why the fuck did you make me carve off his dposing eyes and fingers if you don¡¯t want to check the bank?¡± Koby chuckles by the breakfast bar where he¡¯s stuffing his mouth with bacon. ¡°That was a fun night.¡± ¡°It was disgusting,¡± Broadway huffs, shaking off the clinging memory. ¡°Are the parts usable?¡± I ask, lifting a cup to my lips. ¡°Kind of,¡± Koby says, chewing a big bite, unfazed by the discussion. ¡°I doubt the eye will work, but the fingerprints should still register.¡± ¡°Good morning,¡± Hailey¡¯s small voice sounds behind me, sending a thrill through my system. I haven¡¯t stopped thinking about her naked body since she ambushed me in the shower. One look at her has the blood in my veins turning so hot it¡¯s fucking scorching. She stands three steps from the bottom of the stairs, her big, rested eyes jumping between us. A hint of triumph shines in those blues when she catches me ogling my way down her body. She¡¯s in a fucking night dress, pinching the hem between her fingers, and identally rolling it up so high it¡¯s a miracle I can¡¯t see the blonde strip of hair between her legs. ¡°Heads down,¡± I clip at my men, jumping to my feet. ¡°Upstairs, Hailey. Rightnow.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not dressed,¡± I grind out, hurdling two steps to cover her from Ryder, Koby, and Broadway¡¯s view. ¡°You don¡¯t leave your room unless you¡¯re dressed.¡± She crosses her arms over her chest, pushing her perky boobs up and closer together, the valley between them reduced to less than half an inch. ¡°You don¡¯t get a say in what I¡¯m allowed to wear. I¡¯lle downstairs naked if I want to.¡± She wouldn¡¯t. It¡¯s not in her nature, but she knows saying that will piss me off and she¡¯s been trying to force my hand since day one. I lost count of how many times she rolled her eyes at me, knowing damn well how feral it makes me. She¡¯s trying every trick in the book, hoping I¡¯ll snap and give in, but she¡¯s taken it too fucking far. ¡°Getdressed,¡± I grit out, towering above her despite standing one step lower. ¡°It¡¯s not a request, pretty girl.¡± She scoffs, defiance painting her face. ¡°Orwhat?¡± If I could, I¡¯d make her pay for this. She¡¯d fucking beg for an orgasm, and I¡¯d deny her. She knows how territorial I am about her body. That it drives me crazy to think about anyone even hearing her moans, so she must know there¡¯s no way I¡¯d let anyone see her in a fucking night dress. ¡°Or I¡¯ll fling you over my shoulder and dress you myself.¡± With her stare never leaving mine, she tips her chin up, eyes full of challenge. ¡°I dareyou.¡± God, that fucking defiance turns me on almost as much as her rolling those gorgeous blues. She¡¯sperfect¡­ and cruel, readily offering her body but guarding her heart. ¡°Get. Dressed,¡± I seethe, spinning her around and pushing her up a step. She rolls her eyes again, and my cock notices, swelling further, my balls permanently blue. I still don¡¯t understand why that move affects me so much I can barely keep my hands off her. There¡¯s no rational exnation, but I¡¯m not about to get hung up on thewhywhile she¡¯s climbing up the stairs without any underwear. Knowing my men, their eyes are firmly on their breakfast¡ªprobably snickering away. But even without them looking, it drives me livid that Hailey had the fucking audacity to risk shing any one of them. I don¡¯t give her space, my chest rubbing against her back with every step we climb until she¡¯s safely out of view on thending. ¡°You¡¯re a caveman,¡± she huffs, storming into her bedroom. ¡°It¡¯s the twenty-first century, you know? Men don¡¯t get a say in what women wear.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck what people do or think these days. I¡¯m not one of them, and you knew that from the start. Argue all you want. Call me a caveman, call me toxic, call me a misogynistic bastard.¡± ¡°You¡¯re all of those things.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. You don¡¯t trust me, but you¡¯remine, and that means you don¡¯t parade around in front of my men without your fucking panties on, understood?¡± Her cheeks heat like she just remembered she never wears underwear while she sleeps. Well, I remember and, standing this close to her, it¡¯s damn near impossible not to grip her hips, throw her onto the bed and drive my cock home. This woman should be Dante¡¯s torture master. She¡¯d drive any man insane. ¡°I see you leave the bedroom when you¡¯re not decent and we¡¯ll have a problem.¡± I storm out before my resolve snapspletely and I end up giving her exactly what she wants. As much as I crave her body, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll touch her until she trusts me. Until she stops lovingNashand starts loving Carter. ¡°Where were we?¡± I ask, taking a seat by the breakfast bar, the aromatic scent of pancakes and bacon hanging in the air. ¡°Getting off our asses to dosomething,¡± Broadway mutters, marshaling his smirk. ¡°We should check the bank, Carter.¡± ¡°The moment we do, everyone will know we¡¯re onto something. If the evidence is there and we don¡¯t gain ess, Vaughn will have a warrant in less than twenty-four hours¡ªforged or real,¡± I clip. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯ve been sitting on this information so long.¡± ¡°We have Alex¡¯s parts, and we have Hailey.¡± ¡°She can¡¯t remember how to ess the deposit box,¡± Koby reasons. ¡°How hard can it be? It¡¯s all fucking biometrics.¡± ¡°Not all of it,¡± Ryder says. ¡°There are different protocols in ce. Biometrics, passwords, cards, keys.¡± Hailey¡¯s footsteps echo down the stairs, and I spin round, checking if she¡¯s being a good girl or a little devil. She¡¯s dressed, but something doesn¡¯t quite add up. Instead of her usual sweater or sweats and a hoodie, or even one of the elegant, conservative dresses La¡¯s stylist had delivered, she¡¯s wearing a little denim pinafore number. It¡¯s short, which is fine, but coupled with the white blouse she has underneath, it makes her look infantile. Her blonde locks flow in waves down her back, her lips are stained pink to match her cheeks, and mascara pops her big eyes further¡­ She looks younger than she is.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Even younger than she looked at Lakeside wearing those flimsy flowery dresses Alex bought her. She¡¯s dug up the most girly thing in the closet and cranked the outfit to eleven. ¡°What deposit box are you talking about?¡± she asks, feigning oblivious innocence as she sits beside me. ¡°I wasn¡¯t eavesdropping¡­ your voices carry upstairs.¡± It¡¯s not just her outfit that¡¯s ringly different this morning. Her scars are nowhere to be seen, meticulously hidden beneath a thickyer of makeup. I¡¯m fucking reeling. I want to grab her wrist and drag her upstairs so she¡¯ll get changed. Make her wash the concealer away. This isn¡¯t her. It¡¯s a defense mechanism. Something Alex conditioned her to do: use all means necessary to hold interest and earn attention. My head pounds, blood slowing in my veins like cherry slurpy. She¡¯s doing this for me. She¡¯s reverting to the girl she was for Alex because I keep turning her down. I bet she thinks this version of her will change my mind. My chair scrapes along the tiles as I push away and storm into the control room, closing the door behind me. I knew her insecurities had deep roots. I knew Alex trained her like a fucking circus monkey, but amnesia wiped the te clean. Despite being thrown back into that state in her shbacks, she was breaking away from his hold. She was finding out who she really is. I loved it when she transitioned from cardigans to wearing my hoodies and leaving her scars on disy. God, what the fuck have I done? She¡¯s back in the mold Alex put her in: firmly believing she should adapt and change so I¡¯ll want her. SoCarterwill want her, because this isn¡¯t Nash¡¯s girl either. I thought pushing her away, taking intimacy off the table, would prove a good choice. That it¡¯d help her realize I love her and want her trust before I touch her again. That her mind and heart mean way more to me than her pussy. Clearly, that backfired fast. Alex¡¯s brainwashing resurfaced, and Hailey¡¯s fallen into his toxic traits. I grip the desk with both hands, hanging my head low. What the fuck am I supposed to do now? If she gets my attention by looking like Alex¡¯s wet dream, she¡¯ll think it¡¯s working. Thatthisis what I expect. If I don¡¯t, who knows what other fucked-up way she¡¯ll find to adapt. My fingers gouge into the hardwood so hard it¡¯s not far off splintering. I lift my head, watching Koby set a te before her on the live feed from the kitchen. She starts poking the food, sending my stomach on a quick ride to my knees. All those times I watched her do this during the first few weeks at Lakesidee back to smack my face. Back then, I thought she didn¡¯t need much food to feel full, but now, after two weeks here, seeing her ying with her meal again, I realize her behavior is more sinister. She¡¯s not eating the things she likes. No, she¡¯s picking the light foods. Low in calories. She scoots the bacon and pancakes aside, despite devouring them just yesterday. Not today, though. Today she only takes an egg and some cherry tomatoes. All the times when she had nothing but a fucking apple for breakfast, she was watching her weight. Whether it was a conscious decision, I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t think so. She was doing it from day one, before she remembered Alex. It took me a while to make her eat three healthy meals a day. She started gaining weight when we were together, but now she¡¯s back thinking she¡¯s not good enough as she is. And I have no idea how to fix it¡­ Saving Hailey: Chapter 23 ¡°We had this idea that Alex took you to the bank to either drop off the evidence, or show you that it¡¯s there,¡± Broadway says, walking me through the night of my ident. He grabs Ryder¡¯sptop, setting it beside my te. In three clicks, he pulls up a map oveyed with abyrinth ofXs and lines. ¡°This is where you crashed,¡± he says, pointing out a spot. ¡°And this is your house. Now this¡­ this is where the car was stationary for a few minutes.¡± ¡°The bank,¡± I say so he knows I¡¯m following. ¡°Yes, exactly. It¡¯s high rollers only. Deposit boxes, private vaults, top-notch security.¡± My finger hovers over the spot, before trailing along a line that ends where we crashed. ¡°I was with Alex at the bank¡­¡± I whisper. ¡°So it would seem,¡± Ryder confirms. ¡°The car doesn¡¯t stop anywhere else. Well, aside from the tree it wrapped itself around not twenty minutester.¡± ¡°Yeah, and then Alex is dead, you lose your memories, and we¡¯re hunting evidence,¡± Broadway finishes, pping theptop closed just as Carteres out of the control room, his temper no longer scorching hot. ¡°Do we need more reasons to check the one lead we have, Boss?¡± ¡°It all fits, Carter,¡± Koby chimes. ¡°You can bet your ass Alex showed Hailey how to ess the deposit box in case things went sideways.¡± He looks at me for support. ¡°You said he was getting paranoid, right? That shback you had at Noretto¡¯s¡­?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t thinkparanoidis the right word given he was right. Why do you assume he was dropping the evidence off? What if he picked it up?¡± Carter moves Broadway out of the way, taking a seat beside me. ¡°If he did, it would¡¯ve been in the car when you crashed. You didn¡¯t stop anywhere else.¡± ¡°So? Can we check the fucking bank now?¡± Broadway asks, raking a hand through his hair. ¡°You know we should¡¯ve done it ages ago. We need to start ticking things off the list. And if things go south and Vaughn does take it out from under us¡­ I think I have an idea.¡± Carter narrows his eyes at him, a nonverbal conversation passing between the two men. I have no hope of understanding what¡¯s going on, but the other two catch on without an issue. ¡°Bold,¡± Koby muses, popping a cherry tomato into his mouth. ¡°What?¡± I ask, looking between them. ¡°Broadway¡¯s suggesting using you as ckmail,¡± Carter exins, knocking the breath out of my chest. Not because ofwhathe said, but because hesaidit. The cold, hard, brutal truth. Instead of discussing it without my knowledge, he¡¯s letting me in, refusing to lie again. ¡°What would that look like?¡± All four heads whip to me so fast it¡¯sical, their expressions ranging from deep shock to utter amusement. ¡°Damn¡­ I didn¡¯t think you could ever surprise me,¡± Ryder chuckles. ¡°I was wrong.¡± ¡°I want this to be over as much as you do. Broadway¡¯s right, we can¡¯t wait for my memories toe back. My head¡¯s not ying ball right now. And this ce might be bulletproof, but it isn¡¯t soundproof. I heard Broadway say Rhett¡¯s nearly found us.¡± ¡°You¡¯re safe, Hailey, I¡ª¡± Carter cuts in, but I shush him with a wave of my hand. ¡°I stopped being safe the day Alex walked into my life. It¡¯s worth checking the bank, but if you can¡¯t ess the deposit box and we risk losing the evidence, that¡¯s not good. Would ckmailing my dad help?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll only stophimsnatching the evidence. Just because we¡¯re refusing to gun down the bank staff, it doesn¡¯t mean anybody else will be so polite. Not everyone has Dante¡¯s moralpass.¡± ¡°But if Dad retrieves the evidence first and hands it over in exchange for¡­ me.¡± Carter swears under his breath. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°Why? It¡¯s the perfect backup n. Just think about it.¡± ¡°I have and the answer isno.¡± ¡°Why the hell not?! You went through all this fucking trouble with me to find the evidence and now it might be in the palm of your hand you¡¯re refusing to close your fist?¡± He spins, the turmoil of emotions raging inside him crackling in his dark eyes. ¡°If getting the evidence means losing you, it¡¯s not fucking worth it.¡± Hebs his fingers through hishair. ¡°And don¡¯t fucking swear, Hailey. It sounds farcical when you¡¯re dressed like a schoolgirl.¡± My eyebrows meet in the middle. I don¡¯t understand. Why doesn¡¯t he like this outfit¡­? It¡¯s cute. It¡¯s girly. It¡¯s¡­ a long way away from what Nash loved. My cute dresses used to set his teeth on edge. I chew my cheek¡­ maybe he really wasn¡¯t pretending to be someone else when we were at Lakeside. ¡°That¡¯d be usible if you had any idea what¡¯s really in this evidence,¡± Ryder says, eyes darting between everyone in the room before settling on Carter. ¡°You don¡¯t know how much Alex gathered. What if Aalyiah dug deep enough to bury you, us,Dante¡­ what then?¡± ¡°Getting it means keeping Hailey safe, out of the line of fire,¡± Broadway adds, stroking Carter¡¯s overprotective side. ¡°No,¡± he clips again, staring right at me as a muscle feathers his jaw. ¡°I¡¯m not using you. Not again.¡± He rises to his feet, dropping a napkin onto his te. ¡°We leave on Sunday.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± I ask at the same time as Broadway jumps to his feet, clearly unappeased. ¡°Sunday? That¡¯s five days away, Boss. We might notst five days here. Rhett hit the Oregon safe housest night.¡± ¡°And thanks to the bug on Apollo¡¯s phone, we knew about it forty-eight hours ahead. We can¡¯t half-ass the nning for this job, so we¡¯ll need until Sunday to square it.¡± He looks over his shoulder, halfway up the stairs already. ¡°Don¡¯t pack a bag just yet, Hailey. For now, you¡¯re staying right here. Koby will keep youpany while we go check that fucking bank.¡± My mouth goes dry, words turning to dust on my tongue. I don¡¯t want to stay here without him. Swallowing hard, I shepherd the unease tumbling my stomach. ¡°You said I was there with Alex. Don¡¯t you think I¡¯d be useful? Maybe I¡¯ll get a shback and remember how to ess the evidence?¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± Ryder praises with a cunning smirk. ¡°Ifwe get confirmation the evidence is there but we can¡¯t ess it without you, Koby will bring you to me,¡± Carter says, and cutting the conversation, he disappears upstairs, every one of his steps radiating tension.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Why do you get to stay?¡± Broadway huffs, ring at Koby. ¡°I¡¯m a way better shot than you.¡± ¡°You wish.¡± ¡°I¡¯m his second.Ishould stay with Hailey.¡± ¡°If he told you to stay, you¡¯d whine about him leaving you behind. Now he¡¯s taking you, you¡¯re whining about not staying. There¡¯s no pleasing you, is there?¡± Using their bickering and inattention as cover, I slide off the stool and follow Carter. His bedroom door is cracked open. He sits on the bed, checking his phone. ¡°Don¡¯t lurk outside,¡± he says, without looking up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, pretty girl?¡± I enter the bedroom, leaning against the door as it closes behind me. ¡°How long will you be gone?¡± ¡°Two, maybe three days. Once I have a n in ce, I need to stop in Chicago to get the green light.¡± ¡°Green light? From Dante?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it works. Tell me what you¡¯re thinking.¡± Many things: for one, I wonder how safe I¡¯ll be here without him. Rationally, I know the entire property is wired. The house is bulletproof and probably bomb-proof when it¡¯s locked down, but¡­ all of that doesn¡¯t make me feel as safe as Carter does. But I just ask, ¡°Will I be okay here?¡± His features soften as he rises to his intimidating height, crossing the room to crowd my personal space. Curling his finger under my chin, he tips my head up so I¡¯ll meet his eyes. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t leave you here if I wasn¡¯t sure you¡¯d be safe. The ce will be on full lockdown while I¡¯m gone.¡± There¡¯s enough conviction in his tone to obliterate a small city, but it doesn¡¯t make me feel any better¡­ and I realize that, when ites to my safety, I don¡¯t trust anyone more than Carter. Not even my own father¡­ not even Nash. ¡°Hailey,¡± he tuts, swiping his thumb along my jaw. ¡°What else is on your mind?¡± ¡°My dad,¡± I whisper. ¡°When you find the evidence and give it to your father¡­ what happens to my dad?¡± ¡°Nothing. Killing your father would cause a huge rift in the way people like us operate. If Rhett wanted Charles dead, he¡¯d be dead by now. And so would you. He never would¡¯ve sent me to break you. He would¡¯ve sent me to kill you.¡± So I should be grateful to the cops who eagerly work with the mafia, helping them along. I owe them my life¡­ ¡°If¡­¡± I pinch my lips, my cheeks heating. I¡¯m pushing the line here, but Carter keeps insisting he wants my trust, so what have I got to lose? The worst he can do is sayno. ¡°If¡­ what?¡± ¡°If my dad calls, or you call him¡­ could I talk to him? Just for a minute. I can do it on speaker and¡ª¡± He presses his finger to my lips, stamping a kiss on my forehead. ¡°Took you long enough. I thought you¡¯d never ask.¡± My head tilts slightly, a silent question hanging in the air when he moves away to open a drawer in his bedside cab, He pulls out a cell phone. ¡°Charles is the only contact in here.¡± He swings back to me and pushes the phone into my hand. I stare at him, stunned beyond belief. ¡°You¡¯re giving me a phone? What if I call the police?¡± ¡°You will.¡± He smirks. ¡°Your father¡¯s a cop, remember?¡± ¡°I meant dialing an emergency number.¡± ¡°I know what you meant. Ryder worked his magic on this phone the first night we got here. I thought you¡¯d demand to talkto your dad sooner. His number is the only one you can dial and the call can¡¯t be traced.¡± He moves back, leaving the phone in my hand. ¡°Even if you could call someone else, you wouldn¡¯t.¡± I cock an eyebrow despite the weight of his words making my palms sweat. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because you don¡¯t want to leave, Hailey. Tell him I said hi.¡± A small chuckle falls from my lips as I roll my eyes at him. His eyes darken in an instant, a greedy look crossing his face. He goes feral when my eyes roll, and back at Lakeside I¡¯d recant, all apologetic for making him hard in an inappropriate situation. Not since we arrived at the safe house, though. I deliberately roll my eyes at him any chance I get. Now, I add a smile and a wink, slipping out of his bedroom. My mind fills with Carter fucking his hand while he thinks about me. Good¡­ I hope he does. I hope he decides it¡¯s not enough and stops acting so noble. Saving Hailey: Chapter 24 The phone¡¯s slick in my mmy hands as I tapVaughnonthe screen, sending the call. It rings, once, twice, the sound echoing like a drumbeat in the quiet room. ¡°Carter? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dad answers, his voice like a balm over my frayed mind. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s me.¡± The silence that follows reverberates through my head until a relieved snort hits my ears. ¡°Hailey. Oh, thank God. Are you okay?¡± His voice is brimming with pain, urgency, and worry. ¡°Where are you? What happened? Where¡¯s Carter?¡± ¡°He¡¯s here. I¡¯m okay. I don¡¯t know where I am exactly,¡± I admit, gazing out the window to the sprawling, dense forest. I could be anywhere, really. ¡°But I¡¯m safe. I promise. What about you? Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, sweetheart. Don¡¯t you worry about me. It¡¯s so good to hear you. I can¡¯t believe he let you call¡­¡± His voice cracks like eggshells and I think he¡¯s close to tears. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Hailey,¡± he utters. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I let Alex into our lives. I know he was hurting you. I should have seen it. I should have protected you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I¡­ I don¡¯t want to talk about Alex.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m sorry. Tell me how you¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired. I want toe home. I want to see you and I want this nightmare to be over.¡± I regret the words as soon as they leave my lips. I¡¯m sure he wants nothing more than to have me home but that won¡¯t happen anytime soon.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°As much as I hate it, you¡¯re safer where you are right now.¡± He lets out a deep sigh, like he can¡¯t believe he¡¯s forced to say this. ¡°Carter¡¯s very protective of you and better equipped than I am to keep you safe.¡± I could argue, I could tell him he¡¯s my dad and it¡¯shisjob to keep me safe. That he¡¯s a cop for crying out loud. He¡¯s supposed to protect me¡­ but I keep it in. He sounds so beaten, so resigned. Admitting a criminal can do a better job at keeping his only daughter out of harm¡¯s way couldn¡¯t have been easy. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± I say, hoping to ease the weight on his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m okay¡­ and once I remember where Alex hid the evidence, I cane home.¡± ¡°I have to go, sweetheart.¡± A puzzled frown creases my forehead as I check the time. We¡¯ve only been speaking for three minutes. He hasn¡¯t heard from me in weeks, hasn¡¯t seen me in months, and now we¡¯re finally on a secure line, he¡¯s too busy, even after everything that¡¯s happened. ¡°When you find the evidence¡­¡± he continues. ¡°Remind Carter about our deal.¡± ¡°What deal?¡± I interject, dreading hisgoodbye. ¡°You struck adealwith him? He¡¯s a criminal, Dad.¡± ¡°I know. Believe me, it was thest thing I wanted to do, but everything hinges on Alex¡¯s findings, sweetheart. They¡¯re important. Remember that I love you, Hailey. So much.¡± ¡°I love you, too.¡± The call ends, leaving me staring at the phone, reying everything he said, a peculiar feeling twisting my gut. Something doesn¡¯t quite add up. Saving Hailey: Chapter 25 It¡¯s past two in the morning when Hailey stirs. I¡¯ve monitored the live feed of her sleeping a dozen times since we arrived, and learned she doesn¡¯t move much unless she¡¯s had a bit to drink the night before. Mostly, she wakes up in the same position she falls asleep in, so I know she¡¯s awake the moment the sheets ruffle and she turns to stare at the clock on the bedside table, probably too sleepy toprehend the time. If she were caught by sleep paralysis, she wouldn¡¯t move her head, so my heartrate stays level and my ass stays in the control room¡¯s leather desk chair, a half-empty ss of Bourbon by the keyboard. Hailey glides away from the clock, the dim orange hue of the nighmp painting shadows across her pretty face. The paralysis doesn¡¯t happen half as often with the nighmp on, and even though it takes her longer to fall asleep, she doesn¡¯t fight me over keeping it lit anymore. I click a button, erging and centering the view from her room, the others rearranging themselves in smaller rectangles around the edge. I still have a magnified view of the front and back road on the other monitors, but directly in front of me is now mostly Hailey. I zoom in on the bed, watching her shift position, those big eyes scanning the room slowly until she pinpoints the camera mounted in the corner of the room. She stares into it without smiling, not giving me any facial expression, but she knows I¡¯m manning the control room: the only reason why the bedroom camera is switched on. If I¡¯m not close enough to hear if she wakes up paralyzed, I keep her onscreen so I can get upstairs as fast as possible if she needs me to calm her down. It won¡¯t be the case tonight, though. She¡¯s fully awake¡­ and flushed. Her cheeks grow pink while she holds my gaze¡ªor rather stares into the camera¡ªedging the sheets down her body. My cock turns hard in no seconds t. God, I hope she¡¯s not about to do what I think or I can¡¯t promise I¡¯ll stay in this seat. My heartrate picks up rhythm when theforter falls away and it¡¯s just Hailey on the bare mattress. Inhaling deeply, her boobs rising and falling in sync, she props herself against the pillow. My mouth turns dry when she slides one spaghetti strap of her night dress off until her right breast pops out, the candy-hard peak of her nipple clear as fucking day through the 4K resolution camera. Blood shooshes in my ears when she pinches her nipple between two fingers, then rolls it slowly, her lips parting on cue. My cock hardens more, swelling behind the fabric of my pants and boxers, pushing against the zipper, begging me to haul ass upstairs and let it sink inside Hailey¡¯s warm, pink pussy. But I don¡¯t, because I know what she¡¯s doing. She¡¯s testing me like she did in the shower. It¡¯s fucking unnerving that she dares to question my feelings, but, at the same time, I understand why she¡¯s pushing. She¡¯s only ever had feelings for two men. Alex and me. I doubt what she felt for that fucker was anywhere close to what she feels for me, but it doesn¡¯t change the fact she¡¯s been burned twice and expects it to happen again. She¡¯s fucking breathtaking, lying on that bed. Eyes on the camera, she ys with her breasts, squeezing and kneading, her excitement elerating the rise and fall of her surging chest. I stop fucking breathing when she squirms, clearly in the moment, hell-bent on driving me crazy. It¡¯s definitely an invitation to join her when she brings her knees a little higher and the night dress pools on her abdomen. Maybe not an invitation. Maybe a punishment. Her sweet pussyes into view, those perfect glistening lips, the strip of hair at the apex of her thighs¡­ fuck. My cock twitches hard enough to crack fucking concrete. She skims her right hand down her stomach, the left still toying with her nipple. Her knees fall apart, not much, not all the way, but enough that she can easily ess her clit. My heart almost bursts when she drags two fingers between her pussy lips and¡­ sucks them into her mouth. A low groan tears from my chest. I adjust myself in the seat, leaning back and flexing my fingers into the armrests. This is the most erotic show I¡¯ve ever witnessed. The cruelest form of torture when she shamelessly stares into the camera, knowing damn well I¡¯m watching every second. With deliberate moves, she dives her hand back between her legs, covering two fingers in her wetness, then slowly slides up to her clit, pinching that little button the same way she¡¯s pinching her nipple. God, she¡¯s fucking beautiful. My fingers drill into the leather armrests so hard I¡¯m not far from ripping them off the chair. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to unleash my cock and stroke in sync with the glistening fingers slowly rolling her clit. Heat detonates inside my body when her legs fall further apart. She cocks an eyebrow at the camera, holding my gaze captive as she licks her lips. Her fingers circle a little faster, and her hips start to buck. Fuck. She can¡¯t do this and expect I¡¯ll just sit and watch. It¡¯s been weeks since I had her. Weeks since I felt her. Weeks since I saw her¡­ she can¡¯t expect me not to get off on this. Losing myst shred of control, I unbutton my pants, pull my shirt out, then yank the zipper and free my cock. There¡¯s not enough room to get a good grip like this¡­ I slide my pants halfway down my ass and palm the base. Pleasant tremors roll through me, starting at the tip of my scalp and cascading all the way down. Eyes on the screen, on Hailey¡¯s gorgeous, pink-painted face and the hand covering those parted lips to keep herself quiet, I start pumping. Up and down, up and down, adjusting my tempo to match the fingers working her clit. I couldkillthe fucker who chose a camera system with no audio feed from the bedroom. I¡¯d give my right arm to hear a single moan falling from Hailey¡¯s lips. It¡¯d probably tip me over the edge, but fuck if I haven¡¯t missed her sweet, uncontroble little noises. But there¡¯s no sound.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . All that soundtracks my efforts are the hum of theputers and my heavy breathing as I palm my cock, getting off on the most erotic porn clip I¡¯ve ever seen. Hailey¡¯s more tititing than any woman I ever fucked. Prettier than all of them put together. She knows I lose my goddamn mind when I see her naked, and even more when I can swallow her moans. Her hips work faster, in time with her fingers, bringing her close to a spectacr orgasm. My head smacks the back of the chair, eyes idling between her pretty face and her perfect, pink pussy. The faster she works, the faster I jerk off. Every angry stroke coaxes my release closer to the surface. It builds at the base of my spine when Hailey bites her hand, muffling her moans and gasps. It¡¯ll be better for Koby, Ryder, and Broadway if they¡¯re in very deep REM sleep right now. If I get any indication tomorrow that they heard her, they¡¯ll sleep outside for the rest of our stay. I twist my hand around my straining tip, precum pooling in the crook of my thumb when her eyes finally leave the screen,pletely giving in to the pleasure rippling across her nerve endings. She throws her head back, exposing the porcin column of her throat, still missing the red marks from my lips, and I sense the moment the orgasm runs through her as if she¡¯s right beside me. Her body stills for a second just like it always does when shees and then her thighs shake, toes curl, lips part, and¡­ Ie, too. Fisting the head of my cock so my cum won¡¯t spatter my shirt, pants, or the screens, I sink my teeth in my bottom lip, shuddering all over. Warm cum hits my palm, dripping down my shaft, the orgasm so potent my vision blurs. Hailey echoes every erratic breath I take. Her chest heaves while she drawszy circles between her legs the way I always do. She throws a hand over her face, calming down slowly and I watch, calming down in time with her. It takes a minute, maybe two, before shebs her hair back, staring straight into the camera like she knows I¡¯ve just jacked off while watching her y withmypussy. A tiny, triumphant smile twists her lips. Bad fucking drug. She readjusts the straps of her night dress and pulls the covers back up, flipping onto her side. It¡¯d be alright if she stayed like this, but she¡¯s not done driving me fucking crazy. Pulling one leg from under the covers, she moves it to rest above, her knee by her chest, the perfect curve of her ass¡­ and just a tiny bit of her pussy¡­ on disy. This is going to be a long night. Saving Hailey: Chapter 26 Heavy torrential rain patters the window when my rm goes off. I can hear the wind howl even through the reinforced lockdown blinds. It¡¯s pitch ck inside, though I don¡¯t think it¡¯d be any different with the blinds up considering it¡¯s December and barely six am. Sitting up, I kick theforter aside, haul myself out of bed and slip into a bathrobe in case Carter¡¯s up and catches me wandering the house in nothing but my night dress. I¡¯ve been putting on a show for him every night since he announced he¡¯s leaving, hoping to break his resolve. I know he¡¯s watched every second, but he hasn¡¯t barged into my bedroom like I hoped he would. Not the first time, not the second, not even the third. Feeling rejected again, I didn¡¯t botherst night, even though he¡¯s leaving today and I may have wasted myst chance. Still, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to openly ept another dose of bleak rejection. I knew he was in the control room,taking the night shift. He¡¯s manned it every night since my first performance. If he expected to see my pussy again, he was left sorely disappointed¡­ just like he¡¯s left me every night since day one here. I crack the bedroom door open, silently entering the hallway. I manage one step before colliding with something hard. I fall forward with a yelp, too fast to consider putting my hands out to break the impact. Instead ofnding face-first on the floor, two strong arms snap around my waist. My fight or flight instinct soars and as I take a breath to scream, I recognize his heady cologne, thehelpI was about to yell morphing into a surprised gasp. ¡°Shh, it¡¯s me,¡± Carter whispers in my ear. ¡°Why are you up?¡± I swallow more air and blink rapidly so my eyes adjust to the darkness, the only lighting from the LEDs illuminating the countertops downstairs. I shake my head to dislodge the confusion. I¡¯m basically straddling Carter on what I think is a chaise longue. Across the hall the door to his bedroom stands wide open, his bed obviously empty. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I hiss, keeping my voice down so as not to wake his men. ¡°Why are you up, Hailey?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t answer my question, but expect I¡¯ll answer yours? No way. You first. Why are you sleeping outside my door?¡± He props himself further up, adjusting the hold he has around me, his fingers sinking into my hips. Suddenly Ifeelhim everywhere. His strong hands, muscr chest pressed against my boobs, the warmth of his body¡­ his hard cock touching my inner thigh, close to where I¡¯ve been aching for him for days. ¡°It took me too long to hear you when you woke up paralyzed that first night. I wanted to be close in case you needed me.¡± My blood immediately spikes a fever, and my heart swells like a balloon. He¡¯s been sleeping outside my door this whole time¡­ Broadway¡¯s digs and Carter¡¯s sore neck every morning make perfect sense now. I twitch to do something, maybe wrap my hands around his neck, or lean in for a kiss, but I freeze, waiting, because with that small, insignificant movement, his cock swells even more. He doesn¡¯t act on it, though. I¡¯m in hisp, it¡¯s dark, we¡¯re so close, but instead of seizing the opportunity, he grips my waist and smoothly lifts me off. ¡°Your turn,¡± he says. ¡°Why are you up?¡± A hollow feeling blooms in my chest. His holier-than-thou restraint is infuriating. ¡°I nned to bake brownies¡­¡± I say, dragging my feet toward the staircase, then stop and turn, almost colliding with his hard pecs. ¡°If you want to be close to me¡­ you can sleep in my bed.¡± He doesn¡¯t grace that with an answer, resting his hand on my lower back to guide me to the stairs. Once we reach the top, he overtakes me, descending first. A smile curls my lips, the disappointment fading and morphing to a warm feeling in my belly. Not long ago, he was shooting his gun left and right, killing men in cold blood. A ruthless murderer, seemingly without heart or soul, but this now¡­ the small gesture of walking ahead so I¡¯dnd on him if I tripped¡­ melts me in ways nothing else could. Adding to the LEDs already under the cupboards, he flips on the lights in the ss cabs. It¡¯s not bright, barely enough to create an ambience. Without warning, he grips my waist, hauling me onto the kitchen ind, his bare, tattooed chest in my face. ¡°Wait here,¡± hemands, his eyes flicking from mine to my lips and back. ¡°Coffee?¡± I nod, watching his muscles writhe under the inked skin as he gets to work. I swallow hard, remembering all the times I watched him cross the dorm room at Lakeside to fetch a washcloth from the bathroom. Memories m into me, stealing the breath from my chest. His toned body hovering over mine, the intensity of his dark stare, the way he worshipped my body. Every deep, iming kiss, every growl and pant leaving his lips, the sweat gathering at his hairline as he powered inside me, all the while holding my gaze captive. How he scraped my neck and chin with his teeth whenever I threw my head back, drowning in the high. ¡°Good girl.¡± ¡°Fuckinge, Hailey.¡± ¡°There it is. Ride it out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡± ¡°So wet, so tight, so fucking mine.¡± My heart stutters. I clench my thighs together, forcing myself back to the present when Carter hands me a cup. The rain pelts the bulletproof blinds, not as loud now, just a low hum, muffled by the blood pounding in my head. He¡¯s close again, so close I see the lighter specks in his almost ck eyes. So close I almost touch his chin with the bottom of my cup as I sip the coffee. He sets his by my hip, his hand brushing my bathrobe. It¡¯s the bare minimum of contact, not skin on skin, but enough to stoke the fire inside me. ¡°Why are you making brownies at six in the morning?¡± he asks, dragging his hand down my thigh. There¡¯s fabric between us, but goosebumps rise beneath it. ¡°Why not? You don¡¯t like them? If you tell me what you like, I¡¯ll make that instead.¡± I quickly shuffle my memories of him eating at Lakeside: sandwiches, steaks, burgers¡­ always a side sd, sometimes pasta, fruits, and asionally¡­ a slice of cheesecake. ¡°Cheesecake,¡± I say, meeting his annoyed stare. ¡°You like cheesecake¡­ well, Nashlikes cheesecake. Do you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re the same fucking person,¡± he seethes, his nostrils ring, fingers sinking into my thigh. ¡°The man you fell in love with at Lakeside is right here. And he doesn¡¯t want a cheesecake.¡± My shoulders slump, gaze hitting the floor. If he weren¡¯t standing this close, making my body crave his touch, I¡¯d probably pale, but my cheeks feel warm. ¡°Drink,¡± he urges, jutting his chin at the cup in my hand. I quickly close my lips over the rim, and Carter uses that moment to infiltrate the barrier of my bathrobe, cing his hand firmly over my knee. Desire ms into me, the feel of skin on skin like a potent drug. Everything amplifies this moment. The heat radiating off him, the storm outside, the barely illuminated room, and his dark eyes staring into mine, gauging my reaction. ¡°You¡¯re flushed, pretty girl,¡± he rasps, equal parts possessive and careful. ¡°You had another dirty dream?¡± I shake my head, still slowly taking one steady sip after another, scared to make one false move and risk him stopping. That¡¯s thest thing I want. His fingers start climbing. Inch by inch, so slowly it¡¯s fucking torture, so slowly it feels like he¡¯s burning a path along my skin. He takes half a step closer, stationed between my knees. ¡°Fuck, Hailey¡­¡± he grits out, leaning into me further as his fingerspletely disappear under the bathrobe. ¡°How¡¯s that trusting along?¡± His hand starts retreating and I snatch his wrists, halting him in ce. ¡°Don¡¯t stop,¡± I plead, meeting his eyes. ¡°Please.¡± His fingers gouge into my skin, sending a delicious shudder through me. He leans in, his lips inches from mine, hot breath tickling my cheek. But he doesn¡¯t kiss me. Well, not on the lips like I want him to. He stamps that patronizing peck on my forehead. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question.¡± There¡¯s a part of me that wants to trust him. The same part that¡¯s dying to feel his mouth on mine, kissing, taking, and reminding us how good we are together, his big hands hauling me into his arms then dropping me on the bed upstairs. But a different part of me blocks it all away. He lied. He used me, betrayed my trust, and, despite everything he said, I¡¯m not certain he isn¡¯t using me right now. Maybe he wants me. I knowhe wants me, but it¡¯s temporary. It won¡¯tst. Nothing ever does. ¡°Hailey,¡± Carter whispers, taking ast step forward, his forehead dropping onto mine. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯re thinking.¡± I shut my eyes, warding off the iing tears. I hate feeling this way. So helpless¡­ so confused. I want him back. Close. Mine. At the same time, I¡¯m scared to suffer the consequences of believing him. Scared of the pain he¡¯ll cause when he leaves. He gently frees his hand from my grasp and wraps his hands around my back, pulling me in. Ie willingly, seekingfort, the familiarity of his scent, and so much more. Too bad this is the extent he¡¯s willing to give me unless I give him my unconditional trust. Unless I believe Carter and Nash are one. My head lolls onto his shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you.¡± The slow path of his fingers tiptoeing up and down my spine stills. Every muscle in his body turns to stone. ¡°I know. That¡¯s okay¡­ I can wait.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t. Life¡¯s too short. Take what you can get.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve waited my whole life for you¡­ what¡¯s a little longer?¡± He kisses my head again, and moves away, leaning against the cabs on the other side. ¡°How about chocte chip?¡± I ask flipping the topic as I hop off the counter. ¡°No baking, Hailey. Is that clear?¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± I pause, wobbling on my feet. Flickers of my past invade reality, teleporting me back and forth between Dad¡¯s Ohio kitchen and this one. Carter¡¯s features morph from his own to Alex¡¯s, then back. Over and over until I¡¯m swaying on my feet. ¡°No baking, Hailey,¡±Alex huffs, snatching his jacket off the chair.¡°Just fucking stop already. I don¡¯t give a fuck about the cookies.¡± ¡°But they¡¯re your favorite. Just try one.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this. I need to go.¡± He storms out and I flinch when the door ms. Pinching my lips together I ward off the iing tears, ncing around the kitchen. It¡¯s a mess. I¡¯ve been rushing to bake these cookies on time, thinking he¡¯d stay a little longer. Just ten minutes, but no. He never stays¡­ ¡°Hailey,¡± Carter¡¯s voice cuts through. I stumble back, almost tripping over my legs when I connect with the fridge. ¡°Sorry, I¡­¡± I don¡¯t finish the sentence. I¡¯m not even sure what I want to say, so I walk around him, rushing upstairs to my bedroom. Deep breaths, deep breaths, I chant in my mind, shaking the stiffness off my hands as I pace the room. The door opens less than thirty secondster and Carter stalks in, his broad shoulders squared back. He takes three long strides, dragging me into his arms. ¡°Do you understand?¡± he asks. ¡°Yes, no baking.¡± ¡°Do you understandwhyI don¡¯t want you to bake?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. I try inching away so I can look into his eyes, but he doesn¡¯t let me. Instead, he fills his big hands with my hips and hauls me across the room to sit on the bed. I straddle him, gettingfortable. Everything inside me starts tingling. He doesn¡¯t like my baking, but he¡¯s here¡­ he didn¡¯t leave. He¡¯s not ignoring me. ¡°Are you afraid I¡¯ll slip something in the cookies to kill you all and make a run for it?¡± His eyes pop, then crinkle when a genuine smile lights up his handsome face. I love when he smiles. It always makes the blood sing in my ears. ¡°No, pretty girl. There¡¯s nothing in this house you could poison us with.¡± He lifts one hand to brush my hair over my ear, then ghosts his fingers down my cheek. I lean into his touch like a puppy seekingfort. ¡°Then why? I promise my brownies are nice.¡± ¡°I bet they¡¯re nice, but I don¡¯t want you to bake because you¡¯re doing it for the wrong reasons.¡± I grip his t-shirt, anchoring myself in ce so he can¡¯t push me away. ¡°I wanted to do something nice for you.¡± ¡°Exactly. You got up at six to bake because you think you need to earn my attention. I read your texts with Alex. You did that with him all the time.¡± I swallow the bitter pill of another privacy invasion. There¡¯s no point getting worked up over it. Given how long he¡¯s been lying to me, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s done much worse than just read my texts. ¡°I wanted him to stay,¡± I say, staring at my index finger curling around the drawstrings of his sweats. ¡°I thought that if I made something he liked, he¡¯d find a few minutes for me¡­ but he never did.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to work for my attention. It¡¯s on you all the time. I¡¯m here. I listen, okay?¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t want me. Not the way you used to.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing I want more, pretty girl. You have no idea how much restraint it costs not to barge in here every time you y with yourself when you know I¡¯m watching.¡± He traces my bottom lip with his thumb, eyes like molten steel. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Because you don¡¯t trust me. You still think I¡¯m using you. You think I¡¯ll leave you behind once I have the evidence.¡± ¡°You will,¡± I whisper, my fingers climbing his chiseled chest, tracing the contour of his muscles there, then around his neck. ¡°But that¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll take what I can get now.¡± He blinks his eyes as if my words are hurting him. ¡°This is my fault. You didn¡¯t doubt me until I gave you a reason.¡± He presses his lips to my forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll fix it.¡± He sounds so genuine¡­ he holds me like I¡¯m the most precious thing in the world, but¡­ Alex was the same when he wanted something, perfect when he had an agenda. The rare asions I refused to let him touch me, he showered me with affection until I was no longer useful. And Carter¡¯s already proved he has an agenda. He could¡¯ve told me the truth at any point. He could¡¯ve been honest, but he chose to lie, even though he knows that I love him. He might have feelings for me, but they were born from necessity. He only got close to me because he was ordered to. He earned my trust to infiltrate my mind. He¡¯s doing the same thing right now. He¡¯s lost my trust, and thinks if he doesn¡¯t earn it back I won¡¯t tell him where the evidence is¡ªif I ever remember. ¡°You don¡¯t have to fix anything,¡± I whisper. ¡°If you want to do one thing for me, then please¡­ stop pretending, okay? I don¡¯texpect any derations. You¡¯ll find out what you need to know as soon as ites back to me.¡± He grits his teeth, frustration evident in his dark eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not pretending, Hailey. I want you and I¡¯m not leaving. I¡¯m not letting you go.¡± ¡°If you want me¡­¡± I run my fingers back down to his hard abs. ¡°Take me.¡± ¡°No. I want you to give in to me because you know I¡¯m not using you, not because you think we only have a few weeks left together and you¡¯re making the best out of a bad situation.¡± He stamps another kiss on my head. ¡°No baking, Hailey. Not unless it¡¯s to bringyoujoy.¡± He lifts me off, setting me down beside him, and gets up, heading toward the door. ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay here with Koby,¡± I blurt out. ¡°Can I pleasee with you?¡± ¡°You areing with me.¡± My eyes grow wider. ¡°But¡­ you said I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Things changed. My father¡¯s moving faster than I anticipated. I won¡¯t risk leaving you here without me. I also won¡¯t risk taking you to the bank unless we can¡¯t ess the deposit box without you, but you¡¯reing to Chicago. Pack a dress, we¡¯re going out tonight.¡± ¡°Out? Outwhere?¡± ¡°Delta. I¡¯m meeting Dante there, and you¡¯reing with me.¡± ¡°Is that safe?¡± He smirks, holding my bedroom door open. ¡°Delta¡¯s already a fortress but we¡¯ll double the security. I¡¯ll make it safe, Hailey. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 27 Deltasmells like peaches. As soon as the elevator opens onto the balcony, the heat fans my skin. It¡¯s¡­ an experience. I don¡¯t remember ever being in a club before, so my head turns left and right so quick my neck hurts. Strobe lights cut across the enormous room and berry-scented smoke filles the air. Music shakes the ce, the bass so potent it vibrates the floor. People dance everywhere, euphoric, lost in their own world. I recognize ¡°Daisy¡± by Ashnikko drowning out the crowd¡¯s conversations. Carter takes my hand,cing our fingers as he leads me in a straight line, his step never faltering. I watch, in awe of how smoothly the crowd parts for us. One look at Carter has people scrambling out of the way. Men and women alike watch his every move, a hint of respect, and thinly veiled fear, in their eyes. They watch me, too, focusing on my hand held firmly in Carter¡¯s. Their eyebrows lift. Shoulders nudge shoulders alerting others. I¡¯m cowering under the scrutiny, not used to being on disy, center of attention, but I can¡¯t hide. My palms grow mmy as I avoid eye-contact, taking in the mesmerizing, mostly red and chrome interior design. The aura of dominance and authority droning around Carter is more potent here. Or maybe seeing the respect and fear in the eyes of everyone here¡ªincluding men bulkier than him¡ªmakes me truly understand how important he is. How brutal, if the sight of him makes seven-foot-tall bodybuilders bow. Being on his arm is both empowering and intimidating. I¡¯m out of my depth, feeling smaller than a bee when we stop by arge round table nked by two half-moon, red leather couches. The attention of the group of elegantly dressed men sat there zeroes in on Carter and me. Chills slithers down my spine as I recognize the man at the center. Dante Carrow. I¡¯ve heard stories about him. Dad often said that putting Dante behind bars would be his biggest achievement. His dream and ultimate goal. I¡¯ve been hearing that name over the dinner table for years and yet here he is,manding the space around him without lifting a finger. I expected many things, but not this slight softness to his features. I thought he¡¯d be like Carter: all hard lines, dark looks, and an even more overpowering sense of danger. He¡¯s menacing, don¡¯t get me wrong. It¡¯s clear he¡¯s the boss. His posture, those calcting eyes, the reputation and authority hanging thickly in the air all betray him. He¡¯s the king at the table, but he doesn¡¯t look as menacing as Carter. Not half as vicious. ¡°That¡¯s Dante,¡± Carter begins, pointing toward his boss, then continues around the table. ¡°Rookie, Jackson, Nate.¡± He leans down to speak in my ear. ¡°The others are below us. You don¡¯t need their names. They¡¯re just here to keep you safe.¡± I nod once, swallowing hard as my eyes return to Dante. ¡°I¡¯m Hailey,¡± I say, injecting as much confidence into my tone as possible. ¡°We know who you are,¡± a man Carter didn¡¯t introduce says, toying with a ss of whiskey. He has no neck and a pink nose, as if the drink sloshing close to the rim isn¡¯t his first tonight. Not even his tenth. ¡°Forgetting the rules already, Gabriel?¡± Carter clips, pinning him with a pointed stare. ¡°You¡¯re at the table tonight, but you¡¯re not here to socialize. You don¡¯t speak unless spoken to. Was Hailey talking to you?¡± He cowers, shoulders slumping as he shakes his head. ¡°Then keep your mouthshut.¡± ¡°There, there,¡± Rookie tuts, an amused smirk curling his lips. ¡°You¡¯re scaring her more than him, Carter. Rx.¡± He moves his eyes to me. ¡°What do you drink, Hailey?¡± ¡°She¡¯ll have a mojito with me,¡± a female voice chirps behind us and I spin to see a beautiful woman three steps away. Her long, brown hair is thrown over one shoulder, lips stained deep red, body hugged by an elegant, short ck dress. ¡°That¡¯s La,¡± Carter tells me. ¡°Oh, hey, I¡ª¡± I don¡¯t finish because she struts across, pulling me into a tight hug. ¡°I¡¯ve been dying to meet you,¡± she says, beaming at me. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re all dancing downstairs.¡± ¡°Thank you, but¡ª¡± ¡°Not tonight,¡± Carter cuts in, protectively wrapping his arm around my waist. There¡¯s nowhere I¡¯d rather be than this close to him. ¡°She¡¯s all yours next time.¡± ¡°Oh don¡¯t be such a buzzkill. I¡¯ll keep an eye on her.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t force it, Star,¡± Dantemands. It¡¯s an order, but softer than I¡¯d expect from a man of his reputation. I guess he doesn¡¯t boss his wife around like he would other people.¡°Hailey¡¯s staying here with the extra security, and you could use a break. You¡¯ve been dancing for forty minutes.¡± She pinches her lips, little torches burning in her eyes before she blinks them away. ¡°Fine.¡± As soon as she sits down, Carter ushers me along to sit between him and Rookie. Broadway, Koby, and Ryder take the opposite couch just as a waitress stops by. Her skimpy outfit leaves little to the imagination. It¡¯s just a white bra and a matching microskirt so short her thong shows when she moves. ¡°Get us a round of the usual, and¡­¡± Dante spares me a nce, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ll try the mojito, thank you.¡± ¡°You heard her. A round of lemonades, too.¡± The waitress nods, scribbling the order on a notepad as she scurries away toward a long bar. She¡¯s back five minutester, with another waitress, both carrying trays full of drinks. They set the sses by their respective owners, leaving another six in the middle. ¡°Ten minutes,¡± Dante announces. Draping one arm over La¡¯s shoulder, he pulls her closer to kiss her temple. ¡°Don¡¯t try dragging Hailey downstairs while we¡¯re gone.¡± I immediately turn to Carter, my insides tying into knots. ¡°Gone?¡± I mouth. ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be in the office at the back. Dante needs a rundown of how things will y out tomorrow before he approves it. Koby¡¯s staying with you.¡± The cold dread filling my stomach is irrational at best, but I can¡¯t do anything about it. Since rescuing me from ze¡¯s mansion, Carter¡¯s been around all the time. Even when he wasn¡¯t in the same room, I felt safe because of the security systems, but here¡­ we¡¯re in a club at the heart of Chicago. Despite the precautions Carter¡¯s had put in ce, I dread being without him. I don¡¯t feel safe when he¡¯s not around. I grab the mojito, dousing the rising panic. I¡¯m sick and tired of feeling like prey, like someone might jump out of the shadows and put a gun to my head or whisk me back to ze¡¯s mansion. I doubt I¡¯d avoid being raped this time. He wouldn¡¯t stop his men throwing me under the rug¡­ not after Carter murdered half of them. If he gets his hands on me again, I¡¯ll pay. I scan the huge club, checking how many bodyguards are around and whether there are any cameras. Quite a few blink high up the walls. That¡¯s reassuring. At least four big, statue-like men surround the VIP area, and two more stand by the metal staircase leading downstairs. Six. There¡¯s another six at the table plus Koby and however many bouncers are downstairs. That¡¯s a lot of men. More than got me out of ze¡¯s mansion, but I¡¯d rather be at the safe house than here. Carter catches my chin, turning my head his way. ¡°You¡¯re safe,¡± he insists. ¡°There aren¡¯t many men stupid enough to raid Dante¡¯s club. Rhett knows he wouldn¡¯t get out alive. We¡¯ve doubled the security in here, and there are twelve men outside. Koby¡¯s staying, and so are they.¡± He nods toward the men he didn¡¯t bother introducing. ¡°La¡¯s here, Hailey. Dante wouldn¡¯t leave her if he thought the security could fail.¡± That doesn¡¯t make me feel better. I get what he¡¯s implying¡ªif someone did raid this ce, it would put La in danger too, even if no one¡¯s directly after her, but the truth is I¡¯m the one Rhett¡¯s enemies want, not La. I bet no one would dare touch Dante Carrow¡¯s wife. She¡¯s safe even without a bodyguard. ¡°Hailey,¡± Carter tuts, regaining my attention. ¡°You might not trust me with your heart, but I expect you to trust me with your safety. ¡°I do, but¡ª¡± ¡°There¡¯s nobut. I wouldn¡¯t leave you hereif I wasn¡¯t certain you¡¯d be safe for half an hour without me.¡± He brings my face closer. Close enough that his lips touch the tip of my nose,sending pleasant shivers down my spine. ¡°I lost you once, pretty girl. Never again.¡± He lets go and I clutch the half-empty mojito ss with both hands, doing my best to stop fretting. I¡¯m overreacting. I know I am, but the girl who watched in that ballroom as the others got beaten and raped can¡¯t shake the fear. I¡¯m blowing this out of proportion, scared to end up with a psychopath less altruistic than ze. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Dante asks Carter.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . They sit arm-in-arm, and, thanks to the ss separating the club from the VIP area, the music isn¡¯t as loud here, making normal-level conversations easy to follow. ¡°She¡¯s worried,¡± Carter says. Dante leans out to get a better look at me, his bright-green eyes boring into mine. There¡¯s no hostility there but knowing what he represents makes my stomach churn. Funny that I don¡¯t feel intimidated by Carter even though he looks much more sinister. ¡°We¡¯ll be right behind that wall,¡± he says, pointing to where a bouncer I haven¡¯t noticed stands like a statue. ¡°Every inch of this ce is under strict surveince, and the feed goes straight into my office. If anything happens, we¡¯ll know before you do.¡± He pauses, narrowing his eyes slightly. ¡°Would it make you feel better if the security up here was tighter?¡± ¡°No, I¡­ I¡¯ll be okay. I¡¯m overreacting.¡± He smirks, ncing at Carter. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s get the meeting over and done with.¡± As soon as he stands, his men follow suit. Save for Carter, Koby, and the six nameless guys, everyone¡¯s on their feet. ¡°I won¡¯t be long,¡± Carter tells me, his thumb drawing small circles on my thigh. ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on you.¡± With that, he gets up and leaves. I watch him follow Dante behind a pair of ck doors. As soon Carter¡¯s out of sight, I let out a shaky breath, calming myself down. Koby sends me a reassuring smile, diving back into a conversation with a man on his left as six women approach, all visibly out of breath. They take a seat while La introduces me asCarter¡¯s girl. She raises her mojito, urging me to do the same while the women¡¯s eyes drill holes in my face. ¡°So,¡± one of them asks, pointing between me and the door Carter disappeared behind. ¡°How long has this been going on?¡± ¡°None of your goddamn business, Pam,¡± Koby seethes. ¡°Why so touchy?¡± She twirls. ¡°Given those puppy eyes, I think she should know not to get her hopes up. Save for the main trio¡­¡± She pinches her red lips together, pointing to La and two other girls, ¡°¡­we were all in your shoes at one point, so a friendly heads-up: Carter changes his toys as often as the clip in his gun.¡± Koby¡¯s opening his mouth to say something, but I shoot him a pointed stare. I don¡¯t know how often Dante¡¯s men change their girls, but it¡¯s clear that at least themain triois here to stay. I doubtI¡¯mhere to stay¡­ but on the off chance Carter means what he says, I can¡¯t let anyone walk all over me or I¡¯ll never garner any respect. ¡°You call a quick fuck being in her shoes?¡± La asks, one eyebrow raised. ¡°When haveyoubeen here on Carter¡¯s arm? I don¡¯t recall him ever bringing a girl to the table and I¡¯ve known him for eight years, Pam.¡± ¡°Potato, potato,¡± a girl sitting arm-in-arm with Pam says. ¡°Enjoy it while you can, but don¡¯t think you¡¯re special or that you¡¯ll hold his interest. None of us ever could.¡± ¡°Maybe that¡¯s the difference between us,¡± I muse, swirling the mint leaves in my ss with my straw. ¡°You try too hard.¡± Her cheeks grow red, making her a few points more gorgeous. They¡¯re all beautiful. Not a scar between them on their smooth skins. They dress better than I do, showing off more, confident in their bodies, but I don¡¯t let that faze me. ¡°We¡¯re on the same team here, sweetie,¡± Pam says, leaning across the table in an attempt to intimidate me. ¡°We¡¯re just trying to help. Carter gets bored quickly. He might¡¯ve brought you here tonight, but you¡¯re just a diversion. He¡¯s been gone three months, you know? You¡¯re here to distract everyone from asking where he was.¡± A smile breaks across my face as I lift the mojito, taking a slow, deliberate sip, the rum coursing through my veins making me brave. ¡°He was with me.¡± ¡°Hailey,¡± Koby pipes in. ¡°Careful.¡± ¡°He was withyou?¡± Pam spits out, disbelief shining in her eyes. ¡°Doingwhat?¡± ¡°I believe that information is way above your pay grade.¡± Anger gushes through her so fast I have a feeling she might rip all my hair out. ¡°Time for you to go downstairs,¡± Koby tells her. It¡¯s not a request, and it¡¯s not treated as one when she nonchntly turns her head, rising to her stilettoes, hips swaying the second she clears the narrow space between table and couch. ¡°Are youing, Hailey?¡± La asks, setting her empty ss on a tray in the middle of the table. ¡°No, thank you. Have fun.¡± She sends me what could be construed as a reassuring smile. As soon as she¡¯s up, she levels her step with Pam. ¡°That bitch can¡¯t keep her tongue in check to save her fucking life,¡± a man beside Koby snaps. ¡°And yet you¡¯re still screwing her,¡± another of them, Gabriel I think, answers. ¡°You know she has her eye on a different prize. She¡¯s just using you,¡± ¡°Yeah, but she fucks like a pro, man.¡± I hide my cringe behind the ss, tipping back what¡¯s left. They keep talking and the other men join in, changing subjects for twenty minutes while I steal nces at the door Carter¡¯s behind, hoping I can telepathically summon him out here. The second mojito tastes more like juice than alcohol, and before I know it, I¡¯m finishing thest of it, setting my ss in the middle the same way La did. ¡°I won¡¯t say you can¡¯t have another, Hailey,¡± Koby mutters, leaning over so he doesn¡¯t have to raise his voice. ¡°But we¡¯ve spent a lot of time togethertely, and we both know you can¡¯t handle the liquor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just one more, okay?¡± ¡°Like I said, I won¡¯t tell youno.¡± ¡°Could you tell me where the bathroom is?¡± He immediately stands. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll show you. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t follow you inside.¡± I think I¡¯m more worried that he won¡¯t than I would be if he did. People part for him like they did for Carter, the same respect shining in their eyes. I guess Dante¡¯s men all evoke a certain vor of fear in everyone around. Just knowing who they are does the trick. I doubt the average Joe would dare get in their bad books. ¡°I¡¯ll wait here,¡± Koby tells me, stopping at the bottom of the stairs and pointing to a door twenty feet away. The restroom is quieter than the main floor, the music muffled, the lights bright. It¡¯s not as crowded as I expected, a few stalls stand empty. I slip into the closest, bolting the door. Water flushes in the adjacent stall, girls giggle and chat, doors open and close, bursts of loud music leak through. ¡°You better get a grip before you really annoy La, and Dante gets involved,¡± someone says on my right. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Pam¡¯s melodic voice answers. Great. I¡¯m stuck here until they leave. ¡°Yeah, peachy. Too bad you haven¡¯t shut up about Hailey for half an hour.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t get what Carter sees in her. And what the hell did she mean he was with her for three months?!¡± ¡°God, stop already,¡± the other girl whines. ¡°You¡¯ve been barking up that tree for fucking ever. He doesn¡¯t want you.¡± ¡°He did.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ you fuckedonce. In his car. And I seem to remember you had to beg for weeks.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a bitch, you know that?¡± Pam makes a disgruntled noise at the back of her throat. ¡°Whatever. He¡¯ll kick her to the curb sooner rather thanter.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t count on it, but if it stops you moping, then sure, let¡¯s say that.¡± A moment of silence rings in my ears. There are other women in here, but the restroom is silent, as if everyone is engrossed in this conversation. ¡°No way he¡¯s serious about her. He¡¯s never fucking serious. He doesn¡¯t date them. Ever. I mean,e on, save for La, Luna, and Jean, he¡¯s fucked every girl at the table. Including you.¡± Fuck this. I¡¯ve heard enough. Yanking my panties up, I flush the toilet, and burst out of the cubicle, catching Pam¡¯s wide eyes in the mirrors. She visibly pales. ¡°I¡­ shit, I didn¡¯t realize you were in there.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stop on my ount. It¡¯s quite entertaining listening to you whine about my man.¡± Her lips open and close, a fish hooked out of water. I wash my hands, buzzing like a thundercloud charged with lightning. How dare she? No. How darehe? I storm out of the restroom, stewing, fucking pissed off that Carter brought me here for his harem to use as their punching bag all evening. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Koby asks as I march past him to climb the metal staircase. ¡°Nothing.¡± He grips my wrist, holding me on the first step and looks over his shoulder as Pam exits, her face bright pink. ¡°What did she tell you?¡± ¡°Koby, I¡¯m fine. Annoyed, sure. A little confused why Carter brought me here to hang out with his hookups, hell yes, but otherwisefine. I guess I shouldn¡¯t be all that surprised.¡± Azy sort of ire burns his eyes as he throws his arm round my shoulders. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you a virgin mojito.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 28 Koby risks losing his fucking arm if he keeps it around my girl¡¯s shoulders any longer. I watch him take her to the upstairs bar, my teeth scraping against each other. It¡¯s new, this jealousy. New, irrational, and uncontainable. I trust him. I trust her even more but she¡¯smine. Only I get to touch her. Broadway catches my eye from across the room, one eyebrow raised, a contemtive look tainting his face as he checks the screens, noticing why I¡¯ve tensed up. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± he mouths, motioning toward the table so I¡¯ll get my head back in the game. We¡¯re almost done here, the n for tomorrow set in stone and Dante¡¯s approval for the bank raid granted. No guns unless we¡¯re held at gunpoint. No force unless it¡¯s ourst resort. Jackson¡¯s researched the establishment through and through, so we know their particr line of business. We also know the bank owner wouldn¡¯t take such tant disrespectlightly. He has branches all over the States and deals mostly with the high rollers from the criminal world. Also,bankis used very loosely here. It¡¯s not really a bank, more like a high-security vault and moneyundering scheme. ¡°What time are you setting off?¡± Dante asks me, butting his cigar in the ashtray. ¡°Around noon.¡± ¡°I assume you¡¯ll stay with me while you¡¯re in town?¡± ¡°Preferably.¡± The safe house is no longer safe. Rhett¡¯s sending a few scouts out there tomorrow to check if it is where he thinks. For now, he¡¯s busy nning his ambush, but word we¡¯re in Chicago will reach him soon. I could draft in an army of men to make my loft secure, but if I¡¯m not with Hailey, I want her under Dante¡¯s wings. Rhett won¡¯t bring a war to his doorstep. ¡°Good.¡± Dante smirks, sloshing his whiskey ss. ¡°La already instructed the staff to prepare the guest house for you and Hailey. I know it¡¯s not the kind of privacy you have in mind after the safe house, but you¡¯ll make it work.¡± He looks to Broadway and Ryder. ¡°We¡¯ve had the spare bedrooms in the main house made ready for you two and Koby as well.¡± ¡°Stopping at your loft on the way here wasn¡¯t smart,¡± Jackson pipes in. ¡°You¡¯re lucky Rhett¡¯s too single-minded to set up surveince outside.¡± He¡¯s not wrong, but we took the necessary precautions. ¡°Ryder wired my ce years ago and hacked into the city surveince before we left. We monitor it daily. It¡¯s good.¡± ¡°For now,¡± Nate drawls. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate a desperate man, Carter. Sloppiness doesn¡¯t be you. Now you¡¯ve brought Hailey here, it¡¯s only a matter of hours before Rhett knows she¡¯s in Chicago.¡± ¡°Which is why we have everyone on high alert and the mansion secured with more men than necessary,¡± Dante says, pinning me with a pointed stare. ¡°She¡¯ll be safe while you¡¯re gone. You have my word.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I can ask for. The trip shouldn¡¯t take more than ten, twelve hours tops and Koby¡¯s sitting this one out.¡± Dante cocks an eyebrow, the unvoiced question clear as day. ¡°Everything she knows about you came from Vaughn,¡± I exin. ¡°She¡¯ll feel morefortable if Koby¡¯s with her.¡± My eyes swing to the screens, zeroing in on Hailey and Koby at the upstairs bar. He¡¯s not touching her anymore¡­ but they¡¯re not alone. Fuck. Pam¡¯s there with La, and thetter looks mighty pissed off, which never bodes well. ¡°Are we done here?¡± I ask, my attentionser-focused on the screen. Hailey doesn¡¯t seem rmed, neither does Koby, but La¡¯s bodynguage tells me something¡¯s off. Given Pam¡¯s love for confrontation and unrelenting willingness to spread her legs wide open for me, I can make an educated guess as to what¡¯s going on. ¡°Go.¡± Dante flicks his wrist, watching the screen along with me and everyone else in the room. ¡°Tell La toe see me.¡± I suppress a smile when his tone slips from the ever-present control he exudes around his men to unmistakable desire. He loses his fucking head when La¡¯s catty sidees out to y. Given how turned on I get by Hailey¡¯s defiance, I can rte. I bet the boss won¡¯t be joining us for a drink until he fucks that attitude out of his wife. We leave Dante alone in his office and my feet carry me quickly to the bar. Koby catches my eye, a warning in that look, though it¡¯s hard to guess what he¡¯s warning me about. ¡°It was uncalled for,¡± Pam mumbles, nervously twisting her fingers. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Her eyes flicker to me when I stop beside Hailey. ¡°Carter¡­ I¡ª¡± ¡°Zip it,¡± I clip, then flick my eyes to La. ¡°Dante wants to see you in his office.¡± A smile tugs her lips, the reason behind being summoned as clear to her as it is to me. ¡°Next time, take the trash out before inviting your girlfriend to the table,¡± she announces, with the cheekiest smirk, then saunters away, the rhythm of her clicking heels fading into the music sting all around. I turn to Hailey, perfectly aware Pam¡¯s still here, fuming at La¡¯sment. ¡°What happened, pretty girl?¡± I expect that liquor filling of hers to take center stage. A dozen retorts to her possible scathing quips form in my head, but Hailey doesn¡¯t say a word. She takes a step forward, grabs the cor of my shirt, and yanks me down, her soft lips connecting with mine.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. I pause for what must only be a second, but wars could be fought and lost in that time. One is. The war between what I¡¯m desperate for¡ªHailey¡¯s lips¡ªand what I should do¡ªpush her away. The war starts, ends, and I seize the moment, thrusting my tongue inside her sweet mouth, both hands snapping around her to drag her closer. I¡¯ve been denying myself those perfect lips for weeks. I¡¯d still deny myself if it weren¡¯t that pushing Hailey away right now, while Pam¡¯s watching, would create more problems than it would solve. Hailey¡¯s marking her territory, as possessive as I am. Fuck that¡¯s hot. I bite her lower lip, swallowing her soft gasp, half-oblivious to the onlookers. Half-blind to our surroundings, focused solely on my girl melting in my arms. God, I¡¯ve missed her so fucking much. I could do this for hours and not quench my craving. Dipping her head down, she ends the kiss, mischief shining in her eyes as she answers my question. How does she remember? I haven¡¯t the slightest fucking clue what I wanted to know. ¡°Nothing much. Pam¡¯s apologizing for¡ª¡± She halts, one eyebrow raised and little torches swimming in her eyes when Pamtches onto my arm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Carter. I didn¡¯t mean to spill the tea, but in my defense, I did it with good intentions, you know? I was looking out for her.¡± Hailey res at Pam¡¯s long nails wrinkling my shirt, her whole demeanor changing from somewhat rxed tobat-ready. And the domineering look on her gorgeous face¡­ that pure territoriality makes my cock swell. She might not trust me, but she sure as fuck loves me. ¡°Let go,¡± I seethe at Pam. ¡°Let go of me before my girl drags you away by your shitty extensions.¡± Koby swallows a snort, hiding his grin behind a half-full ss of whiskey. I forgot he was here. Pam steps back, hands falling to her sides. She looks ready to add something, exin more, but for once she thinks better of it and retreats. ¡°La¡¯s right, Boss,¡± Koby says, pping his hand on my shoulder. ¡°You didn¡¯t think this through. Good job Hailey knows what she¡¯s worth, or you¡¯d be in trouble.¡± He leaves us alone, following Pam back to our table, and I grab Hailey¡¯s waist, dragging her closer. The lust burning herfrom inside out a moment ago is gone, reced with a seething annoyance. ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡± she clips, her fighting spirit hissing away with every word. She¡¯s desperately trying not to let her insecurities take center stage but they¡¯re pulling her under fast. ¡°You know what? Never mind.¡± She storms off, leaving me with a litany of curses pouring out of my lips. Every day she takes tiny steps further and further away from the effects of Alex¡¯s grooming. She¡¯s growing more confident and realizes she¡¯s worth so much more than he led her to believe. She¡¯s still not out of the woods though, and it¡¯s my fault those insecurities raised their ugly heads tonight. Pam and the other women at the table¡ªall staring right at me¡ªdidn¡¯t even enter my mind when I decided to bring Hailey here. They¡¯re so insignificant I don¡¯t think about them at all. This time, I should¡¯ve. I catch up with her as she slides into her seat, arm-in-arm with Broadway, ring straight ahead. Words won¡¯t fix anything, so instead of dragging her out of here to apologize, I point my finger at Pam. ¡°You.¡± She cocks an eyebrow when I move around the table, singling out the other mistakes I made over the years. ¡°You, you, and you too. Get the fuck out.¡± The collective gasp that fills the air brings a smile to Hailey¡¯s face. She¡¯s still pissed off, understandably, but she¡¯s also pleased with how things are turning out¡­ and that pettiness on her pretty face makes my hard-cock situation even worse. My knee bounces as I sit, torn between leaving right now and letting Hailey cool off first. Before I finish my drink and make my mind up, La emerges from Dante¡¯s office, cheeks flushed and eyes glossy from however many orgasms Dante wrung out of her back there. Lucky fucker. ¡°Come on, Hailey,¡± she says, holding out a manicured hand to my girl. ¡°Let¡¯s have a drink at the bar.¡± Looks like we¡¯re staying a while longer. Saving Hailey: Chapter 29 The ride back fromDeltapasses in silence. Hailey stares out the tinted window, watching the convoy of cars escorting us back here, but doesn¡¯t utter a single word. She still doesn¡¯t speak to me when we enter Dante¡¯s guest house. It¡¯s bigger than my loft, with a huge open n living space downstairs and a master bedroomplete with en suite and walk-in wardrobe upstairs. I¡¯d hoped she¡¯d have stopped fuming by now, but she¡¯s still going strong as she kicks her heels aside, stomping across the kitchen to open the fridge. I set the rm and close the blinds, jutting my chin at the men stationed outside. Koby, Broadway, and Ryder have gone to the main house with our hosts for a few drinks. Hailey pulls out a bottle of water and leans against the cabs, scanning the modern space. She¡¯s purposefully avoiding my gaze, a stormy cloud hanging over her head. I¡¯mtired of this. Mainly because I can¡¯t fuck her to douse the fire burning her from the inside out. Enough is enough. I cross the room, grip her waist and haul her onto the ind, my fistsnding on both sides of her hips. ¡°Go on,¡± I encourage. ¡°Give it to me. What did Pam say that pissed you off this much?¡± She pinches her lips, catching herself before rolling her eyes. I can tell she wants to, though¡ªshe wants to punish me with a raging cock. As if I haven¡¯t spent most of the past two hours willing my boner away every time I nce at Hailey¡¯s annoyed face. Her piss-poor attitude is as much of a turn-on as the eye-rolls. ¡°That you fucked half the girls at the table,¡± she spits out. ¡°And that none of them could hold your interest no matter what they did, so there¡¯s no chance I will.¡± ¡°And what did you tell her?¡± She shrugs, feigning nonchnce, but her chin tips up an inch, telling me she¡¯s proud of herself. ¡°That she tries too hard.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡± I smile, moving my hands onto her hips. She swats them away, still not appeased. ¡°Hailey, you had my attention when you looked up at that window after stepping out of your dad¡¯s car at Lakeside. I was there, watching you. I haven¡¯t stopped since. You don¡¯t have to do anything to hold my interest. You¡¯re fucking fascinating even when you sleep.¡± ¡°Even if that¡¯s true, I just metfourofyour sex dolls.¡± ¡°Exsex dolls.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± She pushes me away, vaulting down from the ind. ¡°I can¡¯t change my past, Hailey.¡± ¡°I know!¡± ¡°Then why are you so mad?¡± She spins on the sole of her bare foot, jabbing a finger at me.¡°Turn it around. Would you be pleased if you were cornered by four men I¡¯d slept with?¡± She¡¯s slept withno onebut me andit¡¯s a goddamn godsend because imagininganyouching her the way I do, seeing here, hearing her moans stirs fucking hell in my brain. I wouldn¡¯t put it past me to track down the motherfuckers and break their necks. ¡°I¡¯d be pissed off, but I¡¯d take it out on them, not you.I wouldn¡¯t make you feel like shit for having a life before you stumbled into mine,¡± I grit out, losing my patience. ¡°What did you expect? That I¡¯ve never had sex? It¡¯s called apastfor a reason. I¡¯m with you now. I can¡¯t change who I was and I sure as fuck won¡¯t apologize.¡± ¡°I know you have a past! But that doesn¡¯t give you the right to rub it in my face!¡± She storms away, climbing the staircase to the mezzanine. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to. I didn¡¯t fucking think,¡± I say, watching her hips sway with every step. ¡°Hailey¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± she snaps. ¡°Just¡­ ugh!¡± She enters the bedroom, her footsteps echoing one way, then back again as she leans over the railing, throwing me a pillow. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping on the couch.¡± Iugh. Not because it¡¯s funny. It¡¯s not, although given I was taking the couch anyway, it is a bit amusing. It¡¯s also fucking infuriating but Iugh because Ilovehow domesticated this feels. Like a husband and wife.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Too bad she can¡¯t read my mind the way I do hers, and takes it the wrong way, her cheeks growing red as she disappears back into the bedroom. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s good or bad that she still doesn¡¯t trust me. I¡¯d fucking lose it if I could feel her skin against mine right now. She¡¯d writhe beneath me,ing so many times she¡¯d losecount. I¡¯d work the anger out of her one bone-melting orgasm at a time. Sex douses the inferno of a fight like ice-cold water. My imagination runs on autopilot. I imagine gripping her by the waist and tossing her onto the bed. I¡¯d hook my thumbs over the stic of her panties¡ªbeige today¡ªand inch them tantalizingly down her legs beforetching onto her pussy. Fuck¡­ I can almost taste the sweetness of her wet clit. I¡¯d drive her as crazy as she drives me and only when she begged for release would I let here. Once, twice, and again, and again. I snap out of the daydream, snatching up the pillow to take the stairs two at a time, barging into the bedroom five secondster. Hailey sits on the bed, arms crossed over her chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I put you through that,¡± I say, crouching before her, both hands firmly on her soft, warm knees. ¡°It was my mistake. I promise it won¡¯t happen again.¡± She gives me nothing. Not so much as a scowl. It¡¯s like talking to a brick wall. I¡¯m ovee with love for this girl. Why the fuck can¡¯t she see that she¡¯s my focus point? That I don¡¯t want anything or anyone more than I want and need her? She turns her head the other way, giving me the silent treatment. I¡¯m done. I grip her chin, forcing her eyes onto me. Her lips part in silent rm, but a hint of lust glints in her blues, so I don¡¯t disengage. ¡°Listen to me and listen good because we won¡¯t ever talk about the life I led before you.Nothingbefore you matters so we¡¯re putting this to rest. Regardless of what Pam said, you should be the most confident woman at that table. Yeah, I fucked her, I fucked all of them, but that doesn¡¯t mean shit. They were just fleeting moments, blips on the radar. They were in my bed,not my life, Hailey. You¡¯re part of my life, fuck, youaremy life. You¡¯re mine whether you trust me or not. You¡¯remineand I¡¯m never letting you go. Is that clear?¡± She swallows hard, eyes wide as she gives me a small nod. ¡°Good girl.¡± I pinch her chin, pulling her in for a kiss. Just a peck. Hard and intense, enough to hopefully get my point across. ¡°I love you.¡± She stops breathing, blinking twice as the fight hisses out of her and I realize I¡¯ve never said it out loud. The tattoo on my chest was a manifestation of my love, but those three words never left my lips. And she deserves to hear them every single day. ¡°I love you more than you could ever imagine.¡± I nudge her nose with mine, lowering my voice to a whisper. ¡°You¡¯re my entire fucking world.¡± She¡¯s stunned beyond belief, staring at me as if I grew a second head, and God¡­ I hope I struck a chord. I hope once I leave she¡¯ll spend the night thinking about what could be. I grab the pillow I brought up, shoving it under my arm, and rise to my feet. ¡°Goodnight, pretty girl.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 30 I love youhas been echoing in my head for almost two hours, keeping me wide awake. Not even the crispy clean sheets smelling of fresh linen can lull me into sleep. I¡¯m thinking, overthinking, and dissecting every moment Carter and I have spent together since the day he knocked me off my feet in the cafeteria. Both literally and figuratively. The bitter taste of his lies has faded bit by bit every day since he rescued me from Noretto¡¯s mansion. Every lingering look and touch, every word, promise, and truth brings me a step closer to that trust he wants so badly, but nothing¡¯s hit me as hard as this evening. Carter didn¡¯t need to take me with him tonight. He could¡¯ve dumped me off at this guest house. He could¡¯ve delegated some men to keep an eye on me, God knows he and Dante have enough to spare between them, but instead, he bolstered the already strict security inDeltabecause he wanted me close. Wanted me at his side. He didn¡¯t have to show me off as his, hold my hand, or soothe my worries. He didn¡¯t have to send Pam and her giggling friends scuttling away with their tails between their legs. And he didn¡¯t have to say he loves me. I would¡¯ve given him the evidence regardless. He knows it, yet he keeps proving I mean more to him than anyone else. Kicking theforter aside, I get up, silently crossing the room. Broadway, Koby, and Ryder came over minutes after Carter went back downstairs. Their voices grow louder as I soundlessly descend the stairs, stopping at the bottom. My knees are week, but my mind is made. It¡¯s almost two in the morning, yet the guys don¡¯t look like they¡¯re done for the night, chatting over a bottle of Bourbon, a pile of documents littering the coffee table. ¡°Um¡­ sorry to interrupt.¡± I squirm when their heads whip toward me. Carter¡¯s eyes narrow as he takes me in. He told me not to parade around unless I was decent and I¡¯m sure the same rule applies here, but putting onyers would defeat the purpose of my trip downstairs. His men immediately find something other than me to look at when they notice I¡¯m in my night dress. Carter gets up, lips in a thin line. I know his reactions off by heart. He¡¯s annoyed that his men can see me dressed like this but he¡¯s also turned on by the sight. ¡°What is it?¡± he asks, a greedy sparkle in his dark irises. He takes measured steps toward me, using the bulk of his frame to screen me off. I almost feel guilty that this is his go-to reaction to me these days. Like all he wants, all he¡¯s waiting for, is my order¡­ no matter my whim, he¡¯s ready to amodate it, starved for thoserare moments when I want something from him so he can prove I can count on him. That I can trust him. ¡°What do you need, pretty girl?¡± He stops so close I have to tilt my head back. My entire body tingles when he crowds me like this. I love his tall, muscr frame, the greedy, feral look crossing his face, how safe and precious I feel when he¡¯s close. He wants me to trust him and¡­ I do. He¡¯se clean about the lies, answered every question I¡¯ve posed, gone above and beyond to show me how much I mean to him, and that my safety is his utmost priority. It took me a while, but tonight I finally understand that the heaviness which has been cinching my chest for weeks is neither a broken heart nor a broken trust¡­ it¡¯s the pain of fighting a battle I lost a long time ago. ¡°Hailey¡­¡± he emphasizes, crowding me further. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°You. Itrustyou and Ineedyou.¡± There¡¯s enough intent in my words that he can¡¯t have any reason to doubt them. He¡¯s alwaysposed. Ruthless and calcted. Alwaysmanding the room, but right now he¡¯s emanating a raw vulnerability I¡¯ve never seen before. He sucks in a sharp breath, momentarily losing his iron control and¡­ He¡¯s on me. His soft, familiar lips crush into mine, snatching the breath out of my chest when I get my first real taste of him in weeks. I could tell he was holding back inDelta. Not anymore. Now I¡¯m getting all of Carter¡¯s psychotically territorial, possessive glory. No inhibitions. His big hands grasp handfuls of my thighs as he scoops me off the floor into his arms, every move urgent like he worries I¡¯ll change my mind. Butterflies take off in my stomach, syncing with the tremor passing through him when my arms wrap round his neck and my legs surround his hips. He sucks my bottom lip, catching it between his teeth, and pulls slowly, breaking the kiss long enough to bark, ¡°Get.Out,¡± over his shoulder. iming my mouth again, he ignores the flurry of movement behind his back and pins me against the wall left of the stairs. ¡°Call us when it¡¯s safe toe back,¡± Broadway says, as three pairs of heavy boots thunder over the hardwood floor. ¡°That¡¯s if you still want to go over the n for the hundredth time.¡± His steps falter at the threshold as he opens the door. ¡°Have fun, kids,¡± he adds, amusement clear in his tone. ¡°Don¡¯t break the bed!¡± I barely register the meaning of his words because Carter¡¯s squeezing my ass, his tongue tangling with mine. ¡°Ten bucks says they won¡¯t even make it to bed.¡± Ryder¡¯sugh is cut short by the door closing behind them. As soon as the lock clicks, Carter breaks the kiss, resting his forehead on mine, our chests heaving. I bask in the heat radiating off his toned body, soaking up the feelings he evokes. He doesn¡¯t say a word, just holds me close, eyes closed, lips parted as he inhales a long breath. I scrape my nails along the back of his neck, every muscle there wound up tight. ¡°Will we?¡± I whisper, drawing small circles at his hairline. ¡°Make it to bed¡­?¡± He¡¯s quiet for a long beat, the thump of his heart against mine filled with vitality as he leans into me while his long fingers sink into my thighs. ¡°We will.¡± He breaks his silence. ¡°Eventually. Fuck, baby¡­ I knew I missed you, but I didn¡¯t realize just how fucking much.¡± ¡°I missed you more.¡± He looks at me, dark irises almostpletely swallowed by blown pupils. ¡°Say you trust me. Say you know I won¡¯t leave you.Ever.¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°I know and I trust you.¡± ¡°Finally.¡± Another tremor passes through him, tension hissing out of his muscles. ¡°What¡¯s my name, Hailey?¡± I move one hand to ghost the line of his jaw while the other tangles in his short hair. It¡¯s a simple touch. Nothing special, but I can feel how much it affects him. Every brush of my fingers along his scalp raises goosebumps in the crook of his neck. ¡°Please, baby¡­¡± he whispers. ¡°Say my name.¡± ¡°Carter.¡± ¡°Fuck¡­¡± He seals my lips, sucking the lower one into his mouth along with a trembling breath. ¡°Again. Say it again.¡± ¡°Carter,¡± I whisper. ¡°Take me to bed. I need you.¡± As if it¡¯s a magic spell, he pulls us away from the wall, and starts climbing the stairs, every step to the top more rushed. Our lips work in breathless sync as he stalks blindly toward the bedroom. My stomach twists into pleasant knots. I¡¯m slick between my thighs and I¡¯m not wearing any panties. I think he feels that, because he pushes me against the wall before we¡¯ve reached the door. One hand supports me while the other glides along the inside of my thighs, his lips still on mine, working in a desperate tempo that rekindles the fire burning us both from the inside out. A low groan ricochets off the walls when his fingers swipe between my pussy lips, putting enough pressure to make my nerve endings sparkle with pleasure. ¡°So wet,¡± he grits out, the hard bulge in his boxers pulsing against my thigh. ¡°I need to remind myself how you look when youe for me.¡± ¡°Yes, please,¡± I mewl when he pushes a fingertip inside. Just past the first knuckle, but it¡¯s enough to make me clench around it, flooding his hand with arousal. He gently finds my G spot, ying it like an instrument. I¡¯ve missed this so much. I¡¯ve missed having his warm body this close, the way his muscles ripple down his abdomen and flex on his arms, making the ink dance along his skin. He takes his time, the tempo excruciatingly slow but oh so perfect. He coaxes my orgasm to the surface, dipping his head to shower my neck with small, biting kisses. He savors every moment like he has all the time in the world. Like all he wants is to watch me fall apart in his arms in this exact position forever so he can watch my face. He only holds me with one hand, my ankles crossed over his back, barely any space between us, just enough that he can keep moving his finger inside me. Slowly, he adds another, exactly the way I love. His ring finger joins his index one, and he moves them in the same torturous, delicious tempo, bending both in e heremotion to tease my G spot. ¡°Gorgeous,¡± he rasps, his dark eyes never leaving my face, the word a hungry growl. ¡°You¡¯re close, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°So close,¡± I moan, my nails digging into his shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t. Don¡¯t think, just feel.¡± The pleasure stacks up, tightening my stomach muscles. My moans fill the guest house, but I can¡¯t control the volume. I can¡¯t control the way my hips writhe, craving a little more friction. I have no leverage. I¡¯m wrapped around him like poison ivy. He holds me pinned against the wall, so I usehimfor leverage, jutting my hips enough to take his fingers deeper. ¡°God, you¡¯re fucking breathtaking, Hailey. Where¡¯s my orgasm? Don¡¯t hold back.¡± Any and all words I could say melt into incoherence when he takes half a step forward. His chest touches mine, and he hardly has any space left to work his long, calloused fingers into me. ¡°There, right there,¡± he coos, squeezing my ass with the hand he¡¯s holding me off the ground with. ¡°Come, Hailey. Show me how good it feels when you¡¯re with me. Show me how pretty you are when can¡¯t control yourself.¡± Everything inside me boils to unbearable levels. I can¡¯t contain the pleasure frying my nerve endings and don¡¯t try. I want everything Carter can give me. I want him closer, his fingers deeper. I want him inside me right fucking now, but neither of us are going anywhere until Ie. The orgasm hits, winding me tighter and tighter until my vision blurs and the moans I¡¯ve never been able to hold at bay spill from my lips without filter. ¡°That¡¯s it, that¡¯s it¡­ good girl, ride it out.¡± The back of my head hits the wall. My lips part, eyes close, and I quiver in his arms, the orgasm stripping all my firewalls. It renders me speechless, stealing my breath for a few delirious seconds while ck spots dance across my eyelids. It¡¯s been too long. Not one of the orgasms I gave myself while I knew he was watching me in the control room downstairs had half the potency of this one. Carter knows how to y my body. He knows what I need and how to elevate the high. He slowly drags his fingers from between my legs to pop them both into his mouth, licking them clean as he holds my gaze. It¡¯s so fucking hot seeing how much he loves my taste. Seeing the longing in his eyes and knowing he missed me so much he can¡¯t wait to dive between my legs for a feast. I¡¯m mellow. So boneless my arms can barely hold onto him. It doesn¡¯t matter. I could gopletely ck and he¡¯d keep mein position, never letting me drop. It¡¯s one of the things I adore about Carter. His strength, height, build. He¡¯s a predator. Now I know his chosen line of work, I realize he truly is lethal. A weapon sculpted from hard muscles, no inhibitions, and a ruthless streak he only ever tames for me. ¡°I guess Ryder won ten bucks,¡± I mutter when we finally enter the bedroom. ¡°He¡¯ll never know.¡± He drops me on the bed, my back hitting the mattress with a delicate bounce. His muscles shuffle as he takes a knee, hooking my thighs in his elbows. In one hard tug, he yanks me to the edge, letting his warm breath fan the most sensitive parts of my skin. His soft lips pepper my inner thighs, a low growl filling the room when his nose brushes the strip of hair at the apex. ¡°I always loved your blonde hair here,¡± he admits, inhaling a deep breath. ¡°You smell divine, Hailey. Delicious.¡± He tears a gasp from my mouth, finding my entrance with the t of his tongue. Slowly, he drags it up, licking a path to my clit. ¡°You taste even better than I remembered,¡± he tuts, pulling me even closer so my ass half hangs off the bed. I have nowhere to rest my legs other than over his shoulders. I do just that, my thighs framing his face when he flicks my clit with the tip of his tongue, teasing. His hands move up, pushing my night dress higher to reveal my boobs. As soon as his big hands find the hard peaks of my nipples, Carter¡¯s measured control snaps. The hungry, greedy beast I know so well finds a way out. He sucks me into his mouth, ying both breasts in time with the precise, thorough licks that send me hurtling toward another orgasm faster than his fingers did in the hallway. God, this man fucks like sin. His gun-wielding skills have nothing on his mouth. I doubt any other man could get me to the brink this fast. And he knows exactly how to touch me and keep me right here, perched on the edge, bncing a tightrope, waiting, almost ready to beg for a little extra, just a little more, so the orgasm will hit. It¡¯s a good thing he told his men to leave or they¡¯d be in for quite the symphony of moans and gasps. Though I¡¯d be lying if I said I don¡¯t miss Carter¡¯s hand covering my mouth, muffling the sounds. ¡°So close,¡± I mewl, my back arching off the soft mattress, my hands fisting the sheets so hard my fingers are stiff. ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± A low groan vibrates his chest, the sound so erotic it¡¯s almost enough to make mee. Almost, but not quite. Seeing that he¡¯s not giving me enough, I brace against the bed, working my hips to press my pussy further into his mouth, demanding he gives me what I need. Demanding the orgasm that¡¯s so close I can almost taste it. I twist myself into an impossible angle for the best position to ride his face. It does the trick. Holding his head between my thighs, I grind into his tongue, getting the pressure I needed, and I tip myself over,ing with his name on my lips. ¡°Shameless,¡± Carter tuts, his lips curling into a smile against my clit. ¡°Next time, you¡¯ll sit on my face and ride me just like that.¡± He grasps my thighs, holding me in ce while my spine bows off the bed so hard it almost makes a U. He licks me right through the release, every long stroke of his tongue driving me half incoherent. I¡¯m oversensitive, delirious. Absolutely mellow. ¡°So damned sweet,¡± he murmurs, unhooking my legs. He rises from his kneeling position and scoops me further up the bed, his dark, hungry eyes roving my body. I love when he watches me like he can¡¯t decide what he wants to do with me first. Taking his time, and giving me a moment to catch my breath, he slowly unbuttons his shirt, showing off the pane of hard muscles rippling underneath. ck tattoos dance across his chest, ribs, and abdomen, curling around his arms and neck. He¡¯s a masterpiece, this man¡­mymasterpiece. The white shirt hits the floor. Carter flicks the button on his ck pants, then slides the zipper. I watch his every move until all his clothes are gone, the steel-like monster between his legs standing to attention. The mattress dips under his knee as he climbs over me. ¡°You can sayno,¡± he says, probably worried about my head after everything I witnessed at Noretto¡¯s mansion. He sits on his calves, his cock leaking precum. ¡°No matter how far we¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± I clip, my fingers scraping up his thighs. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I want you so you better show me how much you missed me.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 31 Hailey licks her lips, staring at me with a hunger that¡¯s baffling given the two orgasms she¡¯s just had. My turn. I fall forward, bracing on both elbows so I don¡¯t crush her into the mattress. My lips find hers and I slip my tongue inside, still starving for her. It¡¯s been too fucking long and I may never be able to sate this hunger. I suck her bottom lip, then, with a thrust of my hips, I all-out bite. Holding onto the brakes is almost impossible, but after weeks of celibacy, Hailey once again feels like the first time. Way too tight to take me. A moan flies past her lips and I swallow it up, groaning once I¡¯m balls-deep inside her. ¡°So fucking warm,¡± I rasp, holding in position. ¡°Tell me you missed this, Hailey.¡± ¡°More than you¡¯ll ever know.¡± I rise on my elbows, watching her pretty, flushed face, roving every inch and memorizing the way she looks when she¡¯s full of me. Her blonde locks flirt with her flushed cheeks, hooded eyes stare into mine, swollen lips glisten as her tongue darts out. There¡¯s no sign of pain in her heated gaze, but I don¡¯t let myself look away as I pull out of her slowly. ¡°I¡¯m not fragile,¡± she whispers, wrapping her arms around my neck to haul me down. ¡°Crush me.¡± I smirk, letting her feel a little more of my weight. She¡¯s loved this since the start: being held captive under the bulk of my body, skin on skin. ¡°You¡¯re not fragile,¡± I agree. ¡°That petite body hides more strength than should be possible, but that won¡¯t stop me making sure you¡¯refortable, pretty girl. It¡¯s been a while.¡± Dragging her hands down my back, she stops low and digs her fingers into my ass cheeks, urging me to move. ¡°Greedy little thing,¡± I tut, giving her exactly what she demands. ¡°You want to feel me between your legs all day tomorrow, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Move, Carter. Please.¡± Just like it did downstairs, my heart skips a fucking beat when my name leaves her lips. I¡¯ve waited months to hear her say that. She refused to use it at the safe house so when she finally called meCarterI damn near had a coronary. I cover her lips with mine, loosening my self-imposed leash a touch. Our tongues dance together, growing greedier with every second. Along with the heated kiss, grows the tempo of my hips rocking back and forth. Hailey matches my moves, touching wherever she can reach, desperate for more. I let my cock drag over her G spot on every thrust, holding her thighs pinned to the mattress so she stays wide open for me. A mist of sweat covers my back while I fight the orgasm that¡¯s been simmering by the surface since the hallway, when my finger first entered her pussy. ¡°More,¡± she mewls, tangling her fingers in my short hair. I up the tempo. The sound of our flesh pping together mixes with Hailey¡¯s gasps and my heavy, hastened breaths, spurring me on. ¡°Fuck¡­¡± I grit out, gripping the back of her neck to hold her head in ce, eyes on mine as I m into her harder. ¡°It¡¯s been too long. You feel fucking divine, Hailey.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. I find the perfect tempo, one that drives her incoherent and lets mest a little longer than I normally would after such a break. We¡¯ll spend the rest of the night making up for lost time, but I¡¯m not ready for this moment to end. ¡°You drove me crazy when I watched you touching yourself on the cameras.¡± She smiles through the ecstasy. ¡°I imagined you were the one touching me.¡± So did I. ¡°It took everything in me not to storm into your bedroom and sit you on my face so you could ride me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she moans, her eyes closing, hinting she¡¯s not far offing undone. ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± I grip her calves, pushing her knees up to her chest. ¡°Fuck,¡± I heave, the space between her legs even tighter in this position. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize. I hated it as much as I loved it.¡± My muscles burn with the effort it takes to hold my orgasm in check. Bit by bit, the pace of my thrusts increases, and I grip Hailey¡¯s throat, making a ne with my fingers. ¡°You need toe, pretty girl. As much as I want this tost until morning, I haven¡¯t fucked you in forever and you feel too fucking good.¡± I squeeze even harder, hard enough that her face flushes bright red and her eyes roll back into her head. ¡°Three,¡± I grunt,my hips rocking faster as I dip my head to lick her bottom lip before sucking it into my mouth and biting gently. ¡°Two. Don¡¯t fight it.¡± I lift her head off the pillow, touching my forehead to hers, every sound from her lips fueling my fire. ¡°One. Let go. Come, Hailey. Fuckinge for me.¡± Her back bows, tense like a guitar string, and the orgasm ms into her, so potent that her tremors pulsate through me. ¡°Beautiful,¡± I huff, prolonging the unrelenting tempo as I fuck her through the release. ¡°So fucking beautiful. Open your eyes, pretty girl. Watch me.¡± She does, even though it seems to cost her immense effort while she¡¯s stilling undone in my arms. Those pretty blues pierce my eyes for a moment, then look down as I yank my cock out of her. My fingers flex in her hair, the other hand wrapping around the hilt, and I pump fast, my orgasm tingling at the base of my spine for a few intense seconds before it explodes like an H bomb. I¡¯ve fucked my hand countless times since I rescued Hailey from Noretto¡¯s. As satisfying as those orgasms were, none canpare to this one. And nothing canpare to the high I feel watching silver ribbons of my cum spatter Hailey¡¯s stomach and breasts. The guttural moans tearing from my lips can¡¯t be silenced. I don¡¯t even try because it¡¯s clear as day Hailey loves hearing me as much as I love hearing her. Her teeth sink into her bottom lip in a disy of raw awe as she watches me drain my load until there¡¯s nothing left and my empty cock ps against my tummy. ¡°Mine,¡± I grunt, brushing my lips against hers. ¡°Say it, pretty girl. Say you¡¯re mine.¡± ¡°Only if you¡¯re mine.¡± ¡°Now and always.¡± I slip my tongue inside her mouth, reveling in her familiar taste. We¡¯ve kissed before. We kissed five minutes ago, but right now, I¡¯m not rushing. Unlike those greedy, needful kisses, this kiss has nothing to do with forey. Weeks of demanding hunger have been temporarily sated and all that¡¯s left are emotions and feelings. Hailey matches the slow rhythm as if she has nothing better to do, nothing she¡¯dratherdo than memorize every corner of my mouth. I can rte. There¡¯s nowhere I¡¯d rather be than this close to her. Cradling the back of her neck I let her feel the weight of my body. We¡¯re both covered in a mist of sweat and my cum by the time I inch away, brushing a few locks of her hair back. ¡°I¡¯m yours,¡± she whispers, stamping the cutest little kiss on the tip of my nose. ¡°And you¡¯re mine. I¡¯m sorry it took me so long to believe you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry I gave you reasons to doubt me. I won¡¯t make that mistake again.¡± ¡°Good because you gave me your heart, Carter. I¡¯m not giving it back.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t take it if you begged. I missed you, pretty girl.¡± A small smile curves her lips. ¡°I missed you more, but I don¡¯t think I can go again tonight.¡± She braces both palms against my chest, hinting that she wants me to get off her. ¡°You can call your men back.¡± I chuckle, moving toy beside her. ¡°They¡¯re not waiting until we¡¯re done. They¡¯re probably asleep by now.¡± ¡°So no one¡¯s keeping an eye on the guest house?¡± ¡°You think I¡¯d take that risk? Dante has men stationed outside.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ good. If we can¡¯t go back to the safe house, where will we go after your bank visit?¡± She tries gracefully hopping out of bed, but I keep her in ce and get up to fetch a washcloth from the en suite. ¡°If the evidence is there, we¡¯ll move to my ce.¡± I spread her legs, wiping her pussy first. ¡°If not, Dante has other safehouses. We¡¯ll have to move around a lot until you remember where the files are.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we¡¯ll have to figure out a way to keep me quiet. We can¡¯t kick your men out every time I need you.¡± ¡°They do what I tell them, Hailey.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware, but I¡¯d rather they didn¡¯t know what we¡¯re doing when we¡¯re doing it.¡± ¡°They¡¯re big boys. They¡¯ll know I¡¯m inside you whenever I¡¯m not with them.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 32 ¡°Five more minutes,¡± I mutter, kissing Carter¡¯s neck while he gently wakes me. ¡°I need to be on the road soon.¡± He pushes his hand under the duvet, swiping two fingers between my pussy lips. My mouth parts against his neck when he slowly dips one finger inside, testing how wet I am. ¡°I need a shower,¡± I mutter. ¡°Come with me?¡± He retreats his hand, his shoulders squaring. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. It¡¯s too soon.¡± It takes me a moment to understand what he¡¯s getting at. An unwanted memory of Darius¡¯s hands exploring my body makes me shudder. ¡°Is that why you pushed me away when I ambushed you at the safe house?¡± He smirks, grazing his lips over my ear. ¡°I would¡¯ve pushed you away no matter where you ambushed me. Even if you¡¯d said you trust me back then, I wouldn¡¯t fuck you in the shower.¡± ¡°You should.¡± He cocks an eyebrow, waiting for an exnation. I might be taking this too far, but whatever. He¡¯s the only person I trust with my unfiltered thoughts. I rise on one elbow, examining the frown creasing his forehead. ¡°What are you thinking, pretty girl?¡± ¡°I¡­ I want you to erase what Darius did to me.¡± His teeth clench while he processes my request. Either he¡¯s bracing to let me down easy, or he¡¯s wondering how to get it done without triggering my trauma. Either way, he¡¯s staring into the distance, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. ¡°I don¡¯t want thest memory I have of¡ª¡± ¡°Shh,¡± he tuts, sitting up. ¡°I¡¯ll fuck that memory right out of your pretty head if that¡¯s what you need.¡± I give him a small smile, leaning in for a quick peck. It doesn¡¯t end there¡­ He catches my lips with his, slipping his tongue inside my mouth, one hand cinching my nape to hold me in ce. I love when he does this. I love every ounce of the possessiveness he pours into his kiss. And I love when he¡¯s like this¡­so territorial and dominating. He forces me to submit and take what he offers. There¡¯s something undeniably freeing about surrendering control, even if my control is tiny inparison to his. He moves away with an arrogant smirk because he knows I¡¯ll move with him, starved for more. Drunk and high on his taste, addicted to the feelings he evokes, and the safe cocoon he weaves around me. I climb onto hisp, my hands cupping his face, thumbs brushing the soft skin under his eyes while he fills his hands with my hips, drawing me closer. ¡°Good girl,¡± he whispers, skimming his lips along my jaw and lower. ¡°Such a good fucking girl when you obey.¡± I whimper, tangling my fingers in his hair. My back bows when he dips his head to suck my nipple. Grazing his teeth along the peak, he sucks harder, toying with the other breast. ¡°Remember the rules, Hailey. Use your safe word if you want to stop.¡± A nod is all he gets. I¡¯m lost in the moment, focused solely on the heat of his touch. He takes his time, driving me crazy, like he wants to clear my head until there¡¯s nothing there but him and the orgasm he can give me. Like he wants me to barely register anything aside from him, his lips, his hands, and the gravelly sound of his voice. It works. I¡¯m aware of him hauling me into his arms, but I¡¯m more focused on his lips sketching lines along my neck and sucking a soft spot to make a hickey than the fact he¡¯s carrying me across the room. I¡¯m more focused on his heavy breaths and guttural grunts, than him pushing me against the bathroom wall. The water starts running, the noise like a distant soundtrack to the fire burning within me. He inches away, his dark eyes roving me from head to toe. ¡°So fucking beautiful,¡± he grunts, tiptoeing his fingers through the valley between my breasts, the other hand holding my chin. He slides his thumb into my lips, challenging me to suck while his other hand reaches my clit. I didn¡¯t think Carter touching me in the shower would trigger me¡ªbut I was wrong. Darius hijacks my mind out of nowhere. The sleazy look in his eyes, his calloused hand between my legs, the other pinning my wrists above my head¡­ My mind riots and the next sound leaving my lips is far from a breathless moan. ¡°No, Hailey,¡± Carter grits out, his tone firm, his forehead dropping onto mine. ¡°Don¡¯t go back there. Look at me.¡± I force my eyes open, staring into the abyss of his dark irises. The longer I study the adoration and determination painting his face, the more my fear subsides into calm. ¡°That¡¯s it, focus on me and how good you feel.¡± He steps closer, my candy-hard nipples brushing against his sternum with every erratic breath. He takes my lips in a slow, erotic kiss, and slips his hand lower, circling my entrance with two fingers. And Darius steals me again. I go rigid, bracing for the intrusion, reality mixing with the past and threatening to copse around me. ¡°Hailey,¡± Carter emphasizes, his forehead returning to mine. ¡°It¡¯s me. It¡¯s me touching you. I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± ¡°I know, I just¡­ I¡¯m okay, please don¡¯t stop.¡± ¡°Eyes on me.¡± He crowds me further and I crane my neck to meet his gaze. ¡°Whose are you, pretty girl?¡± he asks, dipping two fingers inside me. A moan flies past my lips, broken at the end by a whimper when the past momentarily invades the present. I grip Carter¡¯s biceps, holding on for dear life, and focus on the red lines tattooed across his chest. Slowly, he works his fingers deeper, curling them to stroke my G spot. Everything inside me coils to unbearable levels when he does it again, faster and faster, his chest heaving against mine, the warm water trickling down our bodies. My spine arches off the tiles, but I don¡¯t dare close my eyes. I keep them wide open, grounding myself in the present the only way that works: by staring at his tattoo. The permanent proof he loves me and wants to spend his forever with me.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Whose are you, Hailey?¡± he grunts, dragging his hand up my side. ¡°Say my name.¡± ¡°Carter. Don¡¯t stop.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± He covers my mouth with his palm. There¡¯s no need for that. No one¡¯s here save for us, but it¡¯s one more detail that feels familiar and keeps me in the present, with him. He powers his fingers deeper, faster, toys with my G spot like it¡¯s a button that only works when pushed with a secretbination of touches. ¡°Look at you,¡± he whispers in my ear. ¡°You¡¯re mine. Fucking perfect. Where¡¯s my orgasm? Close, isn¡¯t it?¡± I nod, half-limp against him. My legs tremble so hard I can barely keep myself upright. ¡°Three,¡± he tuts, pressing his whole body into me, his hard cock imprinted against my belly. ¡°Two¡­ you bettere for me.¡± Just like he did at Lakeside, he swaps his fingers, using his ring and index to fuck me, and the middle one to circle my back entrance. ¡°One, Hailey. Let go.¡± My body tenses like a piano wire, pure pleasure seizing my muscles. One more thrust and I¡¯ming. Dark spots dance before my eyes and fireworks skitter across my nerve endings as Carter sinks into my mouth, swallowing every sound I make. ¡°That¡¯s my good girl,¡± he whispers, slowly pulling his fingers out. Holding my gaze, he lifts them to his lips. My stomach cramps as I watch him lick me off him, savoring the taste like he¡¯s sampling the finest wine. He scoots me into his arms, urging me to wrap my legs around his waist, and pins me against the wall again, using one hand to guide his cock inside me. He doesn¡¯t wait for my reaction, sinking balls-deep in a long, slow, measured thrust. I feel every inch, the intensity of that stroke bordering on too much. I don¡¯t know how he does it, but it¡¯s the most divine sensation when he stretches me slowly, bottoming out with a low growl, his fingers flexing round my thighs. ¡°That¡¯s so good,¡± I murmur, staring into his dark eyes. He does it again¡­ pulls out oh so slowly and sinks back inside with enough force to tip my world sideways. He¡¯s not rushing, but somehow he makes every thrust so intense I can barely take it. I dig my nails into his shoulders, using him as leverage to lift myself higher. Enough to reach his lips and slip my tongue into his mouth, tasting him in sync with his cock sinking inside me. ¡°Oh God,¡± I mewl when he moves one hand to toy with the other hole. ¡°You promised me this, Hailey. I¡¯ll hold you to it. Not today, but soon.¡± He circles the ring of muscles, slowly easing his thumb inside. A fit of shivers makes me spasm and I can¡¯t hope to control the sounds leaving my lips. I cling to him, my lips drawing lines in the crook of his shoulder and neck. I nip his ear next, but nothing gets me the reaction I crave. He makes me lose my sanity with the faintest touch and I want him to lose his¡­ but his control never wavers. I hate that I can¡¯t give him the same high he gives me every time he¡¯s close. I want him crawling out of his skin, so turned on he can¡¯t think straight. There¡¯s only one way to make that happen. And I¡¯m done letting him talk me out of it. ¡°Stop,¡± I pant. Even though he¡¯s only supposed to stop when I sayapple, he freezes. He¡¯s still deep inside me, his thumb in my ass past the first knuckle, but he stops moving. His heart thumps faster, dark eyes searching mine. ¡°What is it?¡± he asks, nudging my nose with his. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing, I just¡­¡± I wiggle until he gets the hint and lets me stand. ¡°My turn,¡± I add before I sink to my knees, taking him in one hand. ¡°Hailey,¡± he grunts, a clear warningced through the order in his tone. ¡°No.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not enjoying it, if I¡¯m hurting you, or if you¡¯re ufortable, sayapple,¡± I instruct, working my hand up and down his hard cock. ¡°But if you¡¯re worried about my head¡­stop. I won¡¯t push myself further than I can go.¡± He stares at me, lips parted, fire burning in his eyes. Dark, wet hair falls onto his forehead, sending trickles of water down his handsome face. All hard lines and ruthless attitude. He makes my blood sing when he stares at me like I¡¯m being bad and he can¡¯t decide whether he loves that attitude or his hand needs to teach me how to be his good girl. I purposely twist my hand at the tip the way he liked when we yed in the shower at Lakeside, racing to get the other off faster. ¡°I want this,¡± I add because the battle raging inside him is nowhere near over. ¡°Please¡­ let me.¡± ¡°Fuck, Hailey¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t deny me,¡± I plead, looking up at him. ¡°Unlessyoudon¡¯t want my lips around you¡­¡± He¡¯s silent, staring me down and I squirm under his burning gaze, waiting for permission. While it¡¯s me with the traumatic memories, Carter¡¯s the one who has to agree. He has as much right to consent as I do. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re ready for this?¡± he asks, curling one finger under my chin so he can see my eyes clearly. ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± He heaves a long breath, his eyes darkening further. ¡°Okay. Give me your hand.¡± A small frown creases my forehead. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you won¡¯t be able to sayapplewhen your mouth¡¯s full. Hold my hand all the time. If you feel ufortable, if you don¡¯t like it, let go and I¡¯ll stop. Is that clear?¡± I nod quickly. ¡°Donotpush your boundaries, Hailey. The second you¡¯re ufortable, let go.¡± ¡°I promise.¡± He traces his thumb along my lip. ¡°Fuck¡­ you have no idea how gorgeous you look on your knees for me.¡± The praise ropes me into him more. Any doubts lurking in the depths of my subconscious disperse at the raw adoration radiating off him. ¡°Let me start,¡± I say, unsure if I¡¯m brave enough to hand over control right away. ¡°At your own pace,¡± he agrees. His eyes almost roll back when I move my hand down his length and scoot forward, my warm breath fanning his cock. Precum beads at the tip, the sight so sinfully erotic I¡¯m instantly slick between my legs. I may just have orgasmed but knowing how much having me on my knees turns him on is enough to make me quiver with anticipation. I clear my head of all distractions, focused on one goal: make Carter lose his mind the way I lose mine whenever he drops his mouth to my pussy. The man¡¯s not only a magician¡­ he also gets off on seeing me satisfied. I want that too. I want to be the reason he can¡¯t hold himself upright, the reason his knees buckle and his inhibitions fly out the window. Parting my lips, I stick my tongue out, licking the tip. Just the few drops of precum. His taste soaks my tongue, a little salty, but pleasant. Clean and fresh. Not like I remem¡ª Nope. Not going there. Desperate to draw a line between the past and the present, I take Carter in my mouth, sliding my lips as far as possible without triggering my gag reflex. ¡°Fuck,¡± he groans, gathering my hair back into a rough ponytail. ¡°Good girl, you¡¯re doing great.¡± He¡¯s loving this. I can tell by the goosebumps dotting his arms and his fingers flexing in my hair. Still, he¡¯s firmly in control and I won¡¯t have it. I want him so out of it he loses it entirely as he spills. Determined to witness the moment when his control snaps, I double my efforts. Pulling back, I swallow him down again, my cheeks hollow, teeth scraping the underside, one hand moving in sync with my lips, the other firmly in his grasp. I want to toy with his balls, but I know the moment I do, he¡¯ll yank his hips back and I won¡¯t be allowed to touch him again. ¡°Perfect,¡± Carter mutters, every next word lessprehensible, less audible. ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± Not a chance. Moving faster, I swallow him down further, so far the gag reflex sets in. It¡¯s minuscule andsts exactly as long as I allow so it doesn¡¯t bother me. In fact, I¡¯m spurred on by the sounds Carter makes whenever I take him a little deeper. His eyes bore into mine whenever I look up, checking the look on his face. It¡¯s pure filth. Raw, feralneed. Adoration like no other. I twist my hand to gather his balls every time I slide all the way back. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll ever take his whole length down my throat, but I don¡¯t think he minds. ¡°Hailey,¡± he rasps a momentter. ¡°Out, pretty girl.¡± I don¡¯t let him move. I want his taste coating my tongue as he spills, and I want to be the one who gets him off.Menot his hand. He gets the hint and stops fighting. I feel the moment the orgasm explodes at the base of his spine because hepletely stills before his inhibitions snap. He thrusts into my mouth, hips jerking without rhyme or rhythm while I milk him dry. He doesn¡¯t go deep. Every stroke is just about perfect, allowing me enough room to swallow as he empties on my tongue, my throat contracting along his cock. I¡¯m so proud I could float a few inches off the ground. The litany of guttural grunts, gasps, sharp inhales, and curses falling from Carter¡¯s lips makes me work that much harder for the few seconds it takes his orgasm to die down. I release him with a pop when he¡¯s done, his fingers slowly untangling from my wet hair. Wiping the corner of my lips with one finger, I look up, meeting his dark, satisfied eyes that sparkle like never before. ¡°I¡¯ll get better,¡± I say, rising to my feet. ¡°Give me time.¡± Instead of words, he takes my face in both hands to kiss me long and hard. It¡¯s not his usual restless, intentional forey kiss. This is more. So much more. Words without sound. Soothing, calming, loving. I wrap my arms around his neck, giving in to the kiss, almost melting in his arms. ¡°How are you doing?¡± he asks, his nose skimming mine. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± He moves his hand between my legs and pushes one finger inside me before his features rx. ¡°Wet. You got off on that, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°Good. Oral is supposed to be fun for both parties.¡± ¡°It was.¡± I smile, kissing his forehead. ¡°I¡¯ve been dying to see you lose control.¡± He smirks, gently patting my butt¡ªa silentmand to move away. ¡°I¡¯ll never lose control around you.¡± He grabs a bottle of hair shampoo and spins me around,thering a generous amount through my long locks. Darius did that too, but I don¡¯t care. He¡¯s just a distant, blurred memory, like a dream I had years ago. ¡°Which part did you enjoy?¡± Carter asks. ¡°Um¡­ the way you taste. And the look on your face when you came. And how you flexed your fingers in my hair.¡± I can¡¯t see his face, but I swear he¡¯s smiling. It¡¯s in that small puff of air he pushes down his nose: content amusement. Saving Hailey: Chapter 33 I stride into the high-rollers¡¯ bank in Columbus with Broadway by my side, our steps echoing throughout the elegant, marble space. Ryder¡¯s right behind us, lugging a small, sealed case holding the grotesque keys¡ªAlex¡¯s fingers and eyes. Broadway¡¯s been whining about the stench of decay since we picked up the case from the dedicated freezer in my loft. I had one installed when I sent my men on their mission to the graveyard. ¡°It¡¯s like they¡¯re rotting right here in my hands,¡±he muttered at least twenty times on our way here, holding the case in hisp for no apparent reason, his nose permanently wrinkled in disgust. The opulence of the bank is almost suffocating. Luxury drips from every detail, only the finest materials used to craft a hiding ce for the riches of the criminal world. The man behind the counter looks up when I stop before him, his practiced smile quickly morphing into unease. ¡°How may I help you today?¡± he asks in a polished tone. ¡°I¡¯d like to ess a deposit box.¡± ¡°What name is it?¡± ¡°Alex Fletcher.¡± Confusion flickers across his face. ¡°May I see some identification and the key, please?¡± With a grimace, Broadway sets the case on the tall counter and makes a show of holding his breath while he inserts the key. The case pops open with a hiss, a cloud of icy fog clearing quickly to reveal the contents. The man¡¯s face pales further the longer he stares at the two blue eyes staring right back. Surprisingly, his voice remains steady, betraying this isn¡¯t the first time he¡¯s had the doubtful pleasure of seeing body parts in metal cases. ¡°Protocol requires that I consult with the branch manager. Please, wait here.¡± Broadway snaps the case shut, green in the face as he inhales a sharp breath, quietlyining about the foul smell. The battery-operated chiller is on itsst legs after the three-hour drive from Chicago. I sure fucking hope the manager won¡¯t keep us waiting too long; Broadway will projectile vomit across the counter if he opens the case again and the contents havepletely defrosted. ¡°I have a feeling you wouldn¡¯t be kept waiting if you were boss here in Ohio, Carter,¡± Broadway says, carefully settling the suitcase on the floor, away from his delicate nose. He wipes his hands down his pants as if that¡¯ll magically clean them. ¡°With all the shit happeningtely, I think the idea¡¯s worth pondering.¡± ¡°Maybe, but it¡¯s neither the time, nor the ce.¡± The air thickens with tension while we wait. Two, five, ten minutes. My fingers tap a nervous beat against the marble, eyes sweeping the security cameras recording us from every angle. ¡°This has maybe twenty more minutes of battery life.¡± Broadway taps the case with his boot. ¡°It¡¯s not like the contents will be instantly useless the moment the battery runs out, but it will smell worse, so¡­¡± Ryder snickers seeing all the color drain from Broadway¡¯s face, even the green he sported for most of the ride here. ¡°The manager better hurry the fuck up,¡± he groans. ¡°I expected more resistance. Security guards with guns, or some thugs trying to push us out of here. This almost feels a little¡­anticlimactic. The guy didn¡¯t even ask for a death certificate! For all he knows, those eyes could belong to anyone.¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting way ahead of yourself,¡± I say. ¡°Instead of the manager, he mighte back with security.¡± ¡°Now thatwould be climactic.¡± ¡°You sound frustrated, Broadway. Have you considered gettingid?¡± Ryder pipes in, studying his nails. ¡°It helps.¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . He¡¯s about to add something else, but the receptionist returns, his face unreadable. ¡°Mr. Chen will see you in his office.¡± He taps the code for the ss security door, holding it open for us. ¡°Follow me.¡± We do, passing three sets of security doors before entering a carpeted hallway lined with ss walls. The receptionist stops abruptly, ushering us inside arge, modern office where an older man sits by his desk, staring right at me over the rims of his rectangr sses. I bet he¡¯s had a good look at me over the surveince system and, judging by the surprise marring his forehead, he¡¯s wondering where he knows me from. He stands, holding his hand out, his attention flickering between me and the case in Broadway¡¯s hand. ¡°Wee, Mr¡­?¡± ¡°Wird. Carter Wird.¡± Another flicker of recognition while we shake hands. Surely, he knows my father. I guess what¡¯s tripping him up is that Rhett Wird has a son. ¡°Tao Chen, I¡¯m the manager here. Please, take a seat.¡± He points to two chairs opposite him. Broadway immediately sets the case down, backing away to stand by the door with Ryder. ¡°I understand there¡¯s a request to ess Mr. Fletcher¡¯s deposit box. I must inform you we have unparalleled security. I¡¯d strongly advise against any¡­ drastic actions.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not here to cause trouble,¡± I assure him, though my fingers are itching to grab my Glock and dig the barrel into his temple. ¡°Fletcher¡¯s dead, but he left something important in his box and I¡¯d like to retrieve it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you, Mr. Wird.¡± There¡¯s the resistance Broadway wanted. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose Alex will have much use for it now so how about you tell me what it¡¯ll take to make this happen without any unnecessaryplications,¡± I insist. ¡°Holding a deposit box here isn¡¯t cheap,¡± I continue. ¡°A dead man won¡¯t pay any fees. I¡¯m sure if we made a big enough donation to your security fund we coulde to some arrangement about essing his box.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we understand each other, Mr. Wird. As generous as your offer sounds, I can¡¯t help you because there is no deposit box here under the name of Alex Fletcher.¡± Even though a part of me considered that scenario from the start, the confirmation and shattered possibility hits me like a physical blow, instantly deting the tension. My hands ball in and out of tight fists, anger simmering beneath the surface. I left Hailey in Chicago for nothing. While I trust Dante with my life, I hate not having Hailey close. Broadway swears loudly, distracting Chen for a split second before his attention turns back to me. ¡°Is that all?¡± he asks. I grind my teeth, staring him down, my hand slipping to the Glock hidden under my leather jacket. ¡°I assure you, Mr. Wird, I have no reason to lie. Here.¡± He turns hisputer screen my way. Beneath a search bar showingAlex Fletcheris a bold sentence stating there are no avable records. ¡°Check underHailey Vaughn,¡± I order. Chen pauses, then nods, turning the screen back around. His fingers poke at the keyboard so fucking slowly it makes me clench my teeth to stop from ripping it out of his hands and handing it to Ryder. It takes a few seconds at most, I¡¯m sure, but the wait is torturous, each secondsting a day. ¡°There¡¯s no deposit box underHaileyVaughn either.¡± The disappointment is a bitter pill, the lead weighing down my stomach a stark contrast to the adrenaline that¡¯s fueled me since Hailey¡¯s shback. The atmosphere shifts from tense anticipation to frustration. Even Broadway¡¯s whining¡¯s ceased, reced by silent, seething disappointment. Refusing to leave empty-handed, I pull an envelope stuffed with cash from my jacket and slide it across the table toward the manager. ¡°I want to see the security footage from August twenty-seventh, between nine and ten pm.¡± Chen cocks an eyebrow. ¡°Mr. Wird, our establishment closes at six pm, there would be no footage from¡ª¡± ¡°Who are you fooling? I know you operate after hours by appointment. Get me the footage.¡± A moment of silent standoff ensues, Chen quickly yields when he checks the envelope. ¡°Very well. Give me a minute.¡± I¡¯m perfectly aware I¡¯m grasping at straws right now, but I¡¯m not leaving any stones unturned. Chen leaves and the moment the door clicks shut, the control I¡¯ve been clinging to starts crumbling. ¡°Fuck,¡± Broadway mutters, breaking the silence. ¡°This was supposed to be it. The big lead. It made perfect sense. Why else would Alex stop one street over?¡± ¡°Obviously we got it wrong,¡± I mutter, massaging my temples, sick and fucking tired of this game. ¡°Let¡¯s see what Chenes back with. If there¡¯s any footage from that night, it could lead us somewhere.¡± ¡°And if there¡¯s nothing?¡± Broadway questions, his frustration mirroring mine. ¡°Then we pivot.¡± Like we¡¯ve been doing since the start. ¡°We go through everything we have, see if we missed anything that could point us in a new direction or trigger another memory from Hailey. The evidence issomewhere. If Rhett¡¯s right, she knows where. It didn¡¯t just disappear.¡± I clench my teeth, sick of the lies and secrets¡ªand Hailey¡¯s iplete memories. Everything boils down to her. She¡¯s a Queen on the chessboard, a key to this mess, a cage for my heart. I hate that she¡¯s the epicenter. And I fucking hate that she¡¯s three hours away from me. Koby¡¯s with her. Dante¡¯s there too, along with a dozen armed men, butIshould be keeping her safe. She¡¯s mine to protect. I¡¯d never have to leave her under someone else¡¯s protection again if only she¡¯d remember. If only these questions would stop multiplying. How the fuck did Rhett find out Alex was a cop? Why was Alex parked one street over from the bank? When did Alex tell Hailey about Aalyiah? Who told my sister she wasn¡¯t the only girl her boyfriend was involved with? Where was Hailey running when¡ª I halt, corralling my racing thoughts. The first time Hailey saw a gun firing, she also saw herself running through mud toward concrete streets. It had to be the same night she saw Rhett execute whoever it was. ¡°Ryder, I need¡ª¡± The door swings open, cutting me off mid-sentence. Chen returns with two heavily armed security guards, their presence a clear sign he¡¯s done ying nice. ¡°There you go, Mr. Wird, the security footage as requested. I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t find anything of interest, but I know you won¡¯t take my word for it.¡± He hands me a sh drive, his spine rigid, the door to the office still wide open. ¡°Now, I¡¯d appreciate if you¡¯d see yourself out.¡± My jaw clenches, anger and disappointment swirling in a potent mix. ¡°Thank you for your time,¡± I snap, motioning at my men. ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡± Not that we have much choice in the matter. The security guards escort us out, closing the heavy door behind us once we¡¯ve stepped into the biting evening air. We don¡¯t speak until we¡¯re back in the Range Rover and Broadway pulls away from the curb while Ryder loads the security footage. The whole time I¡¯m watching, hoping to see either Hailey or Alex, my mind invents a dozen new ways to proceed, each more desperate than thest. ¡°Nothing,¡± I clip, snapping theptop closed. ¡°Back to the drawing board. We need to check all our intel on Rhett, ze, Alex¡ªanyone who could lead us to the evidence. I want everyone X-rayed again. Vaughn too. Matthews, his daughter. Throw Apollo into the mix.¡± I run a hand down my face. ¡°Check Aalyiah, Babyface, the fucking nurse Rhett bribed at the hospital.Everyone.¡± I know most of those people don¡¯t matter, but I need to feel like we¡¯re fighting for an edge. It was easier to sit around andwait for Hailey to remember while my main goal was earning her trust. Now I have it, I want to stop hiding her. ¡ô¡ô¡ô Koby¡¯s pouting in the wingback chair when we arrive back at Dante¡¯s house. Its owner sits by the long bar that takes up the right wall of his living room, a drink in hand, a Glock beside him, narrowed eyes jumping between me, Broadway, and Ryder. Instead of firing off questions, he motions toward the leather couch. ¡°She fell asleep an hour ago.¡± Hailey¡¯s curled up under a fluffy nket she must¡¯ve dragged here from the guest house, her face nuzzled into a pillow. She didn¡¯t get much sleepst night, writhing under me and screaming the guest house down. ¡°How was the trip?¡± Koby asks, the bitterness in his voice betraying he¡¯s been bored out of his mind. ¡°Long and fucking pointless,¡± Broadway says, fetching a bottle of whiskey. ¡°No deposit boxes for Alex or Hailey, and nothing on the camera footage.¡± He makes everyone a drink, settling for water himself. Perks of being the designated driver. I tell Dante about the bank visit in more detail, then jump into an idea I had while Chen left to fetch the footage. I ask Ryder to pull up the map of Alex¡¯s journey on the night of the ident. ¡°We kept thinking Hailey was in the car with Alex the whole time and that he stopped here¡­¡± I point at theXnear the bank, ¡°to drop off the evidence, but¡­ what if he was on his own until he stopped here to pick up Hailey? What if the night she saw Rhett executing some poor fucker was the night of the ident? Shehad a shback about running through a muddy field.¡± I point out the warehouse and trail my finger back toward the bank. ¡°This is nothing but wastnd. She saw Rhett kill someone, called Alex to pick her up, then ran across the field.¡± ¡°Rhett sends Babyface after them at the same time,¡± Ryder says, the look on his face telling me his analytical mind¡¯sputing a thousand possibilities. ¡°Whoever he killed must¡¯ve told him about Alex being a cop.¡± ¡°He knew when he found Aalyiah earlier that day,¡± Broadway counters. ¡°Would he send his men after a cop without getting confirmation he is, in fact, a cop?¡± Koby muses, tapping his index finger against his cheek. ¡°If not, then maybe whoever he killed gave him that confirmation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s usible but¡­¡± Dante downs thest of his drink, deep in thought before he continues. ¡°How did Hailey find herself at the warehouse in the first ce?¡± That¡¯s a question I can¡¯t answer. ¡°Maybe they figured out Hailey was Alex¡¯s side piece and one of Rhett¡¯s men was bringing her in?¡± Ryder offers. ¡°That¡¯d mean Rhett knew she wasing. He wouldn¡¯t let her leave. Especially if she¡¯d seen him kill.¡± ¡°It¡¯d be helpful to knowwhohe killed,¡± Broadway says. ¡°That it would, but given the situation, he won¡¯t tell me shit if I ask. Letting him know I¡¯m onto him would paint an even bigger target on Hailey¡¯s back. The risk outweighs the reward. It¡¯s not worth it.¡± Checking the time on my wristwatch, I turn to wake Hailey and find her staring right at me, her blue eyes rested, chin touching the back of the couch. A soft blush creeps up her cheeks, but she pushes away her shyness as she sits up. ¡°I think I know how to trigger another memory.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 34 ¡°What kind of memory?¡± Carter asks, crouching before me, his hands moving to caress my thighs. It¡¯s crazy how much I crave him. Whenever he¡¯s close, my heart stutters, my blood runs a fever, and my mind fills with an image of him hovering over me in bed, his muscles shifting under ck ink, eyes boring into mine, hips thrusting. He smells like the most erotic, divine mixture of scents: spicy cologne, mint, smoke, and leather. The white shirt¡ªtwo buttons at the top always popped¡ªwaistcoat that matches his pants, the holster at the small of his back, bracelets, watch, tattoos¡­ I shudder softly, my skin tingling. ¡°Do you have a picture of Aalyiah?¡± I¡¯ve been dissecting the memory I saw at ze¡¯s, scrutinizing my reaction and Alex¡¯s words. Now Carter thinks I was at the warehouse on the night of the ident, meeting Aalyiah is the most usible exnation. Carter gets instantly defensive, his eyes crinkling in the corners. ¡°Why do you want to see her?¡± Because I think I might¡¯ve met her at the warehouse. It makes sense¡­ Alex loved her and his feelingsplicated his job. He was in danger and I didn¡¯t want him dead. Maybe I thought telling Aalyiah about us would break them up and Alex would drop the case? I¡¯m too worried about Carter¡¯s reaction to say it out loud. Instead, I huff out an exasperated breath. ¡°It¡¯s the only idea I have and it¡¯s worth a try, so can you please show me her picture?¡± ¡°You never saw her, Hailey.¡± For the first time the protectiveness shadowing his words isn¡¯t for me. It¡¯sagainstme and I realize how important Aalyiah was to him. I cover his hand with mine, drawing little hearts in the crook of his thumb. ¡°You don¡¯t know that. It¡¯s been weeks, Carter. My memories aren¡¯ting back. The safe house ispromised. If we move to another, how long before your father finds us? This needs to end.Ican end it. I just need triggers. Right now Aalyiah might be the trigger I need.¡± ¡°When would you have seen her?¡± he asks. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Not so long ago, I didn¡¯t think I knew her name, then ze said it and I remembered hearing it from Alex. Maybe I¡¯ve seen her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth a shot,¡± Broadway says from behind the bar. I¡¯m not surprised he¡¯s on my side. He¡¯s been growing more anxioustely. Every time Carter¡¯s phone rings and he leaves to answer, Broadway starts swearing while he nervously paces the room. It¡¯s not until Carter summons him to exin what was said that he calms down. ¡°It¡¯s just a picture,¡± he adds. ¡°What harm will it do?¡± ¡°None,¡± I insist. ¡°You can tie me up again if you want.¡± ¡°Tie you up?¡± Koby cocks an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling. ¡°Do tell. This sounds interesting.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t exactly know what¡¯s happening with me whenever I have a shback, sost time, Carter tied me to a tree.¡± ¡°Fuck that¡¯s kinky.¡± I look away, hiding behind my hair becausekinkysparks another enticing reminder. ¡°I want to see how many kinks I can unlock.¡± I meet Carter¡¯s gaze, and the heat burning in his eyes tells me both our minds are reliving our intimate moments at Lakeside while his men wait for a decision. ¡°Ryder,¡± he finally says, his knuckles white around the crystal ss Koby shoved in his hand a moment ago. ¡°Get me a picture of Aalyiah. As recent as you can.¡± Leaving his drink on the coffee table, he sits beside me, his knees spread wide. ¡°Here, Hailey.¡± He taps the space between his legs. ¡°You know the drill.¡± I move, drawn to him like a moth to a me. He¡¯s been gone less than twelve hours. We had sex first thing this morning but, after weeks of self-imposed distance, I need him close all the time. His barely audible, sharp inhale when I sit between his legs sparks goosebumps down my body and his arm around my middle molds me further into him. It¡¯s a small gesture, insignificant to a passive observer, but I¡¯m a goner once his thumb starts grazing my ribs. He¡¯s not unaffected either. I feel the way he reacts to the faintest touch; how much he craves me this close and closer still. His chest expands, the hard pane of muscles both a cage and the safest ce on earth. ¡°Got it!¡± Ryder announces,ing over with hisptop. ¡°Eyes, Hailey,¡± Carter orders. ¡°Keep them closed until I say otherwise. You try running and I¡¯m snapping you out of it.¡± Histwo-day old stubble tickles my skin as his lips brush my ear. ¡°Quiet. All of you. Not a word.¡± ¡°Yeah, alright,¡± Broadway says somewhere behind us, his heavy boots shuffling closer. ¡°Ready?¡± Carter asks, sying his fingers across my ribs. He¡¯s way over the top with those safety measures but I don¡¯t point it out because my stomach¡¯s twisting like a wrung-out rag. I¡¯m seconds away from seeing the girl Alex considered more important than me. The girl who took him from me. The girl who got the best parts of him, and left me the worst. I bob my head, quickly grasping Carter¡¯s arm with both hands, my nails biting his skin. ¡°Open your eyes.¡± I take a second before I do, steeling for whatever mighte. A part of me is so resigned after weeks of no shbacks that it doesn¡¯t think it¡¯ll work. But a much bigger part knows it will. If I ever did see this girl, it will work. She¡¯s been an enigma at the front of my mind, at the center of my shbacks, even if indirectly, for weeks. Every encounter with Alex somehow oscited around her. She was always present even though she wasn¡¯t there. Whenever he came over, I knew he¡¯d either juste back from her, or was heading out to see her. I knew he¡¯d give her everything I craved: cuddles, kisses, attention¡ªlove. The hatred I feel for a girl I never met is so potent it¡¯s been slowly poisoning me since my memories started returning. What did she have that I didn¡¯t? Why did Alex choose her even though I did everything to please him? Why did I care about a man who loved someone else? My nails sink further into Carter¡¯s skin. On cue, he resumes the slow path of his thumb gliding over my ribs. His warm breath fans my neck and his scent makes me feel safe. It helpsdouse the jealousy inside me¡­ the insecurities peeking out their ugly head whenever I think about Alex and Aalyiah. Letting a steady breath past my parted lips, I peek a little and I see her. Between the curtain of my eyshes, I see the girl who was more than I ever could be. The girl who gave Alex everything I couldn¡¯t. She¡¯s gorgeous. So pretty she looks photoshopped. Her young face is immacte, not one scar or blemish. Long, brown, shiny hair tumbles around her arms in thick waves. She has dark eyes¡ªalmost as dark as Carter¡¯s. Dark eyebrows andshes. Small nose, full lips the color of roses blooming in full sun and twisting into a genuine, carefree smile. A lump forms in my throat while my eyes dart all over her face, scrutinizing every detail. My eyes move lower, tracing the column of her throat, and it feels like I¡¯ve been sucker-punched when I spot a silver pendant dangling from a delicate chain. It¡¯s a heart. Almost identical to the one Alex gave me. Almost¡­ but not broken. Perfectly intact. I sink. I dive into the past so quickly it gives me whish. The living room shakes around me while I fall like Alice until everything stops and my surroundings sharpen, revealing a bedroom I¡¯ve seen many times before. My bedroom in Ohio. Clearer than ever. Light-gray furniture, navy-blue bedspread, fluffy cushions. The closet is open, my flimsy little dresses on disy. A knock at the main door jars the empty, silent house. It¡¯s almost seven in the evening and Dad rarelyes back before midnight these days. Besides, he wouldn¡¯t be knocking. My heart leaps and my veins fill with hope that it¡¯s Alex, here because I texted him about the pie I baked. I take the stairstwo at a time, then my feet skid across the wooden floor in the hallway until I halt inches from the door, flinging it open. A big, bright smile twists my mouth when I see Alex, his car parked by the curb. He came¡­ My brows bunch in the middle, euphoria fading fast as he starts speaking. ¡°Hey,¡±he slurs, the stench of booze heavy on his breath.¡°I need a nap. I had one too many.¡± Hope hisses out of me faster than it arrived, leaving a hollow feeling behind. Of course he¡¯s not here to spend time with me. It¡¯s been days since Ist saw him. Weeks since he came over for me, rather than Dad. I wish I had the courage to shove him out of here. I wish I could tell him to leave but the words won¡¯t leave my lips. The sad reality is that he came because he needs a favor but heishere and his presence always makes the hole Mom¡¯s death left in my heart heal a little. He sways forward making me step out of his way. ¡°You¡¯re drunk. Where have you been?¡±I ask. The dark circles under his bloodshot eyes look more prominent, like he hasn¡¯t slept in days. His clothes are crumpled, hair disheveled. Jealousy enters my bloodstream, but Alex doesn¡¯t tell me whether he¡¯s been withhertonight. He shoulders past me and stumbles inside. I¡¯ve seen this memory before. It¡¯s like the one I had at ze¡¯s. Though it¡¯s sharper now, no blurriness around the edges, no darkness outside the windows. While Alex exins the case he¡¯s working on, I listen, react, and pay attention to my surroundings. The living room is huge, twice asrge as the one we had in Florida. Houses in Ohio must be much cheaper¡­ Or maybe Dad spent everything on the building, not leaving much for the interior; the space is bare, save for necessities. Acouch, two chairs, wall-mounted TV, and a rickety coffee table. It¡¯s a far cry from how Mom would¡¯ve decorated it. She paid attention to the smallest details, littered every t surface with dust-gathering trinkets, kept lots of nts, and loved piling cushions wherever possible. There¡¯s only one cushion here. Not a nket in sight. Not one nt or candle¡­ but there are pictures, hundreds of them. A gallery of Mom¡¯s smiles covers every wall. Alex grunts, adjusting the lonely cushion under his head. ¡°You¡¯re scaring me, Alex,¡±I whisper, the danger he¡¯s in dawning on me and tightening my voice.¡°You need to quit.¡± ¡°Quit? I can¡¯t quit. That¡¯s not a fucking option.¡± ¡°Of course you can. You¡¯re not safe! You can¡¯t risk your life for work. My dad will understand.¡± A low chuckle vibrates his chest.¡°You don¡¯t know your dad all that well, Hailey. If I quit, I¡¯ll spend the rest of my life in jail. You think I¡¯ll risk everything to put Rhett Wird behind bars?¡± ¡°Rhett Wird?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing this because I don¡¯t have a fucking choice,¡±he rants over my question. ¡°I can¡¯t quit. Even if there wasn¡¯t a life sentence hanging over my head, quitting means risking Aalyiah¡¯s life. But if I don¡¯t quit it¡¯s just a matter of time before Rhett puts a bullet in my head.¡±He sits up, running a hand down his face.¡°Like I said¡­ unless I figure out a way to end this, I¡¯m dead for real, or dead inside.¡± He reaches for my hand, grazing his thumb down my palm.¡°Don¡¯t worry, Hailey. You¡¯ll be fine. Sad and broken, but alive.¡±The eptanceyering his voice makes my eyes sting with tears. ¡°I want to help. What can I do to help?¡±I ask. ¡°You can¡¯t. No one can. All I can do is figure this out before Rhett discovers who I am and realizes I¡¯ve used his daughter to get the evidence your father needs.¡± ¡°What have you gotten yourself into?¡±My voice is barely above a whisper, fear seeping into every word. ¡°I was sent to infiltrate Rhett¡¯s organization. To gather evidence¡­ but I met Aalyiah.¡± I sink down onto the armchair opposite him, my mind racing.¡°And you fell in love with her.¡± ¡°The heart doesn¡¯t always make wise choices, Hailey. You should know. We both chose wrong.¡±He avoids my gaze, his hands trembling, a hollowugh escaping his lips.¡°I told her who I am, what I¡¯m doing. Instead of ratting me out, she asked to help. But she had one condition: that her brother stays safe. That he doesn¡¯t go down with Rhett.¡± The pieces start falling into ce, forming a picture so dangerous, so fraught with peril, it makes my heart race.¡°So you have the evidence my dad needs?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±One small word, but it carries a powerful load I can¡¯t decipher.¡°I can¡¯t hand it over to Charlie yet. Not until I find a way to keep Aalyiah¡¯s brother out of this mess. If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll lose her. But Rhett will surely figure out there¡¯s a rat in his ranks soon. He¡¯s already suspicious.¡± My thoughts whirl, trying to grasp the magnitude of his predicament.¡°That¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°A fucking shitshow,¡±he finishes for me.¡°I know. It¡¯s a no-win situation. I¡¯m trapped, Hailey. And so are you.¡± ¡°No. There must be a way out. Maybe I can talk to my dad, exin the situation¡ª¡± ¡°No! You can¡¯t. Not yet. Not until I have Aalyiah somewhere safe, away from¡ª¡±Alex trails off, then shakes his head.¡°Charlie won¡¯t care about her. It¡¯s too risky.¡± Frustration gets the better of me, mixing with fear and helplessness to create a potent mix.¡°So what will you do?¡± He doesn¡¯t answer immediately, his gaze somewhere in the distance.¡°I don¡¯t know,¡±he finally murmurs.¡°But whatever Ido, I have to do it soon. Rhett¡¯s not someone you y games with.¡±Heaving a pained grunt, he sits up, then hauls himself off the couch.¡°Can you make me a cup of strong coffee? I need to sober up.¡± In his usual fashion, he dismisses the conversation, heading down the hallway. The bathroom door closes behind him a momentter, sending my thoughts on a rollercoaster ride until one idea stamps down the rest. I dart to the couch and rifle through his jacket pockets, searching both sides at once for his phone. I find two. Of course he has two. That¡¯s why I never found any texts between him and his other girl. There was nothing on the cell he sometimes carelessly left in my bedroom, save for a few clipped messages to me and my father. With trembling hands, my pulse pounding in my ears, I unlock the other phone. It¡¯s the same passcode. My breath ttens out before the phone unlocks and then catches in my throat when a gorgeous brte smiles from the screen. Sheys in a tangle of white sheets, sporting Alex¡¯s hoodie. Her hair¡¯s disheveled, pink lips swollen, glossy eyes looking straight at the camera, the glee painting her face so genuine it¡¯s blinding. I¡¯ve never seen anyone look so happy. So carefree. No wonder Alex fell in love with her. She¡¯s the embodiment of everything he values in a woman: young, perfect, girly, delicate, happy¡­ my exact opposite. Alex flushes the toilet and the sound sets my heart rate soaring. Tears sting my eyes when I open the contact list and find one phone number there:Baby Girl. Water starts running in the sink.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. I have less than twenty seconds before hees back and I desperately need Aalyiah¡¯s number. Whipping my phone out ofmy pocket, I snatch a picture of the screen, then quickly close everything down and shove Alex¡¯s phone back where it was. I dart across the room, so scared he¡¯ll realize what I¡¯ve done that my jelly-like legs barely carry my weight. The door to the bathroom opens just as I slump into the armchair and push my phone between the seat and the armrest. ¡°I better get going,¡±Alex says. He sounds tired, resigned. Like he doesn¡¯t have much hope left. The longer he¡¯s working on the case, the worse he looks.¡°Don¡¯t tell Charlie about any of this.¡± ¡°I made your favorite pie,¡±I whisper. This once, I want him gone, but if I make no attempt to keep him here, he¡¯ll wonder what¡¯s wrong. ¡°Don¡¯t start, Hailey,¡±he huffs, shimmying into his jacket. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t drive¡­ you wanted coffee.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Cold water did the trick.¡±The usual bounce to his step returns with every step toward the door. I stop pleading when he rounds the corner, his footsteps echoing down the hallway until the front door closes behind him. I¡¯m alone. My heart rams in my chest like a caged bird once I grab my phone but I can¡¯t see Aalyiah¡¯s number through the tears spilling down my cheeks. I shut my eyes tight, breathing on the count of four. A cool breeze breaches the room, making me shudder and my insides twist so hard I feel sick. ¡°There you are.¡± Carter¡¯s voice shatters the silence ringing in my ears. ¡°You¡¯re okay, Hailey. It was a memory.¡± I swallow hard, the remembered tears that stung my eyes in the pasting back stronger. Slowly, I peel open my eyes, locking gazes with Broadway who sits across the room, his elbows perched on his knees, a frown marring his brow. ¡°Get her some water,¡± Carter says. Whenever I¡¯ve dipped into my memories before, the return was like crashing into a wall, immediate, jarring. But this is like I¡¯m waking up from a tiring dream. I¡¯m half here, half there, unsure where I should stay. Koby rises from the couch, his footsteps echoing away. The fridge behind the bar opens, water sloshes into a ss, and he¡¯s back, holding it out for me. ¡°What did you see?¡± Carter asks, his arm still wrapped around me. No¡­botharms. Like a straitjacket, my wrists in his hands, pinned to my sides. He releases my right hand so I can take the ss, and patiently waits until I¡¯m done drinking. I feel like someone whacked the back of my head. ¡°The same memory I saw at Noretto¡¯s¡­ longer, though. Sharper. Alex came over drunk.¡± I hide my face in both hands, my temples pulsing with an iing headache. ¡°Alex?¡± Carter asks, the surprise in his tone not escaping my attention. ¡°You saw Aalyiah¡¯s picture and the shback was about that piece of shit?¡± I nod, inhaling deeply and shaking the stiffness off my limbs. The shback loops behind my eyes, answering less questions than it poses. They multiply like bacteria in a petri dish. I weigh the significance of what I saw, annoyed that it dissolved at the most crucial moment. Did I call Aalyiah? Did we set up a meeting? Carter might be able to check. He has the means. Ryder could pull the information out of hisputer in ten minutes but if I did call her, if we did meet¡­ She took her own life when she found out about me and Alex. A pained whimper leaves my lips. More puzzle pieces snap into ce. Alex would never have told her about me. He loved her. He wouldn¡¯t risk their rtionship, which means I did it. Itold her. I dissect all the possibilities, assembling a timeline of events based on what I know. That memory my brain just showed me wasn¡¯t random. None of them were. Each one brought me closer to an answer and this one¡­ this one might be crucial. I must¡¯ve called Aalyiah, told her about Alex and me. Maybe demanded she stop seeing him. My intentions were good. I wanted to protect him, but the result was far from good. Carter was right all along¡­ I killed his sister. Saving Hailey: Chapter 35 ¡°She was protecting you,¡± Hailey says, moving to sit beside me, her feet curled under her butt. She¡¯s not crying but the sadness shaking her voice guts me. I hate that everything depends on her lost memories. It¡¯s a burden I can¡¯t carry for her. I can¡¯t ease her pain or take away her fear. I can¡¯t do more than hold her and watch as the past slowly eats her alive with every next shback. ¡°Me?¡± I cock an eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Broadway, could you get me a ss of wine please?¡± He nods, fulfilling the order while the others settle into seats, filling the chairs and couch. No one speaks. No one asks any question while Hailey gathers her thoughts, looking for the right words to exin what she meant. ¡°Alex told her he was gathering evidence against your father,¡± she says, chasing the confession with a sip of wine. ¡°Iguess she loved him so much that she offered her help, but she had one condition¡­ she wanted Alex to ensure your safety.¡± I scoff, my hands balling into tight fists. The one thing Aalyiah never should¡¯ve worried about was me. Worrying was my fucking job. She was my little sister. I took care of her and made sure she had whatever she needed. It was never supposed to be the other way around. Looks like I failed on that count. And plenty of others if she thought I needed her protection. ¡°I was never in danger,¡± I snap, gnashing my teeth. ¡°Refill, boss?¡± Broadway asks. He obviously doesn¡¯t expect an answer, at least not a negative one given he¡¯s already snatching my ss. ¡°I don¡¯t think it was about danger,¡± Hailey continues. ¡°I think maybe their evidence incriminated you. She just didn¡¯t want you to go down with your father. Alex was working on keeping you out of it but Rhett was getting suspicious¡­¡± ¡°So there definitely is evidence?¡± Ryder pipes in. ¡°Yes. Alex couldn¡¯t hand it over without securing Carter because it¡¯d mean losing Aalyiah and he loved her too much to let that happen.¡± I down half of the whiskey, reveling in the liquid fire warming my insides and soothing the rage. Whenever Alex is mentioned, a switch flips inside my head and I crave blood. Hisblood. I don¡¯t think there¡¯ll evere a time when I stop wishing he was alive so I could inflict the most painful death upon him. I will forever wonder what his screams would sound like, how much he¡¯d beg, how he¡¯d apologize for what he did to my girl, my sister, and for agreeing to Vaughn¡¯s n. ¡°I guess we still don¡¯t have a clue where the evidence is?¡± Broadway asks, leaning back in his chair. Hailey shakes her head, watching her wine slosh by the rim of the ss she holds with both hands, her shoulder slumping as she takes a long, measured sip. And then another. And one more. Her lips open as if to speak, but instead of wordsing out, she pours more wine down her throat. There must be more to her shback. She must¡¯ve seen Aalyiah if her pretty, innocent face triggered the memory. ¡°What else did you see?¡± I ask, keeping my tone level. Her nails gouged so hard into my skin at one point that she broke it, leaving half-moon marks in my ink. ¡°I was worried about him,¡± she admits quietly, her cheeks red with embarrassment. ¡°He didn¡¯t know how to escape and your father was growing suspicious. I wanted him to leave Aalyiah and give my dad the evidence. He refused and¡­¡± She bites her cheek, inhaling through her nose. ¡°He yelled, like always.¡± It¡¯s not until a tear drops into her wine that I realize she¡¯s crying. She¡¯s great at keeping her emotions on a tight leash, though, perfectly silent while small, silent tears trail down her cheeks. The sight is enough to flip my stomach. I hate when she¡¯s this vulnerable¡­ I¡¯m fucking scared to find out what else she saw. ¡°I stole his phone when he locked himself in the bathroom,¡± she mutters. ¡°He had Aalyiah¡¯s picture for wallpaper. I¡¯m sure it was the first time I saw her. First time I heard her name.¡± Inhaling sharply, she straightens in her seat, wiping her tears away before looking at me. ¡°I wanted him safe,¡± she says, her voice breaking. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ if I knew¡ª¡± Confusion knits my brows. ¡°What are you sorry about?¡± ¡°I grabbed Alex¡¯s phone to call Aalyiah and tell her Alex was dating us both. I wanted her to stop seeing him so he could handin the evidence.¡± She sniffles, more tears escaping those big blue eyes. ¡°You were right. I¡¯m the reason she¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Did you talk to her?¡± She pinches her lip, biting so hard it looks fucking painful. I can¡¯t watch. I lean out and pull her lip free. ¡°Did you talk to Aalyiah?¡± I ask again, my fingers curled under Hailey¡¯s chin so she can¡¯t look away. ¡°The memory ended too soon but I must have. I had her number and she found out somehow. Alex wouldn¡¯t have told her about us¡­ I don¡¯t think anyone else knew.¡± I turn my head, sending Ryder a pointed look. He doesn¡¯t need an exnation; he knows exactly what I need. Within seconds, he¡¯s up, fetching hisptop. If Hailey called Aalyiah, Ryder will find it in her call log. He¡¯ll know how long their conversationsted and when it happened. There¡¯s not much information in a list of iing and outgoing calls so we only skimmed it during the hunt for Hailey. Maybe we should have probed deeper. ¡°Even if you did tell Aalyiah the truth, you¡¯renotresponsible for her death,¡± I tell Hailey. ¡°Alex is the only one to me here. Do you understand?¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t tell her, maybe she¡¯d still¡ª¡± ¡°She¡¯d have found out eventually. If not from you then from Rhett once he realized he had a rat in his ranks. If not from him, then from Alex or someone else. It doesn¡¯t matter who told her. Thewhoisn¡¯t why she killed herself. It¡¯s thewhy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thewhy,¡± she insists. ¡°If I weren¡¯t so clingy, if I didn¡¯t need Alex so much, I wouldn¡¯t be in the picture, can¡¯t you see that?! You were right!¡± She bolts upright, trembling all over. I don¡¯t have time to react before she spins around and rushes out of the house. The door ms behind her and, through the window, I see her running toward the guest house, the security guys trailing her every move. ¡°Leave her,¡± Dante says when I twitch to follow. ¡°Give her time. All you¡¯ll end up doing now is screaming at each other.¡± I ignore him. Not because he¡¯s wrong. He¡¯s most likely right, but I¡¯m not letting Hailey me herself for Aalyiah¡¯s death. I made that mistake, so I know it¡¯s a mistake. All she¡¯s guilty of is needing someone in her corner while her life was falling apart. She was still grieving her mother when her father dragged her halfway across the country to Ohio and jumped headfirst into work, forgetting he had a daughter going through the same hell he was. Aalyiah would still be alive if Alex had chosen a different way to infiltrate my father¡¯s organization. He didn¡¯t need her. He could¡¯ve posed as a soldier. He could¡¯ve gained Rhett¡¯s trust, but he chose the path of least resistance, using a teenage girl to do his dirty work. I can¡¯t even me Vaughn for nting Alex. No way would a man with his moral code allow a cop to use a girl like Aalyiah¡­ a girl like his daughter. Innocent, easily manipted, oblivious to the monstrosities men like my father are capable of. He wouldn¡¯t approve, which is why Alex kept his rtionship with my sister from him. Only Hailey knew. He gave her a burden too big for her grief-ridden mind to carry. She¡¯s not downstairs when I enter the guesthouse, or in the bedroom when I climb the stairs. She¡¯s in the en suite, water running, door closed. I grab the handle, cursing when I bounce off the hardwood instead of entering. ¡°You think that¡¯ll stop me?! Think again. I¡¯lle in whether you let me or not.¡± She doesn¡¯t respond, and rather than coaxing her out, I back up a few steps before using the momentum and bulk of my body to wrecking-ball the door off its hinges. Hailey sits in the corner of the showcase shower, fully dressed and soaking wet. Water drips down her hair and chin, pooling at her bare feet. Her shoulders shake. Sobs mingle with the drops pattering the tiles and the visual makes my heart split down the fucking middle. She doesn¡¯t look up, breaking down all on her own. I¡¯m not even surprised. She¡¯s bottled up her fear, frustration, and grief so long that the dam had to burst. There¡¯s only so much one person can take before the corks start flying. Hailey reached her limit. She¡¯s spent weeks piecing together her past, reliving her mother¡¯s death, learning to trust me¡ªonly to realize she shouldn¡¯t have. Throw the danger she¡¯s in, her time with ze, and the gore she¡¯s seen into the mix and then add the absurd thought that she¡¯s responsible for Aalyiah¡¯s death¡­ no wonder she¡¯s snapped. I round the pane of ss, crouching before her. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, but you¡¯re wrong. I don¡¯t me you. You¡¯re not why Aalyiah¡¯s dead.¡± Water rains down my back, wetting my clothes in seconds. It¡¯s not warm but scalding hot. Nothing but choked-back sobs escape Hailey¡¯s lips as I reach under her arms, hauling her up. ¡°Come on, pretty girl. You can cry in bed just as well.¡± I could calm her, but I think she needs a moment of weakness. She¡¯s been holding her head up high too fucking long and the strength she¡¯s clung to was slowly dismantling her from the inside out. Especially while she wouldn¡¯t let me close enough to help. I wrap a towel around her the best I can using one hand before I carry her out of the bathroom. She sniffles, shaking softly, but doesn¡¯t try wiggling out of my arms. If anything, she burrows into me harder when I maneuver us onto the bed. We¡¯reboth wet, soaking the sheets as I rest against the headboard and move Hailey to lie half on me, half beside me.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. It¡¯s not enough, though. Too much distance. She nuzzles closer like a baby animal seekingfort, her cheek in the crook of my shoulder, one hand by her face, grasping my waistcoat, one leg draped over my middle. She makes herself as small as possible, her warm breath tickling my neck. I want to kiss her head, hush her cries, and tell her I can¡¯t fucking cope when she¡¯s suffering¡­ but I don¡¯t. This isn¡¯t about me. No words will help her as much as letting the pain out will. Instead of whispering sweet nothings in her ear, I hold her a little tighter while she falls apart at the seams. It¡¯s a new dynamic for us. Forme. She¡¯s mine. Her happiness is my top priority. I want her calm andfortable every single day. Allowing her this space, this outlet for her anguish, goes against my instincts. Simple assurances andplicated promises dance on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow them all. Words can wait. She needs a moment of weakness. And even though listening to her whimpers physically hurts me, I let her cry because there¡¯s not one thing I won¡¯t do for her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispers a whileter, her voice croaky. She¡¯s not crying anymore, just quivering like an injured kitten. ¡°You have nothing to apologize for.¡± She falls silent again, shuddering more frequently the longer we sit there. I¡¯m itching to dress her in some warm, dry clothes, then tuck her under a freshforter, but she¡¯s holding on to my waistcoat so hard her fingernails are white. She¡¯s not ready to let me go. It¡¯s clear in how she moves a little closer, nuzzling her face into my neck, breathing me in as if my scent keeps her sane. The bathroom door stands ajar, burst from its hinges, the lock torn from the frame. I doubt it¡¯ll close again¡­ Broadway will need to look at it. ¡°I¡¯m cold,¡± Hailey murmurs what feels like hourster. ¡°How about a warm bubble bath? I¡¯ll change the sheets while you¡¯re in there.¡± She moves away, those beautiful blue eyes rimmed pink. ¡°My head hurts¡­¡± she whispers, angling herself my way to press her sweet, swollen lips against mine. Everything inside me goes perfectly still. It takes immense effort not to grab her face, pull her onto me and im her mouth. She¡¯s not kissing me in carnal desire. It isn¡¯t forey¡­ it¡¯s an apology. I curl my fingers under her chin, breaking away. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize, pretty girl. Idon¡¯tme you.¡± With that, I head through what¡¯s left of the bathroom door to fill the tub. Saving Hailey: Chapter 36 After the hot bath, I wrap myself in Carter¡¯s hoodie and go to Dante¡¯s main house, my head still pounding from the revtions. ¡°Better?¡± Broadway asks, peering up from a map spread across the bar counter. ¡°I¡¯m okay, sorry about¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± he cuts in, waving me off. ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize.¡± I send him a grateful smile, looking between the five men gathered around the bar. Ryder¡¯s torturing hisptop keyboard, while Koby¡¯s drawing lines over the map, his eyebrows pinched together in concentration. ¡°Come here,¡± Carter says, holding his hand out. As soon as I¡¯m within reach, he weaves our fingers and tugs gently, moving me to stand beside him, my shoulder brushing his arm. ¡°Ryder found Aalyiah¡¯s call log,¡± he says, weighing every word. ¡°You called her but you never met.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± He hands me a list of numbers, times, and dates. ¡°This is your call.¡± He points to the very top of the page I¡¯m holding. ¡°Thirteen seconds. See the date?¡± ¡°The night before the ident¡­ seven thirty pm.¡± ¡°My guess is you called to set up a meeting,¡± Ryder chimes in. ¡°But we don¡¯t know what was said. I can¡¯t find any records.¡± ¡°Why are you so certain we didn¡¯t meet?¡± I ask Carter. ¡°Because Aalyiah was dead the next afternoon, and you said it was dark outside when you saw Rhett. I think you went to meet her but stumbled upon him instead.¡± I close my eyes, recalling the relevant shbacks. ¡°What if I met Aalyiah there the night before?¡± ¡°Then you¡¯d have no reason to go back the next day,¡± Dante says. ¡°Unless you and Aalyiah were supposed to meet up again, but given she took her life less than twelve hourster, that doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°Nothingmakes sense. Most of all why Alex would givemethe evidence.¡± I snatch the wine Broadway opened earlier and top up my ss, pacing the room. ¡°He said I was his insurance policy. He said he¡¯d end up in jail if he didn¡¯t finish the job,¡± I chant, spewing everything that seems important. ¡°I need another trigger. Do you have pictures of the warehouse? Maybe my house? Where else would I hide the evidence if not there? How about Alex¡¯s car? Maybe I¡¯ll remember more of that night if¡ª¡± ¡°Hailey,¡± Carter demands my attention. ¡°Stop. You¡¯re exhausted, pale, and shaking. What did your neurologist say? You can¡¯t face everything all at once. Too much, too fast¡ª¡± I roll my eyes and sip the wine, still pacing. ¡°Spare me, please. I¡¯m fine and you know it. We¡¯re running around in circles!¡± Carter¡¯s shoulders square back, annoyance tainting his features, almost masking his arousal. ¡°You need to rest. And calm down. We¡¯re leaving for the new safe house in the morning.¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s the point? We¡¯re safe here, aren¡¯t we? Only I know where the evidence is and since these triggers obviously work, we should try harder. Give me another!¡± ¡°And fry your brain?¡± he snaps, his patience long gone. ¡°No. You can¡¯t seeyourself when you get a shback. You tremble, you cry, you fight¡­ Sometimes you¡¯re sad, sometimes you¡¯re perfectly still, but you¡¯re always so fucking scared¡­ It¡¯s getting worse. With every shback you go deeper; today, you were so fucking deep I wasn¡¯t sure you¡¯de back.¡± He cracks his neck, dismissing thatst thought, and gets up, towering above me. ¡°I¡¯m not putting you through it again unless there¡¯s no other option.¡± ¡°There are no other options.¡± I angle myself left, looking at Carter¡¯s men and Dante, hoping one of them will back me up. They don¡¯t. Not even Broadway. ¡°Go to bed,¡± Carter tells me. ¡°I¡¯lle over soon.¡± ¡ô¡ô¡ô My stomach flutters me awake from a dreamless sleep. Carter¡¯s warm, strong chest is flush with my back, the smell of his shower gel overpowering the warm air. Another flutter, more intense when his lips draw a line down my neck, trailing a path of open-mouthed kisses into the crook. I¡¯m instantly hot and¡­ wet. My eyes fly open. I try moving onto my back but Carter¡¯s too close and I end up pressing myself further into his chest. My stomach cramps pleasantly when I realize his hand is between my legs, his fingers expertly rolling my clit under two fingers, his hard cock jutting against my ass. ¡°Morning,¡± he whispers, biting my ear, hisbored breaths transmitting heatwaves through my system. ¡°How did you sleep?¡± ¡°Good,¡± I pant, angling myself back to give him better ess, desperate for more friction. ¡°Waking up is better.¡± He smiles against my neck. ¡°I couldn¡¯t wait for you to wake up. You¡¯re almost there, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t stop.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t my intention.¡± I grab his free hand, the one curled under me holding my throat, and move it over my mouth. We¡¯re alone at the guest house, but I love when he muffles the sounds I can¡¯t control. ¡°You¡¯lle for me now, then I want you on top,¡± he says, pressing his hand firmly to my lips. ¡°I want you to ride me. I want a repeat of the night you stole my fucking heart, but this time, I¡¯ll be inside you.¡± All I can do is nod while his fingers work faster. ¡°Good girl,¡± he tuts in my ear and those two words tip me over the edge. The orgasm wakes me uppletely. My back bows and my thighs trap his hand between my legs. Carter buries his face in my hair, molding me further into his hard chest, his low groan amplifying the orgasm that strips my firewall. ¡°I love it when youe, pretty girl. Youe with your whole body. Every muscle winds up tight and then you tremble, drowning in the high.¡± He kisses my nape before he moves onto his back, head propped against the pillows. Holding my hand, he helps me straddle him the way I did all those weeks ago. ¡°We don¡¯t need this,¡± he says, helping me out of my night dress, his hungry eyes roving my naked flesh. ¡°Or this.¡± In one tug, he lowers his boxers, his cock springing out of the confinement, long, thick, and hard as it ps against his stomach. I grip the base, rise on my knees and scoot forward, taking him into me, my eyes holding his hostage while I slowly sink, not stopping even when I don¡¯t think I can take another inch. Carter has already proved he fits balls-deep inside me, so he¡¯ll fit just fine, but this position is different than others we¡¯ve tried thus far. For once, I¡¯m on top, dictating the pace. Or so I think¡­ The reins don¡¯t stay in my hands for long. Carter grips my hips, gently pushes me back, then pulls me in, his cock dragging along my G spot. I grip his wrists, shaking my head. ¡°Let me lead.¡± He visibly struggles to move his hands lower and allow me a shred of control as I set the pace, grinding into him as he holds my thighs. Tingles start in my belly, the orgasm building faster every time I drag my clit over his abdomen. ¡°Eyes on me, Hailey,¡± he whispers, pressing his fingertips into my flesh. ¡°I want to see your eyes when youe.¡± It takes effort to hold his gaze, but I do, loving the possessive edge in his tone, the feral look painting his face. As soon as the orgasm rips through me, Carter seizes control. It¡¯s a miracle he let me lead this long. Gripping both my wrists he tugs until I sprawl forward over his chest. He bends his knees and wraps me in his arms, holding me still while his hips thrust up fast. ¡°Oh God,¡± I mewl, nipping his skin. ¡°That feels good.¡± ¡°Youfeel good. Fucking amazing. Bite the pillow, Hailey. It smells like Koby¡¯s making breakfast downstairs.¡± I do as instructed, stifling my gasps whenever he hits deep, dragging the head of his cock over my G spot. I¡¯m falling apart at the seams, but not just because of the iing orgasm. It¡¯s the way he holds me¡­This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. I¡¯m syed over him, heartbeat to heartbeat but he wants me closer. His arms are wrapped around my back, every flex of his muscles imprinted on my skin. He tangles his long fingers in my hair, cradling me to him. There¡¯s no space between us. No distance. We had sex countless times at Lakeside. Breathless, wild, mind-blowing sex. We were always close, but this is different. More intense. As if he¡¯s afraid I¡¯ll disappear if he doesn¡¯t hold on to me. Swallowing the moans, I lift my head to watch raw desire dte his pupils. A hot ball of liquid fire swells behind my ribs when I kiss him, slipping my tongue inside. He takes over immediately, still thrusting upwards and making me spasm. Moving one arm to my lower back, he pins me to him, limiting my hip movements and allowing him even deeper. Three hard thrusts send me hurtling toward orgasm. Carter drinks my moans, hissing when my nails dig into his shoulders. ¡°That¡¯s it, that¡¯s it,¡± he chants, forcing my forehead to his, those dark eyes seeing right through me. ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡± I can¡¯t hold his gaze. It¡¯s too much. Too fucking good. My eyes roll back into my head and I bite my lip, manacling the sounds I can barely control. The orgasm zaps through me, the position we¡¯re in somehow elevating the high. I¡¯m shaking on top of him, my muscles spasming. Carter flips us over during my moment of incoherence, working himself into me faster, every stroke more desperate.The bed bangs against the wall as he pummels me into the mattress, but it doesn¡¯t faze him. I don¡¯t think he hears it as he powers into me onest time and pulls out, wrapping his fingers around the hilt to send himself over the edge. As hot as watching his cum spatter my stomach is, I have other ns. Whipping myself into position, I open my mouth, daring him to aim and shoot. His eyes grow even darker as he kneels, yanking me closer by my long hair. ¡°Stick your tongue out,¡± he grunts, jerking his length faster, the head bobbing against my upper lip. He¡¯s a sight to see, his dark hair falling haphazardly over his forehead, lips swollen from my kisses, chest glistening with our sweat. Our eyes lock and warm, milky cum floods my mouth. Scooting forward, I close my lips around his tip, swallowing as he empties on my tongue. His fingers twitch in my hair, in time with his cock in my mouth and the low grunts falling from his lips. ¡°You¡¯re getting greedy, pretty girl.¡± I smile, wiping the corner of my mouth when he inches away. ¡°I like the way you taste.¡± He grabs my hips, tipping me onto my back and falls forward into a long, thorough kiss. Saving Hailey: Chapter 37 ¡°Here,¡± Dante says after breakfast, handing a ck gift box to Carter. ¡°Same model as La¡¯s.¡± He shoots his wife a look across the long dining table. ¡°Not that you remember to carry yours, do you, Star?¡± Her mouth opens, but instead ofmenting she washes the words down with a sip of orange juice. Carter opens the box, turning it around to show me the contents. ¡°Light but powerful. Perfect for your petite hands.¡± He takes the gun out, his fingers too big tofortably pull the trigger. ¡°Ten rounds of ammo¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want a gun,¡± I cut in. Broadway smirks as he closes the fridge. ¡°Anyone else notice she didn¡¯t sayI can¡¯t shoot?¡± ¡°I can shoot just fine. My dad¡¯s a cop, remember? He took me to a shooting range every weekend when we lived in Florida but it¡¯s been a while since I fired a gun.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll practice at the new safe house. There¡¯s nothing out there for miles. Broadway can set up some targets.¡± ¡°Why do I need a gun? Whynow?¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Precautions. Mostly for the journey,¡± he exins, but I can tell he¡¯d love it if I carried a gun going forward. ¡°You¡¯reing with me, aren¡¯t you?¡± I ask. ¡°Of course I am. I won¡¯t let you out of my sight, but I¡¯ll feel better knowing you have it.¡± He gestures at Broadway who passes him a leather holster. ¡°This goes around your waist like a belt. The gun will be almost invisible under your clothes.¡± I nce from the determination shadowing his face to the Glock lying on his palm. I reach out, my fingers hovering over the handle. ¡°Believe me¡­¡± Carter hooks his finger under my chin, tilting my head up, ¡°I hate this more than you do. This won¡¯t be permanent. I promise.¡± ¡°I, uh¡­ I need to get changed. I¡¯m cold.¡± I back away, leaving the Glock where it is. I left his hoodie in the guest house and even though he packed me ten different ones, I¡¯ll do about anything to cut this conversation short and flee before he shoves the gun in my hand. ¡°Hailey, stop,¡± he says, his tone loaded. ¡°Until we arrive at the safe house, I want you to have this on you at all times.¡± His words flip a switch inside my head and I dive right into the past. The change is instantaneous, though the shback itself is nowhere near as consuming as many of them were before. Relief rattles through me, mixing with confusion. I¡¯ve seen this before. I already have this memory. It¡¯s not new. Alex stands in my room, opening the small white box that hides a silver ne with a heart pendant. He grabs the delicate chain between his fingers, pulls it out of the box and dangles it between us. ¡°Happy birthday, Hailey.¡± I examine the pendant, the loops the chain threads through, the intricate floral design, then run my nail along the zigzagging ridge that separates the two halves, but when I try to pull them apart, they don¡¯t budge. Alex smirks, letting the chain pool on top of my palm.¡°That won¡¯t work.¡± I meet his gaze, wondering why he chose this design.¡°It¡¯s broken,¡±I murmur, my heart thumping harder. ¡°Yes. Just like yours.¡±He lifts his hand, tracing his knuckles down my cheek.¡°I want you to have this on you at all times.¡± The image distorts, morphing into another. I¡¯m in my bedroom again, but it must be a different day, because Alex is wearing different clothes. The dark rings under his eyes are more profound, like he¡¯s not been sleeping much. He¡¯s adjusting his pants, closing the zipper, eyes on me while I lean against the wall, the coldness of the concrete seeping into my spine. It¡¯sthatkind of memory again, though this time Alex is tucking his dick away rather than pulling it out. ¡°Go take a shower,¡±he tells me, backing away. Emotions flood my system. Humiliation, fear, regret, sorrow¡­ I can¡¯t tell which ones I feel in the present and which ones I felt in the past. The only emotion that¡¯s definitely in the here and now is the anger scorching my veins. I¡¯ve seen so many simr memories and still don¡¯t understand why I let him use me. Why did I follow every order? Why didn¡¯t I fight back? I push off the wall, my legs weak, knees aching, throat burning like I¡¯ve been puking for an hour straight. ¡°What are you doing?¡±he asks when I enter the bathroom.¡°Take the ne off.¡± ¡°Yesterday you said to keep it on me at all times,¡±I whisper, resignation coloring my voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean in the shower,¡±he huffs, rolling his eyes, annoyance seeping from his every pore.¡°You can¡¯t be this clueless. Water will ruin it. Take it off when you¡¯re showering.¡± I reach behind me, unhooking the small sp, and leave the ne on my desk. Time shifts forward again, introducing a flurry of intense fear. My heart stutters in my chest, my face wet with tears. We¡¯re not in my room anymore. We¡¯re in a car, and Alex¡­ Alex looks like the weight of the world has fallen on his shoulders. His agonizing whimpers fill the confined space while he bangs his hand against the steering wheel, chewing his lips. I don¡¯t speak, shaking in the passenger seat, cold and empty inside. It¡¯s dark outside. Streemps illuminate an empty street I don¡¯t recognize. We¡¯re parked by the curb, the engine idling quietly like a haunted soundtrack to Alex¡¯s palpable despair that swirls in the air like fine dust. He whirls toward me, leaping forward like he¡¯s about to grab me by the throat. My back hits the passenger side door, eyes wide, panic threatening to choke me. I feel the door, desperately searching for the handle. Alex doesn¡¯t hesitate. His hand flits to my nape and quickly unhooks my ne. ¡°Watch,¡±he orders, his voice breaking. His skin¡¯s ashen, lips bitten sore, eyes bloodshot from the tears he¡¯s fighting to keep at bay. He holds the pendant in both hands, using his thumbs to push apart the hooks where the delicate chain is threaded. They move outward, along the top edge of the heart then down and the pendant opens. It doesn¡¯t break clean in two halves like I thought it would. No, it opens like an ordion, held together at the bottom. Inside, stuffed into a slit, is a small, ck square. ¡°Memory card,¡±he tells me.¡°All the evidence I gathered is on this. If anything happens to me, give this to your father.¡± My lips fall open to speak, but the memory slips away, throwing me back into reality. Back into Dante¡¯s house. I¡¯m on the floor, my back pinned against a firm, warm chest, two arms around me. The world¡¯s muted for a beat, my heart ramming so hard I can¡¯t hear anything else. I¡¯m shaking as much in the present as I was in the memory. ¡°Hailey.¡± Carter¡¯s voice breaches the whoosh of blood screaming in my ears. My eyes snap from the polished wooden floor to his face. No¡­ not his face. Broadway¡¯s. He¡¯s crouching before me. ¡°Deep breaths,¡± Carter orders. He¡¯s behind me, my arms and legs trapped by his bulky frame. His heart¡¯s racing in time with mine, both fighting to leap from our chests and be joined together. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asks, cradling me closer. ¡°I¡¯m okay¡­ you can let go.¡± Slowly, he lifts his arms, then moves his legs aside, letting Broadway help me up. ¡°I know where the evidence is,¡± I whisper, running my mmy hands down my sides. Carter spins me around, dark eyes boring into mine. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°I had it with me¡­onme¡­ on the day we met.¡± His eyes narrow, confusion furrowing his brows. ¡°What do you mean you had it on you?¡± ¡°The ne. The heart pendant. Remember that? There¡¯s a memory card inside.¡± His gaze drops to my neck. ¡°Where¡¯s the ne, Hailey?¡± ¡°I tore it off when I remembered the day Alex gave it to me.¡± ¡°Your birthday,¡± he says. Of course he knows. He read my diary. ¡°What did you do with it? Don¡¯t tell me you threw it away.¡± ¡°No, I¡­ I hid it. I stashed it in my suitcase¡ªit¡¯s got a secret pocket. And my suitcase is¡ª¡± ¡°Either at the bottom of theke where Matthew¡¯s car was found or checked in as evidence,¡± he cuts in, turning to Ryder. ¡°What are the chances the card¡¯s intact?¡± ¡°The car was underwater for a week, Boss, so the odds are fucking slim at best. It depends whether the ne cavity is waterproof or the card water-resistant. Both those things might give us a fighting chance.¡± I nudge Carter¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You didn¡¯t let me finish. I didn¡¯t take all my bags from Lakeside. Two are still there¡­ including the one with the ne. Chloe has them.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 38 The same chill that shook me when I first set foot on Lakeside campus all those weeks ago slithers down my spine as Koby parks his sleek Range Rover in my old favorite parking space. Something disturbing pollutes this air, an echo of the past, of the despair and torture endured by the old asylum¡¯s patients. It¡¯s early Sunday morning, meaning the staff are off-site, enjoying their weekend away from the students. The only person here with authority is the janitor. I bet he¡¯s lurking in the shadows, watching our every move. ¡°I think I should go alone,¡± Hailey says, looking at the tall, gothic building peeking between the trees. I don¡¯t grace it with a reply, flinging the door open. My heavy boots crunch the gravel as I spin to help her out. No fucking way will I let her out of my sight. It¡¯d be careless not to assume my father, her father, or any number of others have eyes and ears here in case we show up.The sole constion is that we¡¯re a long way from Ohio and Pennsylvania. Neither Rhett nor ze can teleport here at a moment¡¯s notice, but they¡¯ll know we came, and they¡¯ll wonder why. My wristwatch shows it¡¯s barely past seven am. Another constion: this ce is a ghost town at this hour. We pass a total of five people, all huddled in a tight group outside the theater, probably waiting for their friends. I bet they¡¯re shootingst-minute scenes for their final movie project. Memories hit me square in the jaw as I push open the heavy door to the girl¡¯s dorm, letting Hailey inside first. Every nook and cranny reminds me of our moments here. Moments that led to her bing the center of my world. I carried her up the first flight of stairs after she got lost in the woods. I imagined fucking her against the walls of all the corridors we pass. I watched her hips sway as she climbed the second narrow staircase and spent countless precious minutes kneeling outside her door picking the lock. I spent many more precious minutes inside that room with Hailey over, under, or beside me. I have half a mind to pick that lock again and take Hailey on the desk overlooking the forest¡­ If only there was time to waste. Before my fantasy turns to reality, she¡¯s outside Chloe¡¯s room down the hall. Inhaling a deep breath, she shakes the tension off her arms and raises her hand. Every knock shakes the silent corridor like a thunderp. There¡¯s an almost immediatemotion behind the wall. A deep groan, some mumbling, then a thud as if Chloe rolled out of bed, hitting the floor with her whole body instead of her feet. Hastened steps resonate as she rushes across the room and the door opens wide in one sharp tug. Chloe looks a little confused, her hair like a rat¡¯s nest, mascara smudged around hereyes. I guess they had a party on the other side of thekest night. Either that, or she¡¯s bathed in vodka. The stench wafting off her could get my lightweight Hailey drunk within the hour. ¡°Hailey!¡± Chloe exims, stumbling forward to wrap her arms around my girl. ¡°Oh my God! Where the hell have you been?! You have any idea how worried I was?¡± She shoves her away, looking her up and down as if expecting her to be injured. ¡°Are you okay? Are you back for good?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay, but I¡¯m not staying. I just came to pick up my bags. You still have them, don¡¯t you?¡± It¡¯s only now that Chloe¡¯s attentiontches onto me. A soft shudder shakes her, and the incredulous look on her face morphs into dubious fear. Last time we spoke I barged into her room, barking out demands. My temper was all over the fucking ce¡­ looks like it left asting impression. ¡°Hey, Chloe,¡± I say. ¡°Mind answering Hailey¡¯s question?¡± That earns me an elbow to the ribs and a drop-dead look from Hailey as she mouthsbehaveover her shoulder. mming my cock deep into her pussy while she¡¯s sprawled on the desk in her old room bes even more tempting while she glowers at me, her alluring feistiness on disy. She¡¯s whipped-cream-with-liquor-filling now she trusts me again, and there¡¯s nothing more tititing than her confidence. ¡°Of course I have your bags,¡± Chloe interjects, pushing the door further open to let us in. ¡°Care to tell me what¡¯s going on? Why did you disappear? You were hysterical that night, Hailey. Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure and I¡¯m sorry, but there¡¯s not much I can tell you. Maybe one day, but not yet. There¡¯s too much happening.¡± Try as she might, Chloe¡¯s nowhere near as good an actress as Hailey, so the hurt she¡¯s fighting not to show is painted across her face. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time,¡± I say. ¡°Where are the bags?¡± ¡°Under my bed.¡± I grip Hailey¡¯s wrist, tugging her back when she twitches forward, ready to crawl under there. ¡°Let me.¡± She bites her lower lip, the gesture both arousing and hinting at the writhing anticipation inside her. There¡¯s not one facial expression I don¡¯t know. All those weeks spent watching her almost non-stop will forevere in handy. It¡¯s like having a front-row seat into her mind. I¡¯d be lying if I said I was perfectlyposed. I¡¯m far from it. It¡¯s been four months since Rhett told me about Aalyiah¡¯s death, Hailey¡¯s involvement, my task, and the evidence that¡¯s been staring right at me this whole fucking time. Four months¡¯ worth of anger, me, betrayal, and lies stacking so high I can¡¯t see over the wall they¡¯ve built. I pull both suitcases out, itching to open them right here, but that would be careless. I rein it in while Hailey says goodbye to Chloe and we trek back through the maze of corridors, down the stairs, then along the cobblestoned path toward the parking lot. Hailey doesn¡¯t say a word, keeping up with my step, eyes darting left and right like she expects someone to jump from the shadows and put a gun to her head. ¡°Which one?¡± I ask, ncing at Hailey once I¡¯ve dropped the cases in the trunk of the Range Rover. She elbows her way closer, forcing me to step aside, and within twenty seconds she¡¯s digging through therger suitcase, littering the trunk with her clothes. She¡¯s trembling softly, muttering iprehensible gibberish under her breath. The flimsy dresses she wore the whole time we were at Lakeside fly every which way, boiling my blood. Each and every single one will burn. Over my dead body will she wear another piece of clothing Alex bought her. Ryder leans against the car,ptop tucked under his arm. Smoke swirls around him as he watches Hailey¡¯s every move, a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth. Lucky fucking bastard. Once all the clothes are out, Hailey finds a zipper at the bottom of the suitcase¡ªa concealed pocket¡ªslides it open and shoves her hand inside. Those pretty blues of hers widen on cue. Her lips part, letting out a soft gasp, and the aorta on her neck pulses in time with her erratic heartbeat. She carefully pulls the chain out to dangle the heart between us. There¡¯s a pause. Silence fills the air. The weight of what she holds makes us all hold our breath. That small silver heart is everything: an answer, a key, the means to an end. The move to check the King¡­ I reach out but she jerks back, using her thumbs to slide both loops down. The locket pops open, revealing a micro memory card tucked into a narrow slit. The tension that¡¯s been tying up my muscles for months hisses out of me in a sharp gush and the adrenaline rush makes my heart fucking sing. Finally. The evidence I¡¯ve been looking for all this time is here. ¡°My dad asked me to remind you about your deal,¡± Hailey says, pinching the card between her fingers. ¡°What¡¯s the deal?¡± ¡°He wanted me to call him first, before anybody else, once I saw the evidence.¡± I cover her hand with mine, squeezing gently. ¡°Give Ryder the card. The sooner we see what¡¯s there, the better.¡± She hesitates, chewing the inside of her cheek while holding my gaze for the longest time. I can almost hear the thoughts rushing inside her pretty head¡­ doubts and insecurities taking center stage. The small card she holds is what I¡¯ve been looking for since day one: the reason I came to Lakeside. The reason I got close to Hailey. She¡¯s scared that once itnds in my hands, we¡¯re done. Words pile up on my tongue, left unspoken as the dynamic between us changes for the second time. I could reassure her, promise her forever, but it¡¯sherwho has to burrow into her feelings and decide whether I¡¯m worth her trust. She loves me. Her body craves my touch, but she¡¯s still so incredibly insecure. All I can do is hope she knows I¡¯m all hers. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt me,¡± she whispers, wiggling her hand out of my grasp to drop the card into Ryder¡¯s waiting palm. ¡°Never again,¡± I say, pulling her into me as a weight I didn¡¯t realize was there lifts from my shoulders. ¡ô¡ô¡ô It¡¯d be way too fucking easy if we could just pop the card into theptop and ess the evidence at the touch of a button. And since nothing about this has been easy since the start, I¡¯m not surprised when Ryder swears under his breath. ¡°It¡¯s encrypted,¡± he adds, his fingers ramming the keyboard faster and faster. Of course it is. ¡°You¡¯d think Alex was some high-end hacker with how well this shit is hidden.¡± ¡°Can you ess it?¡± Koby asks, gripping the driver¡¯s seat headrest to pull himself in so he can see better as Broadway exits the dirt road out of Lakeside. ¡°Of course I can fucking ess it¡­ I just wouldn¡¯t want to risk doing it on the road. We need a stable, secure connection and if this¡­¡± He taps at something on the screen, ¡°¡­is what Ithink it is, I¡¯ll need more equipment.¡± He meets my eyes in the rearview mirror. ¡°The gear I keep at your loft.¡± ¡°Fuck, Chicagoagain?¡± Koby asks. ¡°We can set up camp at a hotel somewhere, but in the time it takes to secure the connection, we¡¯d be halfway to Chicago anyway.¡± Broadway res at me in the rearview mirror. ¡°I take back everything I said about the safe house being boring. I want boring-ass bliss and noon wake-up calls again.¡± He keeps whining most of the drive back. That¡¯selevenhours of Broadway at full volume. Hailey¡¯s mostly silent beside me, staring out the window at the falling snow. I¡¯d like to say she¡¯s calm, but that¡¯d be a lie. She¡¯s miles away, lost in her thoughts, not done digging up her past. There are still too many question marks floating around and if I know one thing about Hailey, it¡¯s that she¡¯s determined. She won¡¯t stop hunting out triggers until she knows exactly what happened the night of her ident. By the time we arrive in Chicago it¡¯s almost midnight and my head¡¯s pounding. I don¡¯t usually let my men chauffeur me around. My Corvette rarely gets a day off. I miss the feel of leather under my fingers and the growl of the engine when I squeeze the gas pedal¡­ but taking the wheel means distance from Hailey and I¡¯ve not had my fill of her yet. Bad fucking drug. Perfect high. I can¡¯t stop touching her. Even if it¡¯s just my fingers tangling her hair or my lips grazing her temple. It¡¯s enough. It¡¯s everything and it¡¯s fucking disturbing. Within minutes of entering my loft, my kitchen ind is littered with hardware I can¡¯t even name. Ryder¡¯s in full work-mode, hyper-focused as he connects cables, sets up equipment, and taps at his keyboard. ¡°What happens now?¡± Hailey asks, gettingfortable on the couch. She looks perfect in my space.Ourspace. ¡°How long will it take to ess the files?¡± ¡°Given the level of encryption, I¡¯d say a few hours at least,¡± Ryder says, eyes jumping between the screens of twoptops. ¡°Koby, you remember how to check thework is still bulletproof? It¡¯s been a while since I set it up.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m on it.¡± He slides onto a bar stool beside Ryder, tapping away. ¡°Once you know what¡¯s on the card¡­¡± Hailey looks at me. ¡°What then?¡± ¡°Then I meet my father.¡± Her eyes widen a little. ¡°You¡¯ll give him the evidence?¡± ¡°A copy. He needs to reassure his acquaintances and stop the wild goose chase. And I need a copy to make sure that, from now on, Rhett stays in line.¡± Broadway smirks under his nose, ncing at me from where he¡¯s watching Ryder work. ¡°Somehow I don¡¯t think Rhett will be happy taking orders from you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose he will, but he won¡¯t have a choice. It¡¯s time for a regime change in Ohio, don¡¯t you think?¡± All three of my men whip their heads toward me. ¡°You want to take over?¡± Broadway asks, his eyes sparkling. ¡°You mean it?¡± Koby bursts outughing. ¡°Now you¡¯ve done it, Boss. He¡¯ll be floating six inches off the ground for the foreseeable future.¡± Broadway¡¯s been telling me to make a move on Ohio for at least two years but it¡¯s not easy in practice. You don¡¯t simply take over the reins. Either you kill the current boss or you force him to step down. Until now, I¡¯ve never wanted the main seat, perfectly content with the operation Dante let me set up in Chicago. Things change, though. Now I have Hailey, taking charge equals more respect, fear¡­ and an ally like Dante brings a different level of protection. Save for the morons who raidedDeltaa few years back, no one¡¯s dumb enough to willingly get into Dante¡¯s bad books. Bosses who want his approval crawl out of their skin to earn it, and those who¡¯ve got it crawl out of their skin to keep their business rtionship intact. Most threats against Dante or his wife are eliminated before they even hit Dante¡¯s radar. And the best part? The small inner-circle Dante built. Six bosses, each feeding the other. They operate like one organism: the sess of one depends on the sess of the others. Nothing guarantees safety in our world as much as bing a part of their tight-knit group. Now I have someone I need to protect at all costs, taking over Columbus is my best bet. ¡°Let¡¯s see what the evidence is first,¡± I tell Broadway. ¡°Then I¡¯ll figure out how to best use it.¡± Hourster the sky outside breaks into dawn, Ryder¡¯s still tapping away, and Hailey¡¯s barely awake on the couch, staring at the TV screen. ¡°I¡¯ve got something,¡± Ryder announces, those few words jolting everyone back to life. ¡°Only one folder, but the other two won¡¯t be long.¡± I cross the room, stopping behind Ryder. To my surprise Hailey hangs back, watching us from the couch. ¡°Go on,¡± I urge, nudging Ryder¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Show me what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± He hovers the cursor over the folder, pausing for a beat. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to look through this alone?¡± ¡°Press the fucking button.¡± And he does. Pictures pop up on the screen, one after another, a familiar person front and center in each one. My brain can¡¯tpute fast enough.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. I know what I¡¯m seeing. I knowwhoI¡¯m seeing but it¡¯s so fucking abstract, so far from what I thought I¡¯d see, that it takes me a minute to snap out of the initial shock. ¡°Fuck,¡± Broadway mutters, raking his hair back. ¡°Thatis not what I expected.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Hailey asks, sitting up, her blue eyes rmed. I look up from the screen, my words catching in my throat. This will crush her in ways I can¡¯t even imagine. She¡¯s spent months piecing her past back together, uncovering the truth bit by bit, learning about the threats lurking in the shadows. We had so many theories, so many reasons Hailey might have been thrust into this mess, all of them usible, some so fucking close to the truth¡­ but none quite hitting the mark. ¡°Carter,¡± she urges, getting to her feet. ¡°Whatis it?¡± I meet her eyes, my tone calm as I do my best to soften the blow. ¡°It¡¯s your father.¡± Now I know why he wanted me to call him first. The possibilities multiply inside my head as I pull my phone out and dial his number. He better have a good exnation. He better fuckingprayI believe it was an ident that Hailey got involved in this nightmare. That putting her through hell wasn¡¯t a deliberate move. I hold the phone to my ear, every ring of the dial tone bringing me closer to shattering Hailey¡¯s entire world. ¡°Carter,¡± Vaughn says, his tone gruff like I pulled him out of bed. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you¡ª¡± ¡°I have the file,¡± I snap, staring at the pictures of Vaughn littering the screen. ¡°What I¡¯m making of this right now doesn¡¯t make you look good.¡± ¡°I can exin, it¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Get on the fucking road, Vaughn.¡± I end the call and send him my address, my heartrate spiking higher when Hailey pads across the room, stopping on Ryder¡¯s left. A soft gasp falls from her lips, eyes filling with tears. Saving Hailey: Chapter 39 Whenever my father was working a case, he¡¯d pin pictures, maps, and any leads he had to the corkboard on the wall of his office back in Florida. Then he¡¯d sit in his chair for hours every day, staring at the visual map. It looked like something straight from any detective movie ever. He even used different-colored strings to group the evidence. For a long time, every time I went in there to see him, I saw that man¡¯s face. Dad used to call Octavius Grey a ghost. He knew Grey led the biggest drug ring in Tampa, but despite years of investigating, he couldn¡¯t find enough evidence to lock him behind bars. My eyes brim with tears as I stare at a picture of my dad, the epitome ofw and order, the man I¡¯ve looked up to for years¡­ epting a bribe from Octavius Grey. He¡¯s holding an envelope stuffed with hundred-dor bills. My stomach churns with nausea as I flick through the pictures. Each one showing envelopes of cash being passed fromhand to hand. Passed into Dad¡¯s hands. I click faster and faster, the sequences of images blurring into little movie clips. ¡°Stop,¡± Koby says, stepping closer. ¡°Go back.¡± I nce over my shoulder, catching Carter¡¯s concerned gaze. His features pinch and his hands ball into fists¡ªa look I¡¯ve seen too many times. He¡¯s worried. The pathological protectiveness is written all over his face, making me realize tears are dripping down my nose. ¡°What did you see?¡± I ask, marshaling the hurt and sense of betrayal tearing me apart. I¡¯m questioning everything. Every single interaction I¡¯ve had with Dad since the hospital. The concern in his voice¡­ was it concern or fear? Did he send me to Lakeside to protectmeorthe evidence? Was he keeping me safe or covering his own ass? Koby gently shuffles me aside, bending over theptop to back up a few images, stopping on one in a strip club, judging by the women writhing around poles and the dimmed red lights. But that¡¯s not what caught his attention. When I realize what did, bile climbs up my throat. Sitting in the same booth as Dad and Octavius, while an envelope of cash changes hands, is Alex Fletcher. ¡°Looks like Alex was on the take as well,¡± Koby says. ¡°Yeah, but given we never found anything on him,¡± Ryder clips, ¡°maybe he wasn¡¯t even a fucking cop. Grey probably nted him with Vaughn. I bet his name wasn¡¯t even Alex.¡± I can¡¯t process the information fast enough. All these years when Dad worked as a cop rey in my mind. Everything he said, how much he detested mafia men, the precautions he took whenever he was investigating someone particrly dangerous. He sent me and Mom to my grandparents in Idaho again and again, worried we¡¯d get caught in a bacsh. One time, a cop trailed me from ss to ss because Dad couldn¡¯t take me outof school during exams, and they coincided with him moving in on yet another big fish. And now I find out he not only worked with the man he spent months investigating, not only did he flush his entire moral code down the drain, but he invited a criminal into our house. He left me alone with him so many times. Turned a blind eye while we sneaked around¡­ It¡¯s too much toprehend. My worldview, everything I knew about my own father, shatters before my eyes. The evidence was supposed to answer questions, not flood my mind with more. I back away from the screen, unsure how to proceed. Unsure what to believe. ¡°This isn¡¯t right¡­¡± I whisper, my back hitting the kitchen cupboards. ¡°I¡­ I need a minute.¡± The weight of their gazes follows me as I rush upstairs, two steps at a time. My mind¡¯s a nest of drunk hos. Too many thoughts fight for attention, spiking my anxiety so high I¡¯m not far off hyperventting. I burst into the bedroom, shaking all over. One second, I think there¡¯s a rational exnation and in the next breath I¡¯m drowning in hurt, hatred, confusion, and fear. It¡¯s too much. I don¡¯t know how to stop the tornado tearing through my head. Pacing the room doesn¡¯t help. Every footstep is a new idea, a new possibility. Nothing I conjure makes me feel any better. My heartrate climbs higher and higher, every breath harder to pull down, a panic attack well underway. ¡°Calm down, breathe,¡± I chant, inhaling through my nose, then out through my mouth. ¡°Everything will be okay.¡± The bedroom door opens and closes, the scent of Carter¡¯s cologne breaching the warm space. I¡¯m still walking in circles,talking myself out of a panic attack. I don¡¯t trust my mind right now. If I stop moving, I might crumble. ¡°Hailey, stop.¡± Carter grips my wrist, pulling me into his chest. His other hand tangles in my hair. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m overwhelmed, but I¡¯m dealing with it. I just¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t analyze. We don¡¯t have enough information yet. You need to stop thinking or you¡¯ll drive yourself crazy before Charles gets here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± I mutter, molding myself further into him. ¡°He¡¯ll exin, won¡¯t he? It¡¯ll make sense. I¡¯ll be fine. I just need to keep my head upied until then.¡± Carter inches away, enough so he can cup my face, his thumbs swiping the remnants of tears from my cheeks. ¡°I hope you realize how strong you are. How resilient. You have so much fight in you.¡± He kisses my forehead, keeping his lips there as he speaks. ¡°I¡¯m so fucking proud of you.¡± I wrap my hands around his neck and rise on my toes, sealing his lips with mine. Nothing clears my head better than Carter. Whenever hemands my body, hemands my mind, and right now, in all this chaos, his dominating, imposing ways are the only thing that will help me switch off. Our tongues mingle, my breathing rolling from one end of the spectrum to another. Instead of nearly hyperventting, I¡¯m close to breathless, the conflicting emotions inside me morphing into pure, adrenaline-driven lust. ¡°I know Ryder¡¯s pulling up more evidence,¡± I whisper in his mouth, biting his lower lip, ¡°and you want to see it, but¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯ll wait,¡± he cuts in, filling his big hands with my thighs to haul me into his arms. ¡°You need me, don¡¯t you?¡± I nod, weaving my hands through his hair as he drops me on the bed, covering my body with his. ¡°Make me forget the world.¡± He grabs a remote control from the nightstand, aiming it behind him. Thick, ckout curtains slide along the ss wall overlooking the gallery and the lower level of the loft.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Before you start wonderingwhyI have them,¡± he says, helping me out of my hoodie. ¡°I usually don¡¯t go to sleep until the early morning hours.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care why you¡¯ve got them. I just wish they were soundproof.¡± ¡°So do I¡­ but they¡¯re not, so you¡¯ll have to be quiet.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 40 ¡°He¡¯s here,¡± Broadway says, watching the street through the window. ¡°Want me to go get him?¡± ¡°I think he¡¯ll manage without assistance.¡± My eyes swing upstairs where Hailey¡¯s been sleeping for four hours. I wrung so many orgasms out of her she couldn¡¯t lift her head off the pillow and she fell asleep before I got dressed. It¡¯s good she didn¡¯te down with me to carry on looking through the evidence¡­ it¡¯d probably fucking kill her. Alex wasn¡¯t the only familiar face among the three hundred and fifty pictures. I¡¯ve been stewing for hours, imagining all the ways I¡¯ll torture Vaughn for endangering Hailey¡¯s life. For the lies he told and the strings he pulled behind the scenes. Two minutes pass before a shy knock echoes through the loft. Koby flings the door open, letting Vaughn inside. He looks worse than he did atDelta: ashen skin, bloodshot eyes, slumped shoulders¡­ little confidence left in his veins. ¡°Where¡¯s Hailey?¡± he asks, stumbling inside. ¡°Does she¡ª¡± ¡°She knows,¡± I cut him off, pointing out a chair. ¡°Sit.¡± With visible reluctance, he does. ¡°Where is she? Don¡¯t you think she should hear this from me?¡± I scoff, twirling the crystal ss on the armrest. ¡°You thought I¡¯d let you dump this onme? No fucking way am I cleaning up your mess, but before I wake her, I want to know one thing.¡± I tell Ryder to bring theptop, find the picture that¡¯s been stripping me of my sanity for four hours and turn the screen Vaughn¡¯s way. Leaning out of my seat, I rest both elbows on my knees, stewing beneath the artificial calm fa?ade. ¡°Did you know where Hailey was when you cuffed me?¡± He stares at a picture of himself in some dark alleyway, arm-in-arm with Octavius Grey and¡­ ze Noretto. Seconds tick by as Vaughn pales further, covering his mouth with a mmy hand. ¡°Did you?¡± I repeat. ¡°Did you send Noretto after Matthews¡¯ daughter, so he¡¯d take Hailey there?¡± ¡°I¡­ I couldn¡¯t hide her from your father without help,¡± he squeaks. Every word boils my blood further. ¡°When Matthews called to say he was bringing Hailey home, thatyouhad been at Lakeside with her the whole time¡ª¡± He falls silent when I jump to my feet, pull my gun out and aim it between his eyes. ¡°I should fucking shoot you,¡± I grit out. ¡°Do you have any idea what you put her through? How fucking scared she was when I got there?¡± He hides his face in both hands, a powerful shudder shaking his shoulders. ¡°I swear¡­ I didn¡¯t deal with Noretto. I asked Octavius for help but I had no idea Hailey was with ze until we found Matthews¡­ I¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± I clip, my insides shaking like an uncoiled spring. ¡°Hailey deserves to hear this from you. And I fucking hope she doesn¡¯t find it in her to forgive you.¡± I holster my gun, shepherding the wrath burning my veins as I climb the stairs and enter the bedroom. She¡¯s still asleep, a veil of her hair scattered across the pillow, framing her calm face. She won¡¯t stay this calm much longer. I spent hours watching her sleep at Lakeside when I broke into her room in the dead of night, and many more hours on the monitors at the safe house. She¡¯s fascinating no matter what she does. Evenatose, she¡¯s absolutely breathtaking. I crouch by the bed, running a gentle hand across her cheek. ¡°Hailey¡­ wake up, pretty girl.¡± It takes a few tries before her eyes flutter. ¡°Hey,¡± she whispers on a soft sigh, untangling herself from theforter as she sits up. ¡°Is he here?¡± ¡°He is.¡± I grip her wrist, pulling her hand to my lips. ¡°I found something while you were sleeping. You should hear what Vaughn has to say but remember I¡¯m always here for you. I¡¯ll get you through this.¡± Her brows furrow and her pulse quickens under my thumb. ¡°How bad is it?¡± she whispers, tucking her hair behind one ear. This is one of those moments where a lie woulde in handy, but I¡¯ve lied enough. She deserves better. ¡°It¡¯s bad. So bad that I¡¯ll only let him live if you tell me I can¡¯t fucking kill him. Whatever you decide, I¡¯ve got you, Hailey. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re okay.¡± Her chin wobbles but she curls her lips into a small smile. ¡°You can¡¯t kill my dad, Carter.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t heard what he¡¯s done.¡± She cups my face, stamping a cute, soft kiss on my head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. If you want me to be okay, you can¡¯t kill him.¡± I catch her lips with mine, soothing her mind the only way I know how. It¡¯s temporary. The calmness won¡¯tst longer than a few seconds, but those few seconds are important. ¡°Come on, he¡¯s waiting downstairs.¡± She scrambles out of bed, pulling my hoodie over her head, and follows me as we descend the stairs. Vaughn watches her every move, tears springing to his eyes, shoulders visibly shaking. ¡°Hailey¡­¡± He rises to his feet, stepping forward, but I grab my gun, halting him in ce. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I snap. ¡°She won¡¯t let me kill you, but I can wound you. If you even think about going anywhere near her, I will pull the trigger.¡± He balls his fists, looking at his daughter like he expects her to defend him. The fucking audacity. Hailey does nothing, putting all her trust inmenot her father. The only indication she¡¯s not happy with my threat is the way she tenses beside me. But she doesn¡¯t stop me. ¡°You don¡¯t get to act like a concerned father,¡± I continue. ¡°Not after the hell you put her through.Sitandtalk. You have one chance to tell her exactly what happened from start to finish.¡± I almost hear the frustration screaming inside his head. Heaving out a breath, he settles back into the armchair, grinding his mrs. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he begins. ¡°I hope you believe that, Hailey, because I truly am sorry. It¡¯s no excuse, but¡­¡± He inhales deeply, finding a shred of courage to look her in the eye. ¡°When your mother got sick, I lost my way. My sry didn¡¯t cover her medical bills and I was desperate to save her.¡± ¡°So you made a deal with Octavius,¡± Hailey says, crossing her arms. ¡°You did the one thing you swore you¡¯d never do.¡± ¡°I loved her,¡± he says simply. ¡°I couldn¡¯t imagine my life without her.¡± He forces the wobble out of his voice before continuing, ¡°Her oncologist mentioned some experimental treatments, but I couldn¡¯t afford them. You¡¯re lucky you don¡¯t remember how she suffered.¡± He pinches his nose, briefly ncing my way before focusing on his daughter. ¡°Right around the time your mom was admitted to hospital, I made a breakthrough in my case against Octavius. I knew he was heavily involved in human trafficking, but it took months to find concrete proof.¡± He keeps talking, exining how, instead of using the evidence to put Octavius behind bars, he made him a deal. Vaughn promised he¡¯d facilitate Grey¡¯s growing business, which coincidentally aligned perfectly with Noretto¡¯s new venture. It¡¯s a deal as old as time: immunity in exchange for cash, which Vaughn used to try and save his wife. Obviously, that didn¡¯t work. His wife died and word about the cleanest cop in the northern hemisphere epting bribes somehow got out. It¡¯s unclear how it happened. To be perfectly honest, I don¡¯t exactly give a shithow, though givenwhofound out, I have ideas. Rhett¡¯s a cunning bastard. I guess he was looking for an angle on Vaughn since the day he arrived in Ohio. And he found one. ¡°Rhett reached out to me a few months after your mom passed away,¡± Vaughn continues, his eyes not veering from Hailey¡¯s face. ¡°I was devastated. I wanted revenge but there was no one to me¡­ so I found a way to channel my anger¡­¡± He nces at me, wiping the sweat beading at his hairline with the back of his trembling hand. ¡°I channeled it all into your father. Call it payback for old times¡¯ sake.¡± ¡°Rhett killed your partner, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Is that what he told you?¡± he scoffs, eyeing the ss of whiskey in my hand. ¡°It all happened thirty-five years ago, Carter. I didn¡¯t have a partner back then. I wasn¡¯t even a cop.¡± I jut my chin at Koby, motioning at the drinks cab. ¡°Get him a whiskey.¡± No matter what his reasons are he doesn¡¯tdeserve forgiveness, but I can spare a ss of my finest to keep his tongue loose. Hailey stirs beside me, pulling her feet under her butt and nuzzling a touch closer to me. ¡°You want wine, pretty girl?¡± A nod is all I get. She listens to Vaughn¡¯s confessions in silence, and once again I¡¯m filled with so much fucking pride. I have no idea where she gets her strength from. ¡°It was Grandad, wasn¡¯t it?¡± she asks once Broadway¡¯s handed out fresh drinks. ¡°That¡¯s who Rhett killed.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a story for another day, though. It doesn¡¯t matter how and why I chose Rhett, what matters is that I made him my outlet. I needed someone to me for my world falling apart so I dug up the old grudge and moved to Ohio.¡± ¡°You said we needed a change of scenery.¡± ¡°We did.Idid,¡± Vaughn admits, his tone resigned, eyes darting away from his daughter. ¡°You hated the idea.¡± He keeps going, telling us how he started building a case against Rhett the minute hended in Ohio, that pinning my father became his obsession, something he used to channel his rage and despair. His voice wobbles a few times, then starts to break when he delivers another blow. He drops his teary eyes down, mirroring his next words. ¡°I couldn¡¯t look at you, Hailey. You reminded me of your mom so much¡­ every time I looked at you, I relived her death.¡± She grabs my hand, digging her nails into my flesh like that small connection is the only thing keeping her together. ¡°I spent as little time at home as I could, working myself to the ground. The months ticked over, but I couldn¡¯t find enough evidence to secure an arrest warrant, let alone put Rhett behind bars.¡± He downs thest of his whiskey, holding the empty ss in his shaking hand until Broadway takes it for a refill. ¡°When did you realize Rhett had the pictures?¡± I ask, steering the conversation back on track. I want facts not a sob story. ¡°I was drunk one evening,¡± he says, leaning back in his seat. Looks like the amber liquid cruising down his throat is working. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I had anything to lose so I went to see him. I told him he should watch his back¡­ he showed me the pictures.¡± He heaves a heavy sigh. ¡°I was ready to give up, pack our bags and move elsewhere, start over again, but then I got handed a golden ticket. See, after I left Florida, Octavius found himself a new doormat.¡± His voice grows thick again and I know he¡¯s about to divulge the worst part of this story. My fingers flex around Hailey¡¯s, the only constion I can offer. She squeezes right back, inhaling an inconspicuous, calming breath. ¡°Another cop, he had a daughter. Young little thing. Barely sixteen. And Octavius had a man in his crew who started using. It caused him a lot of trouble.¡± ¡°Was it Alex?¡± Hailey asks, her tone void of emotions. I¡¯m not sure if she¡¯s this fucking brave, or just in shock, but thisck of emotional reaction isn¡¯t her. She¡¯s not a cold person. She alwaysfeels. Right now, she¡¯s blocking out the meaning behind Vaughn¡¯s words. ¡°Yes, it was Alex,¡± he confirms in a stilted voice. ¡°All I know is that, one night, the cop wouldn¡¯t help with something, so the drugged-up idiot kidnapped his daughter. He locked her somewhere and¡ª¡± He chokes on the sentence, gouging his fist into his eyes. ¡°He raped and battered her to death.¡± ¡°And you introduced that fucking psychopath to your teenage daughter,¡± I spit out, my pulse skyrocketing. ¡°He got clean,¡± Vaughn wails in defense. ¡°When Octavius told me what Alex did, I saw an opportunity¡­ I was tiredof failing, scared of what your father would make me do in exchange for keeping those pictures buried. I needed a win, and I wanted that win to be Rhett.¡± ¡°So you wiped Alex¡¯s background and ckmailed him into working my father,¡± I say, flexing my fingers to stop them grabbing the gun and emptying the clip into Vaughn¡¯s head. ¡°Was Aalyiah his way in from the start?¡± ¡°No¡­ Of course not. I didn¡¯t know about your sister¡¯s involvement for a long time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what he meant,¡± Hailey whispers. ¡°When Alex said I was his insurance policy¡­ he was going to use me as leverage if things went wrong.¡± She wiggles her hand out of my grasp, snatching her wine ss. ¡°Did you know we were dating? Did you know what he was doing to me?¡± Vaughn shakes his head. ¡°Not until that night.¡± ¡°We were sneaking around for months!¡± she snaps, the anger in her tone quickening my pulse. ¡°How did you not notice?!¡± ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t pay attention, Hailey. I avoided you for so long I wasdwhenever Alex came over and I didn¡¯t have to sit alone with you. I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart. I was riddled with grief; I couldn¡¯t see any light.¡± ¡°He abused me for months,¡± she spits. ¡°I let him becauseyouweren¡¯t there. I had no one. You didn¡¯t talk to me. You didn¡¯t care and Alex¡­ at first, he was nice. He had time.¡± Vaughn stares at her, guilty tears running down his cheeks. It¡¯s clear he regrets his choices and, while I understand grief, he wasn¡¯t the only one grieving. He wasn¡¯t alone. He had a daughter. A daughter he alienated because she reminded him of histe wife. A daughter he left in the ws of a rapist and killer. ¡°He talked to me,¡± Hailey continues softly. ¡°He bought me pretty things, called me pretty names¡­ I didn¡¯t feel so lonely when he was around. It was fucked upter, but even when heonly stopped by to have his dick sucked, he was there. I wasn¡¯t alone.¡± A pained sob almost rips Vaughn¡¯s chest wide open. It¡¯s not often you see a man of his stature break down. The weight of the pain he¡¯s caused his only daughter is crushing him¡­ and there¡¯s still more sinister shit for him to confess. ¡°I wish I could turn back time,¡± he whispers, wiping his face with both hands. ¡°I swear, I never meant to hurt you.¡± ¡°Toote,¡± she snaps, finishing her wine. Broadway doesn¡¯t miss a beat, refilling her ss as if he¡¯s her personal bartender. ¡°So, when you sent Alex to retrieve the evidence from Rhett, you weren¡¯t doing a noble thing,¡± Hailey continues. ¡°You weren¡¯t trying to send a bad man behind bars. No, you were trying to cover your own ass. Then Rhett found out he got screwed over, Alex died, I lost my memories¡­¡± She frowns, tapping her nails along her ss. ¡°Did you know Alex gave me the evidence?¡± He nods, weighing his next words. ¡°He called me that night of your ident. You were in the car with him. He said Rhett¡¯s men were after him and that if anything happened, you¡¯d know where the evidence was.¡± I wonder if that¡¯s how my father found out. Did he get his hands on a recording of their conversation and discover Hailey was the key? He couldn¡¯t have had a bug on Alex¡¯s phone. If he did, he¡¯d have known he was working him much sooner. ¡°So you hid Hailey at Lakeside and lied through your teeth the whole time she was there,¡± I say. ¡°What about Matthews? How does he y into this?¡± ¡°Matthews didn¡¯t know shit. Well, he knew Alex was working Rhett, and that Hailey had the evidence, but he had no idea who Alex really was, what he was there to retrieve, or that I was ckmailing him.¡± ¡°Keep going,¡± I urge. ¡°Tell her about the night she ran from Lakeside.¡± Hailey shifts beside me, tensing like a drawn bowstring. ¡°What about that night?¡± Vaughn takes a moment, swirling the amber liquid in his ss while he gathers the courage to continue. ¡°Matthews called me after you told him about the shbacks and Nash.¡± He shoots me a pointed look. ¡°I knew thatNashwas someone from Rhett¡¯s crew and I panicked¡­ If he found you at Lakeside, I had no hope of keeping you safe for however long it took for your memories toe back.¡± ¡°You motherfucker,¡± Broadway clips, apparently losing his patience. ¡°You fucking piece of shit.Youstaged the kidnapping?!¡± And he¡¯s on his feet, gun in hand. ¡°Calm down,¡± I clip, gesturing for him to stand down. ¡°Let him finish.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking clearly,¡± Vaughn utters. ¡°The ground was slipping from under my feet.¡± He meets Hailey¡¯s eyes. ¡°I wanted to make sure you¡¯d be safe. Had I known where¡ª¡± ¡°Get. To. The.Point,¡± I seethe. ¡°What did you do?¡± He swallows hard, eyes idling between Hailey and me. ¡°I called Octavius because he¡¯s in those pictures too. If you look closely, there are many powerful people in the background. Not just mafia, but politicians, CEOs, army generals, celebrities¡­ He didn¡¯t know those pictures existed until then. I begged him to hide Hailey. I knew he¡¯d most likely kill me once he had the evidence, but that wasn¡¯t important¡­ what I didn¡¯t anticipate, was that he¡¯d involve Noretto.¡± Andcrack. Hailey¡¯s disturbingposure shatters in an instant. It¡¯s not as spectacr as I expected. She¡¯s not yelling, cursing, or panicking. She¡¯s simplydone. So fucking disappointed I can feelthe hurt radiating off her. Her cheeks turn white, tears spring from her eyes, and the most heartbreaking sob fills the loft. I reach to grab her, curl her into me and hold her while she cries, but that initial reaction doesn¡¯tst. My fingers grasp thin air. She bolts upright. ¡°Matthews is dead because of you! Hisdaughteris dead because of you! I spent every waking minute in that mansion scared I¡¯d end up just like them. ze¡¯s men threated to rape me,shed me down with whips and belts, they almost fucking broke me!¡± She hurls her ss at Vaughn.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. It shatters against the right side of his face, leaving a gaping wound that immediately leaks blood. ¡°Hailey, I¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± she booms. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare make excuses! You were so scared of failure you couldn¡¯t see you were failingme.¡± She turns, grabs my ss, and sends it flying after the first. ¡°You lost your wife when Mom died. I lostbothparents!¡± ¡°Oh shit,¡± Broadway snaps. He snatches his gun at lightning speed, stering himself beside the window he¡¯s been looking out of for the past ten minutes. ¡°Sorry to interrupt, butfuck, Carter. Your father¡¯s here.¡± I¡¯m beside Broadway in a sh, looking to check how many goons Rhett¡¯s brought with him. Confusion twists my gut when I see it¡¯s just him and Apollo. They¡¯re armed and Rhett¡¯s got murder on his mind if the way he strolls toward the building is any indication. Instead of a Glock or a Revolver like he usually carries, he¡¯s holding a fucking tommy gun. ¡°Ryder,¡± I clip. ¡°Time to disappear. Keep the evidence safe.¡± He starts unplugging his hardware, shoving it all into arge duffel bag, and Broadway rushes over to help. ¡°How the fuck did he find out we¡¯re here?¡± Koby asks, the barrel of his gun aimed at the door. ¡°You think he knows we have the evidence?¡± ¡°Yeah. Looks like he¡¯s been keeping tabs on him.¡± I nudge my chin at Vaughn, who¡¯s still staring at his heaving daughter. She¡¯s no longer yelling, still as a statue, her eyes following my every move while I check my clip¡¯s loaded. ¡°He probably has a tracker on your car,¡± I tell Vaughn. ¡°Or a bug on your phone,¡± he whispers. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell anyone we¡¯ve got the evidence.¡± ¡°You toldme. You didn¡¯t call me from a burner this morning, Carter.¡± The color leaves my face, in stark contrast with the blood still oozing from the hole in Vaughn¡¯s cheek. He¡¯s right. I was shocked, fucking seething at the sight of the cleanest cop in the history of America epting bribes that I pulled outmyphone, not the burner. That exins how Rhett got here less than half an hour after Vaughn. He heard our conversation¡­ I can only imagine what¡¯s been going through his head. Fuck! ¡°You didn¡¯t bother checking Apollo¡¯s phone bug since we came back, did you?¡± I snap at Ryder. We would¡¯ve known they wereing if a shred of anyone¡¯s attention had been on something other than the evidence. He shakes his head, guilt marring his expression. ¡°No¡­ I¡ª¡± I wave him off before he gets going. It¡¯s way toote for apologies andI should haves. ¡°Get moving.¡± Koby gets into the elevator, sliding the metal cage shut, determination etched into his face. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your call.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get caught.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fucking die,¡± he counters, nothing south of his head visible. Two secondster, it¡¯s not even that. Hailey sways on her feet. The onught of revtions and the fear cinching her chest at the prospect of facing my father makes her knees weak. She¡¯s paler than curdled milk, her lips parted, wide eyes trained on the door. I bet she¡¯s recalling the only image of Rhett she has: covered in blood and fresh from a kill. She¡¯s a tough girl but my father fills her with fear unlike anything else. ¡°Hailey.¡± I grasp her chin, forcing her eyes on me. ¡°Look at me. I won¡¯t let him anywhere near you. You trust me, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, but¡ª¡± ¡°None of that. Nobuts. I¡¯m here and you¡¯re safe. Go upstairs. Your gun¡¯s in the nightstand drawer, fully loaded. Grab that and don¡¯te down until I tell you, understood?¡± Her white teeth sink into her bottom lip, her uncertainty fading and turning to determination as she bobs her head. ¡°Good girl. Go.¡± She scrambles away, her small feet thudding up the stairs. The bedroom door closes and, simultaneously, the front door bursts open, hitting the wall with an almighty ng. Apollo is greeted by three gun barrels pointed at his head. ¡°This will work out better for you if you drop your gun,¡± I say, sliding my finger onto the trigger. ¡°As I¡¯m sure you recall, I¡¯m a much better shot than you.¡± ¡°BecauseItaught you everything you know, you ungrateful son of a bitch!¡± Rhett booms, elbowing his way inside the loft, his tommy gun pointing down. ¡°You better have a good reason why you told this scum you found the evidence before you told me.¡± His gaze roams the whole ce, sweeping every nook and cranny before reaching the first floor. The second his eyesnd on Hailey, a deranged, twisted smile curls his lips. ¡°There¡¯s the troublemaking slut.¡± He casts a long nce at Apollo. ¡°Drag her down here.¡± ¡°Take one fucking step and it¡¯ll be yourst,¡± I say, aiming between Rhett¡¯s eyes while my men¡¯s guns stay trained on Apollo. ¡°Calm the fuck down and let¡¯s talk. I seem to be missing some information. Likewhoit was you executed at the warehouse before you sent Babyface after Alex?¡± Now I have his attention. His and Apollo¡¯s. While Rhett looks positively stunned, Apollo looks relieved¡­ Rhett¡¯s eyes narrow, surprise crossing his features before he shakes it off, masking other emotions. Too little, toote. I already know I¡¯m barking up the right tree, and I don¡¯t miss that scrutinizing, hateful stare of his shooting upstairs again. He knows Hailey saw him. And he knows it¡¯s only a matter of time before I find out what really happened. ¡°I should¡¯ve killed that bitch when I had the chance.¡± There¡¯s a soft thud upstairs as if Hailey braced against the ss wall above my head. I have an order on the tip of my tongue:Broadway, go check on Hailey, but I can¡¯t risk Rhett firing the tommy gun the second Broadway turns his back on him. Saving Hailey: Chapter 41 THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT The taxi driver nces at me over his shoulder as I hand him a fifty. The sky outside is dark, specked with a few stars, though most of them are hidden by the city¡¯s light pollution. I push the door open, ignoring the proffered change, every muscle in my body wound up so tight the ligaments aren¡¯t far off snapping. There¡¯s a lead weight in the pit of my stomach that makes my knees wobble as I nce around the sketchy neighborhood. The driver pulls away from the curb, disappearing behind a corner. I¡¯m alone, nothing but a patch of abandoned wastnd before me, and a few run-down houses behind. The few working streemps illuminate the trash bags littering the pavement, but no lights are flickering in the windows. In the distance, a few rickety warehouses stand out like a sore thumb. They were part of a watch factory that closed years ago and the area has been abandoned ever since. At least that¡¯s what I thought, but Aalyiah said her father uses the warehouses from time to time. ¡°He¡¯s in a meeting this evening, so he won¡¯t be there,¡±she assured me over the phone.¡°It¡¯s remote. There¡¯s no surveince.¡± I swallow hard, stepping off the curb to cross the street. Soon enough my sneakers sink into muddy ground, the darkness of the night shadowing my presence. The chilly air¡ªa subtle reminder of summer¡¯s end¡ªwhips my face, tangling my hair and raising goosebumps up my arms. Though that might be both the cold evening and the anxiety clutching at my throat. I didn¡¯t think this through when I called her. It was a spur of the moment decision fueled by Alex¡¯s fear. I wanted to help, so I dialed Aalyiah¡¯s number, failing to weigh the pros and cons of meeting his girlfriend in the dead of night. Since we hung up, I¡¯ve spent every minute wondering what I¡¯ll say when I see the girl Alex loves. How do I exin this clusterfuck? What do I expect from her? That one¡¯s easy. I want her to end her rtionship with Alex. If she finds out about me, she¡¯ll leave him and he can give my father the evidence. If she¡¯s not in the picture, the solution is much simpler. Alex can finish his job without worrying he¡¯ll lose her for failing to protect her brother. Every step I take quickens my pulse to the point where every heartbeat resonates inside my head. All the reasons why I shouldn¡¯t meet a stranger in a remote location without letting anyone know where I am flood my mind. It might be a trap. I don¡¯t know Aalyiah. I have no idea what she¡¯s capable of, or who she might¡¯ve told about this meeting.Maybe the phone call spooked her and she ran straight to Rhett, confessing that she¡¯s been seeing a cop? Maybe she told Alex and he¡¯s waiting for me, ready to unleash every ounce of his anger. I shove those thoughts aside and step between two buildings, wondering which one she¡¯s in. Old machinery litters the empty yard, five buildings circling the tarmacked space. ncing around the corner, I scan the factory for signs of life. I¡¯m about ready to turn around and give up when I notice lights in the windows to my left. It looks like someone¡¯s lighting candles. Staying in the shadows, I circle the perimeter, moving away from the entrance and around the back. I¡¯m not walking in there without checking Aalyiah¡¯s alone. If it¡¯s even her in there. Dry leaves crunch softly under my feet, the only sound in the otherwise silent night. I pause, listening for any movement before moving closer to the wall, each step measured, my senses heightened. When another window appears, I ster myself to the wall and almost have a coronary when the stillness is broken by the sound of a quickly approaching car. I wonder if it¡¯s Aalyiah until it stops abruptly and the doors bang shut.Twopairs of boots thump into the building. Definitely male steps. Rushed, angry, heavy. My heart leaps into my throat, every dark scenario I imagined about this situationing true. There¡¯s a shuffle of feet close by, right behind the wall I¡¯m leaning against. I inch closer to the window, peering through the gaps in the broken, misty ss. The warehouse is bathed in shadows, vast but not empty. Dust swirls in the orange glow of candles irregrly ced around the floor and on metal tables lining the far wall, but the dimmed lightning changes to clinical at the flip of a switch. Aalyiah stands in the middle, ncing around with big, fearful eyes. She¡¯s even prettier than her picture. Long, dark brown hair, round face, full lips. There¡¯s a vulnerability about her I hadn¡¯t expected. An aura of pure goodness. She was supposed to be alone, but the heavy footsteps echoing through the warehouse betray that thisisa trap. My blood runs cold when I recognize the man at the front. Rhett Wird in the flesh, his presence menacing even from a distance. Aalyiah turns sharply, her body stiffening as she locks eyes with her father, and it¡¯s in this moment I realize she wasn¡¯t expecting him. ¡°You dumb bitch!¡± Rhett bellows, his voice slicing the air like a de. ¡°You¡¯re dating a cop?! You¡¯d betray your own blood?!¡± All I see is their profiles, but Aalyiah¡¯s cowering, shaking softly, tears in her eyes as she sinks in on herself, pale and mmy. ¡°You¡¯re a fucking disgrace,¡± he spits out, getting closer. ¡°Are you meeting him here? You¡¯re using my warehouse to fuck around with that scum?¡± He stops and backhands her so hard her head swings to the side. Blood oozes from her split lip but she doesn¡¯t have a chance to wipe it. Rhett grabs a fistful of her hair, yanking her closer, and she yelps as tears slide down her cheeks. ¡°What did you tell him?¡± ¡°Dad, please¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to¡­ I¡ª¡± ¡°He got his hands on a shitload of important documents,¡± he seethes, shoving her to the ground. ¡°Did you help him?! Did you betray me for that son of a bitch?!¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt him,¡± she begs, choking on her tears as she mbers over the dried bloodstains that cover the concrete floor. ¡°Please, it¡¯s not his fault. Vaughn¡¯s using him, he¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck about excuses!¡± Rhett snaps, pacing like a caged animal, fury igniting him from the inside out. He turnsto the man who arrived with him, sputtering through clenched teeth. ¡°Get Babyface on it. I want Alex herealivewithin the hour!¡± He turns to Aalyiah, kicking her away when she tries grabbing his leg. ¡°You can watch him die.¡± ¡°No! No, you can¡¯t kill him!¡± ¡°I can and I will. You better pray he gives up the evidence quickly or you¡¯ll watch him die fordays.¡± ¡°No, Dad, please¡­¡± Aalyiah wails, her sobs filling the warehouse. ¡°I beg you! I¡¯m so sorry! Please, I¡¯ll do anything. Just don¡¯t hurt him. I love him!¡± There¡¯s a moment, a split second, where Rhett¡¯s rage spills over a far more sinister edge. His eyes ze with a wild, uncontrolled madness and his hand moves to the gun at his belt. It happens so fast my brain barely registers the movement before a gunshot, a single, deafening st, freezes my blood. Aalyiah copses, her body crumpling to the floor like a marite with its strings cut. Blood seeps from the hole in her forehead, dull eyes staring into the abyss of death. Rhett stands over her, holding the gun, his chest heaving withbored breaths.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Stunned silence nkets the warehouse. It doesn¡¯tst¡­ Rhett whips himself back from his lunacy and his vengeful fa?ade cracks. He crumples to his knees beside Aalyiah, the most agonizing, animalistic anguish tearing out of his mouth. ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± he chants, gathering her lifeless body up off the floor, his face twisted with grief, shock, and an ocean of agony. ¡°No, baby, no, no, no. Please¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± He grabs her chin, shaking her head like he¡¯s trying to wake her up. ¡°Come back, baby,¡± he begs, his voice barely audible. ¡°You¡¯re okay, little girl, you¡¯re okay¡­ Pleasee back¡­¡± Tears slide down his cheeks in sync with the tears dripping from the tip of his nose as he gathers Aalyiah further into his arms. He rocks her back and forth, her blood seeping into his clothes. He tangles his fingers in her hair, begging and apologizing on repeat, his body shaken by pained cries. I watch, paralyzed, as the ruthless mafia boss I¡¯ve heard so much about is reduced to a broken shell of a man, undone by his own hand. His momentarypse of judgment, a split-second loss of control, cost him his daughter. It¡¯s not until the other man speaks that I realize I¡¯m shaking and hugging myself, sorrow tearing through me as if I was the one to pull the trigger. I¡¯m still hidden in the shadows, the gravity of what I¡¯ve witnessed sending a rush of panic through my nerve endings. But I can¡¯t move, my legs feel like two tubs of water. It seems an eternity before Rhett¡¯s sobs cease and my muscles unwind. Slowly, heys Aalyiah down, closing her eyes with a trembling hand. He marshals his emotions, standing up as if in slow motion, like he can barely move under the weight of what he¡¯s done. My stomach churns. There¡¯s so much blood. It¡¯s everywhere¡­ spattered over his white shirt, brown coat, and gray pants, dripping from his hands, speckling his forehead¡ªa jarring contrast to his paleplexion. He¡¯s white as a sheet, staring at the crimson river pooling around his feet. I¡¯m transfixed, watching him wipe his hands down the front of his shirt. His chest rises and falls as he steadies his breathing, lifting his chin higher, his dark gaze still on his lifeless daughter. In a mechanical move, like he¡¯s done this a thousand times before, he tucks his gun into a coat pocket. ¡°Boss?¡± As Rhett turns toward the other man, his eyes are vacant, face sinister and torn. Every line and wrinkle screams about his grief, but not just grief¡­ there¡¯s more. A mindless, deranged kind of thirst for vengeance. And that¡¯s when I realize the danger Alex and I are in. Holding my breath, I stare at the ground, inch away from the window as quietly as possible. My mind races faster than my heart. My flight instinct kicks into its highest gear, burning through my shock. Soundlessly, taking every step as if it were myst, I back away, one hand sped over my mouth until I¡¯m far enough away that I can¡¯t hear anything from the warehouse. Spinning on my heel, I pull my phone out and break into a sprint. Tears sting my eyes, panicked sobs catch in my throat, but I run, simultaneously dialing Alex¡¯s number. I trip,nd in the mud, then gather myself up and keep running, lured by the doubtful safety of the distant streemps, sending call after call to Alex¡¯s phone that he keeps rejecting. ¡°What?¡± Alex finally snaps into the receiver on my fifth try. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Rhett¡¯sing for you. You need to run!¡± ¡°What the fuck are you talking about? Where are you?¡± ¡°Alex, listen! Aalyiah¡­ she¡¯s dead, I¡ª¡± I fall again, bracing against the damp ground, my knee hitting arge rock. Pain doesn¡¯t register, pushed to the background by the adrenaline. ¡°Hailey!¡± Alex booms into my ear when I pick up the phone. ¡°What¡¯s going on?! Where are you?¡± ¡°I went to see Aalyiah at the warehouse, but Rhett came first,¡± I pant, looking over my shoulder in case I¡¯m being chased. ¡°He knows you¡¯re a cop. He shot her, Alex. He didn¡¯t mean to, but he did. She¡¯s dead and his men areing for you!¡± I run out onto the empty street, sprinting across, then left and right between buildings while Alex stays silent, nothing save for his heavy breaths sounding in my ear. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± I heave, not far off copsing. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± he asks, his voice weak, pure anguish tearing him apart. ¡°Did Rhett see you?¡± ¡°No, I ran. Don¡¯t worry about me. Get out¡ª¡± ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll track your phone.¡± ¡°No! You need to run, he¡¯ll kill you!¡± I turn into a dark alleyway and hide behind an overflowing trash can. My connection to Alex clicks and crackles. ¡°Stay right where you are. I¡¯ming for you.¡± ¡°No! You¡ª¡± He cuts the call. I redial immediately, but this time he doesn¡¯t answer no matter how many times I try. And, even though it¡¯s selfish, a small part of me cheers knowing he won¡¯t leave me here alone. That he cares, even if only a little. Cowering in the darkness, my chest hurts with the effort it took to flee. Tears no longer trail down my cheeks but fear lingers like something vile stuck to the back of my throat,plemented by the stench of trash, piss, and feces. Deep breaths don¡¯t calm me down. I freak out again every time I blink and see Aalyiah¡¯s dead body on the stained floor. Wind howls above, and every sound makes my skin break out in goosebumps, but I focus on the minutes moving forward in the right-hand corner of my cell screen until a car pulls up nearby. Doors open, close, and rushed footsteps beat closer. ¡°Hailey?¡± Alex stutters, his voice thick with tears. All air leaves my lungs in a long gasp. I scramble off the ground,ing out from behind the trash can to find him a few steps away, his shoulders shaking, face wet. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± I yelp, flinging myself into his arms. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Alex, I¡ª¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this,¡± he snaps, shoving me away. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to your father.¡± He drags me toward the car and almost throws me into the passenger seat. Once I¡¯m secured in ce, he ms the door and rounds the hood, his despair amplified when the headlights illuminate his face. ¡°Why are we going to see Dad? You need to run!¡± I shout once he¡¯s in the driving seat. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere I can hide from Rhett!¡± He bangs his hands against the steering wheel. ¡°What the fuck were you doing at the warehouse?!¡± He shoves the car into gear, dropping the gas pedal all the way. ¡°Why were you there?¡± ¡°Aalyiah told me to meet her there.¡± He mps his jaw shut, grinding his teeth, anger temporarily taking center stage and pushing his grief aside. We¡¯re flying at eighty miles an hour, the city a blur outside the windows. For the first time, I don¡¯t mind the speed. I want to put as much distance between us and Rhett as quickly as possible. ¡°I was trying to protect you,¡± I whisper, yanking the seatbelt across my body. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t listen, so I stole Aalyiah¡¯s number from your phone. I thought maybe you¡¯d listen to her¡­¡± ¡°You told her about us?¡± He ms the brakes, slowing down for a traffic light. His head whips left and right quickly before he runs a red. ¡°Did you say anything over the phone about me working for Vaughn?¡± ¡°N-no, I¡­ I just told her you weren¡¯t honest and asked if we could meet.¡± He drags his hand down his face, swearing under his breath. ¡°How the fuck did Rhett find out about me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I peeked inside the warehouse to check the meeting wasn¡¯t a trap and then Rhett¡¯s car pulled up. I didn¡¯t talk to Aalyiah. No one saw me. Rhett already knew about you when he arrived. He started screaming at Aalyiah.¡± Did¡­ did she suffer?¡± he asks, his voice barely above a whisper, fresh tears brimming in his eyes. ¡°No, she didn¡¯t. It¡ª¡± I blink my own tears away, twisting the seatbelt between my fingers. ¡°It happened so fast¡­¡± Alex clears his throat, still going double the speed limit. He takes a moment topose himself, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. ¡°No matter what happens, your father needs to get the evidence. Promise you¡¯ll give it to him.¡± I open my mouth but instead ofI promise,a yelp escapes me when Alex ms the brakes. He pulls up by the curb, turning toward me and lunging forward like he¡¯s about to grab my throat. My back hits the passenger side door, eyes wide, panic rising like a tidal wave. ¡°Watch,¡± Alex orders, unhooking my ne. Using his thumbs to push apart the hooks he opens the heart, exhaling a shaky breath. Inside, stuffed into a slit, is a small, ck square. ¡°Memory card,¡± he tells me. ¡°All the evidence I gathered is on this. If anything happens to me, give this to your father.¡± Saving Hailey: Chapter 42 ¡°I asked you a question,¡± I seethe, summoning Rhett¡¯s attention. The vengeful glimmer in his eyes as he res upward to where Hailey is makes my trigger finger tighten a fraction of an inch. He¡¯s my father, but if he takes one threatening step Hailey¡¯s way I will shatter his kneecaps. ¡°I have a better question for you.¡± Rhett swings his gaze my way. ¡°Where¡¯s the evidence?¡± ¡°Somewhere safe. You enjoy getting out in the fresh air?¡± I jut my chin toward the nearest armchair. ¡°Then drop the gun andsit. You¡¯re in no position to make demands.¡± ncing between Rhett and Vaughn, I add, ¡°Neither of you are. The evidence will bury you both if it sees the light of day.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll turn me in?¡± Rhett scoffs, shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯re a joke, Carter.¡± Disdainyers his voice, but he¡¯s not an idiot. He knows I have the upper hand so he reluctantly lowers his gun, urging Apollo to do the same. ¡°You¡¯ll both get your share of the evidence,¡± I say, my finger grazing the trigger. ¡°But it¡¯ll cost you.¡± I have this figured out. Vaughn¡¯s price is retirement. Either he hands over his gun and badge, or the pictures will find their way to his superior¡¯s desk by Monday. If he retires he won¡¯t try to bust my ass at every turn. It¡¯d be a shame to have my future father-inw build a case against me. No fucking way will I allow Vaughn to separate me from his daughter. She¡¯s mine now. As for Rhett¡­ well, I guess his price for freedom is more or less the same: step down quietly. I doubt either will be pleased, but they¡¯ve got nothing to barter with. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Vaughn asks, keeping a watchful eye on my father. ¡°Crawl into a ditch and die,¡± Rhett barks. ¡°You used my daughter to clean up your fucking mess.¡± An arrogant, revolted smirk curls his lips. ¡°You usedyourdaughter. You¡¯re a fucking disgrace. Not even the dirtiest cop I¡¯ve ever worked with would sink as low as you did.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know Alex asked Aalyiah for help,¡± Vaughn shoots back. ¡°Not until it was toote.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the reason she¡¯sdead.¡± He points his finger at Vaughn. ¡°You killed my baby girl! You, Alex, and that stupid bitch upstairs!¡± ¡°No,¡± Hailey¡¯s faint voicees from the gallery. She¡¯s holding onto the railing, herplexion swimming between white and ghastly green, like she¡¯s about ready to throw up. ¡°You killed her,¡± she adds, eyes trained on Rhett for another beat before flicking to me. ¡°It¡¯s Aalyiah¡¯s blood I saw on him that night¡­¡± My pulse roars in my ears. The atmosphere shifts in an instant. Hailey¡¯s words crash over me like a tsunami and the rage marring my father¡¯s face crumbles, reced by a burgeoning horror. ¡°You¡­ what did you say?¡± Rhett stutters, his voice a fractured whisper, disbelief etched into every syble. ¡°I saw you,¡± Hailey denotes, pushing away from the railing to shamble down the stairs. ¡°You asked Aalyiah why she was at the warehouse¡­ she was there to meet me.¡± I¡¯m frozen, fucking suspended in time, drinking every word from her mouth, but not processing them quickly enough. The usation sounds absurd. Abstract. As if spoken in an ancient, long-dead fuckingnguage. She¡¯s saying that Rhett murdered his own daughter. The child he wanted. The child he nned, nurtured, and loved. The apple of his eye, his very reason for existence. It¡¯s unbelievable but Rhett¡¯s silence fuckingscreams. Guilt lines his face, regret glimmers in his eyes, and his shoulders slump under the weight of his actions. ¡°She begged you not to hurt Alex¡­¡± Hailey continues, still stumping down the stairs. ¡°She told you she loved him and you¡­ you shot her.¡± A heavy silence engulfs us, punctuated by the drumbeat of my heart and Hailey¡¯s dazed footsteps. She pauses halfway down when Broadway holds his hand out to stop her. ¡°You said shemitted suicide,¡± I seethe at Rhett, grasping my gun tighter. ¡°You lied through your teeth! How could you kill your own daughter?!¡± ¡°It was an ident,¡± he stammers, a feeble attempt to justify the unjustifiable. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to, I¡­ I don¡¯t even know how it happened. That whole night is a blur. Thest thing I rememberclearly is someone texting me a picture of Alex and Aalyiah, captionedhe¡¯s a cop.¡± ¡°Someone?¡± I spit out. ¡°Not evenyouknew Aalyiah was dating him, so who the fuck tipped you off?!¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°I did.¡± The admission fills the room like a church bell. Vaughn¡¯s words are a match tossed into dry grass and as they roll off Vaughn¡¯s tongue all hell breaks loose. Rhett explodes with a vengeance. Time slows to a crawl as he raises his gun at Vaughn. At the same time, Hailey cries out a resoundingno! The pain and fearyering her voice are thest fucking straw. Thest sin Rhett Wird will evermit. I pull the trigger. The sound of my bullet leaving the chamber with abang!isn¡¯t the onlybangripping through the loft. Rhett¡¯s tommy gun spits out a round of ammo just as my bullet strikes home. My father goes down, a chunk of dead meat¡­ So does Vaughn. Hailey¡¯s scream pierces the momentary trance. It shatters the eerie calm that permeated my bones when the gaping gunshot wound filled the center of Rhett¡¯s forehead. My body winds up tight,bat-ready when Hailey rushes to Vaughn¡¯s side, skittering down the stairs. Her hands shake so hard she can¡¯t apply enough pressure to his wounds. ¡°Dad!¡± she cries out, her panic palpable in the air. ¡°Please, stay with me!¡± I lower my gun, dropping it, eyes swinging back to Rhett¡¯s contorted face, his skin paling by the second. Apollo¡¯s not in the doorway anymore, gone the second his boss hit the ground. I¡¯m not surprised. My Glock tters against the floor. Checkmate. The king has fallen. All the lies he¡¯s told over the past few months rey louder and louder in my head, cutting me deeper and deeper. He murdered my sister. He murdered his own daughter and threatened the safety of everything I hold dear. It¡¯s particrly beautiful tonight¡­ the chaos. The undeniable, twisted carnage. Nothing will ever top the beauty of the crimson puddle expanding around my father¡¯s head. He got what he deserved. The sharp contrast between life and death makes my head spin when my gaze moves from Rhett to Hailey. Vaughn¡¯s still breathing, sputtering blood like he¡¯s desperate to say something. Judging by his terrified eyes glued to his daughter¡¯s face, he wants to apologize. ¡°Help me,¡± she whispers and begs with those gorgeous blues as they flicker toward me. ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t let him die.¡± I couldn¡¯t even if I wanted to. Letting Vaughn bleed out would bring Hailey pain and that¡¯s one thing I can¡¯t fucking handle. Dropping to my knees beside her, I lift Vaughn¡¯s shirt, counting the gunshot wounds. Rhett fired off a whole round, but most of the bullets missed the target. It¡¯s not much constion. Three found their mark and Vaughn¡¯s bleeding out fast. With two holes in his stomach and another in his thigh, his survival hinges on making fast decisions. ¡°Broadway, call an ambnce,¡± I bark, tying my belt around Vaughn¡¯s thigh. ¡°Tell them we¡¯re in the underground parking lot. Koby, get Jeremy Smith here and tell Dante what happened.¡± Within moments we¡¯re in the elevator and Hailey¡¯s kneeling by Vaughn, begging him to stay with her. His eyes are hazy, but trained on her pretty face while she swears that he¡¯ll be okay. For the longest time, he clings to life, clings to her and her words. He feeds off her strength¡­ until he doesn¡¯t. The ambnce sirens grow louder in the distance when Vaughn heaves hisst breath. His chest doesn¡¯t rise again, the hand Hailey¡¯s holding goes limp, slipping out of her grasp, his eyes close, face pales¡­ And once again all hell breaks loose. Hailey dives into a frenzy. The wail that tears from her mouth will haunt me till the day I die. She screams, begs, then thrashes against my hold with such ferocity I struggle to keep her safely caged in my arms. My heart breaks for her, for the nightmare she lived through, and the new one that¡¯s just begun. Saving Hailey: Chapter 43 I¡¯ve lived through my fair share of darkness. I¡¯ve seen more death and pain than thousands of peoplebined, but nothing hit me as hard as watching the paramedic stab a needle into Hailey¡¯s neck to push a tranquilizer into her bloodstream. She lost her fucking mind when Vaughn stopped breathing. When the ambnce arrived less than a minuteter, Hailey was amidst the worst panic attack I¡¯ve ever witnessed. My muscles are still like rocks eight hourster as I sit by her hospital bed, holding her hand. I haven¡¯t moved since we arrived. Despite thete hour, no one has asked me to leave. Not since I threatened Hailey¡¯s doctor. I¡¯ll gut him if he hurts one hair on her head. Broadway, Koby, and Ryder spent the whole day in these ufortable stic chairs but to my surprise neither of them have voiced a singleint. They take turns popping their heads in every hour to check on me and Hailey. I¡¯m in fucking pieces. Seven cups of coffee haven¡¯t sharpened my brain in the slightest. I¡¯m still processing everything and wondering how much damage thest few hours might leave on Hailey¡¯s mind.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees and rake both hands through my hair. Broadway brought me a change of clothes, which is a fucking blessing because the white shirt I arrived in was soaked in blood, enough to sell by the pint if someone took the time to wring it out. Lifting my gaze, involuntarily ncing at the angry red lines Hailey¡¯s carved down her neck and arms, I inhale deeply, my guts twisting into borate knots. She would¡¯ve done more damage if I hadn¡¯t immobilized her, but before I managed to, she almost drew blood while scraping her throat. Another hour goes by. The IV drips into a tube connected to Hailey¡¯s arm, keeping her asleep. I¡¯m dreading the moment she wakes up. I have no idea how I¡¯ll survive another meltdown. Her doctor stops by at seven in the evening on the dot. He gives me a wide berth until his purposeful steps halt at the foot of the bed. A few lines of iprehensible gibberish and a lot of page-flippingter he calls in a nurse. ¡°We¡¯ll try to wake her now,¡± he tells me, eyes on the monitors showing Hailey¡¯s vitals. ¡°She might be a little disoriented but she should be calm.¡± He spares me a nervous nce as if checking I heard him and won¡¯t tackle him for going near my girl, then juts his chin at the IV stand. The nurse moves in, altering the dosage. It takes mere moments before Hailey starts waking. Her fingers flex around mine, her eyshes quiver, and those beautiful steel-blue irises nce around the room. I see the moment when the memories wash over her as clearly as if she¡¯s told me. Her lips part, fear clouding her vision. She tries speaking but only manages a croaked, iprehensible whisper. ¡°You¡¯re okay, pretty girl,¡± I say, squeezing her hand tighter. ¡°You¡¯re in the hospital but you¡¯re fine. You had a panic attack.¡± The doctor clears his throat, keeping to the other side of the bed as he steps closer. If he thinks that¡¯ll save him, he¡¯s wrong. ¡°Miss¡ª¡± ¡°Dad,¡± Hailey utters, searching my face for answers. ¡°He made it,¡± I say, loving the relief flooding her features. ¡°They finished operating an hour ago. he¡¯s recovering now.¡± ¡°I want to see him.¡± ¡°That can be arranged,¡± the doctor pipes in. ¡°First, I need to make sure you¡¯re doing okay.¡± He grabs the clipboard, flipping a few pages. ¡°Can you tell me your name?¡± ¡°Hailey Scarlett Vaughn,¡± she recites, clearly amused. Her eyes find mine again, full of little sparkles. ¡°I remember.¡± Her glee is contagious. Not only that, but it makes the tension constricting my functions disperse and I pull in my first full breath since Vaughn¡¯s heart stopped. ¡°Yes, you do,¡± I say, bringing her hand to my lips. ¡°Your head¡¯s okay, Hailey. They did some tests while you slept. There¡¯s no swelling¡­ no reason to worry about you forgetting me.¡± ¡°No,¡± she breathes, pinching her eyebrows together. ¡°Those two years I lost¡­ I remember. I remember everything.¡± Saving Hailey: Epilogue 6 MONTHS LATER Dad drops our empty sses into the sink and grabs two cups, moving toward the coffee maker. I quickly check the time on my wristwatch, frowning at thete hour. It feels like Broadway brought me here just moments ago, but my time with Dad is almost up. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have time for coffee,¡± I say, watching Dad maneuver his wheelchair around the kitchen. One of the bullets Rhett sent his way exited through his back and shattered his spine. He¡¯s paralyzed from the waist down but copes surprisingly well. After his years of active service, I expected him to have a hard time adjusting. Not only to his new mobility, but also hisck of job. He officially retired from the force as per Carter¡¯srequest. But Dad¡¯s resilient. Or maybe he¡¯s simply grateful for the second chance and an opportunity to right his wrongs. ¡°Carter will be here soon,¡± I add, watching Dad¡¯s face fall. He motions at Broadway¡¯s car parked by the curb, the driver inside, eyes scanning the street. ¡°Then why did he bring you?¡± ¡°You know Carter doesn¡¯t leave me without security.¡± ¡°Still? He¡¯s the boss now, isn¡¯t he? Is there a threat I should be aware of? Are you safe?¡± I nod, busying my hands with redoing my ponytail. ¡°I¡¯m safe. Carter¡¯s just¡­ overprotective.¡± Dad pulls a disgruntled face even though we both know he¡¯s secretly d that someone¡¯s always looking out for me. ¡°Well,¡± Dad chirps, his hand hovering over a third cup. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose there¡¯s any point in making him a coffee, is there?¡± I shake my head, faking an apologetic smile. I have nothing to apologize for, but I can¡¯t help it. Dad¡¯s been through enough and I hate piling any more on his te. ¡°What are the chances we¡¯ll bury the hatchet?¡± he asks. Slim. Nonexistent, actually. Carter hates my dad for what he did. I¡¯m not happy about it either. I haven¡¯t fully forgiven him, but I want him in my life. He¡¯s the only parent I have and he¡¯s trying hard to earn my trust. Carter would never say we can¡¯t spend time together, but he makes it a point of honor not to interact with Dad beyond a stiff greeting. I doubt anything will ever change on that front. It¡¯s been six months since Dad almost died, Rhett really died, and I had the worst panic attack in the history of all panic attacks. Though, it wasn¡¯t exactly a panic attack. My mind simply opened the floodgates and the ck hole that imprisoned my memories started spitting out every waking moment from the past two years. It was like reliving the time I lost on fast-forward. So fast, in fact, that the rush of images still makes my head spin whenever I think about it. ¡°Your silence speaks volumes,¡± Dad sighs. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯m d you have him.¡± ¡°Are you now?¡± I raise a skeptical brow. ¡°He won¡¯t believe me when I tell him.¡± Dad chuckles, turning his wheelchair my way. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I hate that you¡¯re dating a criminal, but I know there isn¡¯t a line Carter won¡¯t cross to keep you safe.¡± No there isn¡¯t. As surreal as it is, I truly am the center of Carter¡¯s world. And heismy world. Dad waves the cup in my face, silently trying to persuade me to join him in another coffee before I leave, but the sound of Carter¡¯s Pontiac cruising down the road seeps into the house. ¡°He¡¯ll wait,¡± Dad says. ¡°Won¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Any other day, he would,¡± I admit. ¡°But we have ns tonight. Dante¡¯sing from Chicago so we can¡¯t bete.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ I forgot. It¡¯s the grand opening, isn¡¯t it? What¡¯s the club called again?¡± ¡°Scarlett.¡± My cheeks heat a little. Dad doesn¡¯tment. Not because he doesn¡¯t have anything to say, I¡¯m sure he does, but there¡¯s no time. Broadway pulls away from the curb just as Carter parks in the driveway. He kills the engine and exits the car, making my mouth dry out. I¡¯ve known him almost a year, but the sight of him, immactely dressed, inked up to his throat, broad-chested, and sinfully hot still makes my heart skip a beat. Or two. Fine, a dozen. Adjusting his rolled-up sleeves, Carter heads for the front door while I gather my things. ¡°Tell him I saidhi,¡± Dad teases. ¡°Will I see you next week?¡± ¡°Of course. Same time, same ce.¡± He chuckles, waving me off. The first few times I came he expected a hug goodbye, but after a few awkward situations, he stopped forcing closeness on me. I think he¡¯s hoping that one day I¡¯ll take that step. Maybe I will. For now, I¡¯m perfectly content rebuilding our rtionship one weekly coffee date at a time. I leave him in the kitchen, busying himself with the dishes, and head out before Carter knocks again. ¡°I hate Friday afternoons,¡± he says, his dark eyes sliding down my body. He takes a step forward, grips my waist, and pulls me in for a very R-rated kiss. He wouldn¡¯t think twice if I told him I needed him inside me right now. He¡¯d dly fuck me on the kitchen ind just to disrespect my father. In Carter¡¯s mind, no one who endangers my life is worth an ounce of respect. Dad¡¯s lucky he¡¯s still alive. ¡°I think the evening¡¯s starting to look up,¡± I whisper in his mouth, nipping his bottom lip. ¡°Round one in the shower.¡± I¡¯m as starved for him as he is for me. We¡¯ve had little time the past few days while he¡¯s been overseeing the final work atScarlett. ¡°Afterthe shower,¡± he corrects. ¡°I have something for you¡­ but you¡¯re not getting it until it¡¯s time to leave.¡± Way to pique my curiosity. ¡ô¡ô¡ô Carter won¡¯t let on what he bought me no matter how much I nag. He had the bag on the back seat of his Pontiac,Swarovskiproudly embossed over it,so I know it¡¯s jewelry. Over the past six months he¡¯s bought me way too much bling. Still, as I towel dry in the en suite, I¡¯m more than excited. ¡°You promised me something,¡± Carter says, appearing in the doorway. He casually leans one shoulder against it, taking me in the way he always does: slowly, inch by inch. ¡°Back at Lakeside,¡± he rifies, meeting my gaze in the floor-to-ceiling mirror. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I drop the towel, reveling in how fast the look on his face turns feral. With deliberate moves, I reach for a hairbrush, holding Carter¡¯s hungry eyes in the reflection. ¡°Your ass, pretty girl.¡± He dangles theSwarovskigift bag on his index finger, then pulls out something silver from the ck velvet string bag inside it. ¡°You promised me your sweet ass.¡± I swallow hard, staring at what he¡¯s holding¡ªa butt plug. It doesn¡¯t look big¡­ tiny inparison to the girth of his cock, but the thought of having it inside me makes my abdomen cramp. It¡¯s not fear¡­ more like anticipation mixing with arousal. ¡°Um, we¡¯re leaving in half an hour,¡± I remind him. ¡°We are. And if you sayyes, you¡¯ll leave with this¡­¡± He turns the plug between his fingers, showing me the crystal end, ¡°¡­stretching you for when we get back home.¡± He steps closer, so close his waistcoat brushes my bare back. Wrapping one arm around my waist he pulls me flush to his warm chest. The smell of his cologne steals my attention and liquid heat pools in my belly. The cramping sensation intensifies as he possessively spreads his fingers over my navel, molding me into him. God, I love when he holds me like this. Like he¡¯s caught his prey and can¡¯t wait to y with it. Dipping his head, he stamps a kiss on my temple. ¡°What will it be, pretty girl?¡± ¡°Um¡­ will it hurt when¡­ when it goes in?¡± I ask, dropping my hairbrush on the counter beside me. ¡°Not one bit. You should know by now that I can¡¯t stand seeing you in pain. I wouldn¡¯t suggest anal if it¡¯d hurt.¡± My heart picks up pace as I spin to face him, both hands bracing against his hard pecs. He¡¯s fully dressed while I¡¯m buck naked, my skin pink from the hot shower, scars on disy. Vulnerable. That¡¯s how I feel. Vulnerable, but safe. It¡¯s a thrill if I¡¯m honest. Carter¡¯s wearing his signature white shirt, navy-blue pants, and a matching waistcoat. Sis, bracelets, watch. It¡¯s been months but I still can¡¯t get over how good he looks. He was hot as Nash in those ck hoodies and jeans. I considered him ruthless. A force to be reckoned with. A callous, lethal weapon. He was, but Carter is ten timesmore. Now I know that he didn¡¯t just tone down his style at Lakeside, his whole personality was toned down. He moves one hand to my hip, grazing his fingers higher, heating my skin. ¡°I need ayes, Hailey. Tell me you¡¯re ready.¡± I¡¯m ready for everything he has in store. He¡¯s proved that myfort is his priority, so I¡¯m not scared. Simply curious whether I¡¯ll enjoy it. I nce from the two popped buttons on his shirt to his lips, then meet his expectant stare. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m ready but I don¡¯t think I can put it in myself the first time.¡± He smirks, closing my lips with a hot, demanding kiss. At the same time, he hauls me into his arms and rushes out of the bathroom. Ind on the huge, perfectly made bed with a soft bounce, smiling up at him. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let you put it inside that sweet ass yourself,¡± he says dragging me to the edge. ¡°Lift your hips, pretty girl.¡± The moment I do, he shoves a pillow under my lower back, and pushes my knees to my chest. ¡°Hold like this.¡± Reaching into the bedside drawer, Carter grabs a tub of lube, squirting a generous amount onto the plug.¡°This is size one. You¡¯ll wear it for two hours before I swap it for a bigger one.¡± ¡°Bigger? How much bigger? And¡ª¡± ¡°One size bigger.¡± ¡°But we¡¯ll be at the grand opening intwo hours.¡± ¡°Yes, we will.¡± He squirts out more lube, this time over my pussy, and smiles when the cool gel makes me hiss. I¡¯m about to tell him this isn¡¯t where the plug¡¯s supposed to go, but I fall silent, watching him take a knee on the plush carpet. He spreads the lube over my lips, clit, and then¡­ lower. I¡¯ve loved every time he circled my back entrance with his wet fingers, and even more when his thumb¡¯s breached the barrier. There¡¯s something thrilling about taking this step. It feels almost forbidden. ¡°You¡¯ll swap the plug at the club?¡± I whisper. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°My office, the restroom, the elevator¡­ take your pick.¡± He kisses my thighs while gently toying with the ring of muscles. Every featherlight touch makes me spasm. I outright tremble when he increases the pressure, enough that my pussy¡¯s soaking wet, but not enough to slip his finger inside. ¡°So sensitive,¡± he tuts, licking me slowly. ¡°Is it edible?¡± A nod is all I get. He¡¯s done ying, done teasing. The greedy, eager beast takes over as he sucks me into his mouth, summoning my orgasm to the surface as fast as possible. I¡¯m not far froming undone when he groans, savoring my taste. My hips start working the closer I get, soft moans falling from my lips. I won¡¯t ever get bored of having Carter¡¯s face between my legs. He treats every moment like a prize. Like there¡¯s nowhere he¡¯d rather be, nothing he¡¯d rather do. Within minutes, I¡¯m poised over the edge, bncing a tightrope. He usually tips me over by slipping two fingers inside to reach my G spot, but not this time. This time he pushes the plug against my back entrance. ¡°That¡¯s it, Hailey,¡± he coos dragging the t of his tongue up and over. ¡°That¡¯s it¡­e for me, pretty girl.¡± He sucks my clit again and, at the same time, pushes the metal tip past the tight hole. My back bows off the bed as the orgasm explodes inside me, so potent I lose touch with reality. I¡¯m shaking, moaning, fucking drowning in the high. ¡°Good girl,¡± he whispers, climbing over me. ¡°How does it feel? Are youfortable?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in all the way?¡± I pant, peeling my eyes open. ¡°All the way.¡± He stamps a cute little kiss between my breasts. ¡°No pain, I take it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even register when it went in fully.¡± He moves toy beside me, his warm hand between my legs,zily grazing my pussy. With a cunning, arrogant smile, he tiptoes his fingers lower, tapping the crystal end of the plug. A pleasant shudder shakes me, my eyes popping wide. ¡°Feel it now?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s nice. No¡­odd. Not painful, just odd.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it. And when you do, I¡¯ll want it to be here¡­¡± He taps the end once more, ¡°¡­while my cock is here.¡± He dips two fingers inside me, finding my G spot with a sniper¡¯s precision. Three shallow strokes and he stops, sitting up. ¡°Get ready, Hailey. I suggest a skirt for easy ess. We¡¯re leaving in twenty minutes.¡± I already chose an outfit. SomethingIbought. It¡¯s a dress, but not the kind Alex made me wear. Not a flimsy, cute little thing with a floral pattern. No, this is navy blue, halter neck. Backless, midi-length with a slit halfway up my right thigh. It¡¯selegant and ssy. Sexy with how it hugs my frame and far from girly. After years spent hiding my scars behind baggy clothes, and weeks of the hated baby-doll outfits Alex bought me, I¡¯m finally finding my own sense of style. The look in Carter¡¯s eyes whenever he sees me naked has helped me ovee my insecurities. I¡¯m no longer ashamed and I¡¯ve stopped heaping concealer over the scars. He loves me just the way I am. It¡¯s time I learn to love myself too. ¡ô¡ô¡ô The VIP area inScarlettis different toDelta¡¯s. Carter spent many hours designing this space and now I¡¯m sipping a mojito in a high-end velvet loveseat, I love how it turned out. We¡¯re at the same level as the main club, separated from the dance floor by huge one-way mirrors. There¡¯s a VIP-only bar and six bouncers strategically standing guard. I smile at the oblivious dancers staring at themselves in the mirrors. They have no idea we¡¯re here and people do funny things when they don¡¯t realize they¡¯re being watched. Women check their moves, practice coquettish looks, pull their dresses higher to show off more skin, while men mostly flex their muscles. The VIP area is packed with lower-ranking soldiers, not important enough to join Carter, Dante, and their men in the back office. Aside from the mafia men, Carter¡¯s introduced me to a few police officers sitting three tables away, some attorneys, journalists, boxers, and even the manager of the bank where we thought Alex had hidden the evidence. They¡¯re all enjoying the open bar and the women he hired for entertainment. La¡¯s on the dancefloor with a few other girls, all of whom arrived with Dante¡¯s entourage. I considered following her out there, but the plug shifts whenever I move, so I stayed put. I¡¯d probably end up having an orgasm in the middle of the dancefloor¡­ no, thank you. Although, if Carter doesn¡¯t wrap up the meeting soon, I might do just that because I¡¯m so incredibly hot and wet that every move sends tiny sparkles along my nerve endings. Twenty more minutes pass before Carter exits the back office with Dante at his side and the rest of their entourage following suit. Broadway veers left, summoning the bartender, Koby stops by the table of hammered police officers, and everyone else returns to their seats from earlier. ¡°You look flushed, pretty girl,¡± Carter says, dropping down beside me. He drapes one arm over my shoulders, tugging me closer, and the plug inside me shifts, causing another fit of shivers. ¡°I take it you like your new jewelry.¡± My fingers whiten around the ss. ¡°Can we go home?¡± ¡°Not yet. Two more sizes.¡± ¡°What?! That¡¯sfourhours!¡± I whisper-shout. God, I might not survive this. ¡°I don¡¯t think¡ª¡± I pause, biting the inside of my cheek when Carter drags me even closer and I see stars. ¡°It¡¯s too intense, every time I move, I¡¯m almostthere.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point, Hailey. Come on.¡± He takes my hand and leads me away from the table, ignoring his men¡¯s curious eyes. Every step I take is measured. Each might shift the plug into that sensitive spot. I doubt I¡¯d be able to hold my orgasm in check. Carter pulls his phone out, tapping a short message as he stops by the elevator. ¡°Home?¡± I murmur, leaning into his chest. ¡°No, Hailey. I left the plugs in my car.¡± I grit my teeth, still as a statue while my body hums with the need for release. The elevator dings and Carter ushers me inside. As soon as the metal doors slide shut, he pins me against the wall. His lipsing down on mine, the aftertaste of Bourbon on his tongue lighting up my mind. He moves his knee between my legs, spreading me open, and shoves his hand under my dress. ¡°So fucking wet,¡± he tuts, expertly rolling my clit under his fingers. ¡°Give it to me, pretty girl. You¡¯re so worked up you can barely hold yourself upright.¡± ¡°But¡­oh God!¡± I grip his biceps, my hips moving as I press myself further into his fingers, drunk on the overpowering need. ¡°Ca-Ca¡­Carter,¡± I gasp, trembling all over. ¡°Cameras.¡± ¡°Way ahead of you. They¡¯re off. Now¡ª¡± He doesn¡¯t get to give the order. He doesn¡¯t get to count down. The moment he confirms no one¡¯s watching I stop fighting and the orgasm ms into me so hard my vision blurs. Carter takes my mouth, drinking every moan, one hand sped around my back to hold me closer, the other still between my legs, every featherlight touch making me shudder. ¡°Wait here.¡± He stamps a kiss on my forehead and only when he moves me into the corner do I open my eyes. We¡¯re at the lowest level. He grounds the elevator, marching over to the passenger side of his car, less than twenty yards away, pulling a ck velvet drawstring bag from the glovebox. His eyes are darker than a starless sky when he returns, pressing another button so the elevator closes. It doesn¡¯t move, though, still in emergency mode, grounded here. ¡°Turn around,¡± he instructs while helping me do so. ¡°Hands on the wall, Hailey. Spread your legs.¡± I get in position and Carter lifts my dress over my ass, yanking my damp panties to my knees. ¡°You¡¯re so fucking hot when you¡¯re needy. I can¡¯t wait until we get home. Tell me if it¡¯s too much.¡± The sound of his zipper sliding down and the whoosh of material as he frees his cock makes my blood spike a fever. I¡¯ve just had an orgasm but one¡¯s not enough. Not after the past two hours on the brink of release, wet, hot, and desperate. Carter moves his cock between my pussy lips, then slowly slides in, his rapid, heavy breathing the most erotic sound on earth. ¡°How¡¯s that? Does it feel good?¡± ¡°So good,¡± I murmur, my cheek against the cool elevator wall, the rest of my body on fire. ¡°I¡¯m so full.¡± ¡°And so fucking tight.¡± He yanks his hips back, then powers inside, testing how hard and fast he can go. The faster he moves, the better it feels. He crowds my back, toying with my breasts through the navy fabric of my dress, then moves his hand lower to y my clit. ¡°Fuck,¡± he grunts, thrusting deeper. ¡°I love feeling you clench around me. You¡¯re close again, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, so close.¡± His hand falls away from my clit. I can¡¯t see what he¡¯s doing, but he¡¯s doingsomethingwhile he relentlessly drives himself balls-deep inside me. It¡¯s not until he grabs the crystal plug that I realize he¡¯s about to swap it for a bigger size. ¡°Good girl,¡± he tuts, angling his hips to target my G spot. ¡°Focus on how good this feels. I need you toe for me.¡± He twists the plug inside me, pulling a little. I cry out, the sensation damn near knocking me off my feet. The plug pops out at the orgasm¡¯s crescendo and when it hits, Carter pushes the bigger plug inside, elevating my ecstasy. It¡¯s so potent, so all-consuming, so fucking amazing that my nails gouge into the wall and moans echo round the confined space. ¡°I knew you¡¯d enjoy this,¡± he says, both arms snapped around my waist, holding me flush to his chest, his cock stillChen, with a goofy smile and skewed sses, is getting ap-dance. ¡°What the hell is it now?¡± Broadway asks, his footsteps picking up pace. I follow his line of sight, my heartrate elerating on cue when I notice Hailey¡¯s not where I left her. She was in the loveseat fifteen minutes ago, sipping her mojito, still as a statue, eyes on the one-way mirrors looking out onto the dancefloor. Since I fucked her in the elevator, she¡¯s been doing her utmost not to make any sudden moves, but right now she¡¯s on her feet by the concealed doorway leading to the main part of the club. Koby¡¯s there with Ryder and two security guards, forming an imprable wall to keep Hailey inside the VIP area.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Apollo stands to the side, watching the unfolding scene with two creases between his brows. A few weeks after the shooting at my t that left his boss dead, Apollo came by to see me. He told me he was there the night Rhett killed my sister and painted a vivid picture of how it went down. As his loyal right-hand man he stayed by Rhett¡¯s side after witnessing the despair tearing him apart once he realized he¡¯d murdered his own daughter. But as time went by and Rhett¡¯s need for vengeance got out of hand, Apollo tried helpingmeto keep Hailey alive, since she was meless. We talked for hours. He¡¯s always been the one person in my father¡¯s crew I respected, so I allowed him the benefit of the doubt and pulled him into my organization. He started at the bottom of the food chain but he¡¯s slowly climbing the ranks the more he proves his loyalty. Right now, Apollo¡¯s the right-hand man to my head of security atScarlett. He¡¯s also my primary source of information on how old Rhett ran his empire. Knowing his dirty secrets helps me decide whoI never want to do business with, who needs putting down, and who¡¯s worth my time. Apollo¡¯s useful. And particrly protective of my girl, ensuring no one undesired enters her personal space. Even right now, he eyes the bouncers with assessing eyes, making sure neitherys one fucking finger on her. I¡¯m fifty feet away from themotion, but I can tell my girl is annoyed. She¡¯s in their face, fighting to push past them, her shoulders squared back andbat-ready. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I ask, stopping behind her. My pulse skyrockets when I spin her around and notice tears welling in her eyes. ¡°What happened, Hailey?¡± ¡°I saw her,¡± she says, her voice wobbling. ¡°I saw the girl I met at Noretto¡¯s and your men wouldn¡¯t let me go after her!¡± ¡°She wasn¡¯t alone,¡± Ryder says. ¡°Who cares?!¡± Hailey wails, getting in Ryder¡¯s face. ¡°She washere! I could¡¯ve helped her!¡± Koby looks at me over her shoulder. ¡°The girl was with a mean-looking motherfucker and three other goons.¡± His expression softens when he turns back to Hailey. ¡°We can¡¯t just grab her without knowing who we¡¯re dealing with. And not without Carter¡¯s order.¡± ¡°Hailey.¡± I pull her into my chest. ¡°I promised I¡¯ll take ze down and I will, but I can¡¯t get back the girls that were sold. It¡¯d be impossible to find them all.¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± She bites her cheek, getting a hold of herself. ¡°They shoved her under the rug right before me,¡± she adds, shaking softly in my arms. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help her, I couldn¡¯t help any of them in that mansion.¡± She clings to me harder, as if seekingfort before the memories overwhelm her. She¡¯s growing more distressed and closer to tears with every word she speaks. ¡°Do you know how slim the odds are that I¡¯d see any of those girls again?¡± she asks. ¡°And yet she wasrighthere.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re one hundred percent sure she was with you at the mansion?¡± Broadway pipes in, sounding a little skeptical. ¡°There were thirty girls there, how¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. Her violet hair stands out in any crowd.¡± ¡°Lots of girls have violet hair,¡± he counters. ¡°Not like this,¡± Koby says. ¡°She¡¯s not someone you¡¯d easily forget. You¡¯d understand if you saw her.¡± Hailey turns to me again. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to find them all, just her. Please¡­ that man had her on a leash. She must be going through hell, and¡ª¡± ¡°Shhh, Hailey, calm down.¡± Seeing how upset she is, how much finding that girl means to her, I don¡¯t need any more reasons to put my men on high alert. ¡°Ryder, see what you can dig up about the man she was with.¡± ¡ô¡ô¡ô The drive back home is tense¡­ though not because of the violet-haired girl. Hailey calmed down before we headed out from the club, after many assurances, and left locatingVioletin my men¡¯s capable hands. The drive is tense because the anticipation is tearing me a new one whenever I nce at Hailey¡¯s flustered face. She¡¯s beyond ready for another orgasm, deliciously horny, and all mine to y with. She keeps shifting in her seat, her lips parting whenever the butt plug moves inside her. If this wasn¡¯t her first time trying anal, I¡¯d tell the driver to close the partition, so I could fuck Hailey right here. Next time¡­ Once she¡¯s used to having me in her ass, I¡¯ll order a limo specifically to take her on the back leather seat. ¡°Not long now,¡± I say, draping one arm around her. She pushes her face into my neck, her hot mouth tracing a path along the tendon all the way to my ear. The softest sigh escapes her, driving me fucking wild. She knows exactly what she¡¯s doing. I had her no longer than two hours ago, sprawled over the desk in my office, but those tititing sighs of hers¡­ those pink cheeks and hooded eyes have kept my cock hard all evening. I¡¯m beyond ready to pop another one of her cherries. The visual has been topping my fantasy list for months. Ever since I circled her ass with my finger, elevating her orgasm to new highs, I knew she¡¯d love having me seated deep inside that tight little hole. Her reactions to the plug prove I was on fucking point. ¡°I¡¯m never wearing thatjewelryout again,¡± she whispers, teeth grazing my earlobe. ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing how much I need you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hot, pretty girl. I might push a plug inside you every morning so you¡¯re dripping wet by the time I get home.¡± I grasp her chin, tilt her head my way and take her mouth with the same ferocity I want to take her. She¡¯s intoxicating. Mine for months now, but every kiss could rival our first. Every single one deepens my feelings. She tastes like mint, lime, and rum tonight thanks to the mojitos La piled into her all evening. Hailey must¡¯ve had at least five. Any other day she¡¯d pool at my feet after such intake, but on my order the bartender made her drinks almost virgin. Hailey¡¯s not a big drinker. In fact, since our lives calmed down, she rarely drinks at all, but whenever she and La get together, they down mojitos like they¡¯re lemonades. I usually don¡¯t mind.Usuallybeing thekeyword here. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d allow Dante¡¯s wife to get my girl hammered tonight and fuck with my n. Hailey¡¯s moans fill my mouth, her thighs squeezing together, looking for friction once the limo stops outside our house. ¡°We¡¯re here, sir,¡± the driver says, stepping out to open the door for us. As soon as Hailey¡¯s out, I haul her into my arms, so she won¡¯t twist her ankle on the gravel. She¡¯s been favoring heelstely, still finding her style while spending hours in boutiques with La whenever we¡¯re in Chicago. I booked a crew to pave the entire driveway next week. For now, I carry her inside the house, up the stairs then into our bedroom. Hailey moans when I squeeze her butt, the plug undoubtedly shifting once more. ¡°How¡¯s size three?¡± I ask, dropping her on the bed. ¡°I¡¯m getting used to it.¡± She smiles, falling back when I crawl over her and shut her mouth with mine. We¡¯re both fucking desperate, our tongues battling for dominance in a hot kiss. ¡°Ready?¡± I whisper, pushing one hand under her dress to rip her panties off. She gives me a small nod, her lower lip caught in her teeth, uncertainty clouding her features. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, use your safe word. Now¡­ on your knees, pretty girl, and grab the headrest.¡± Not that long ago, two wrinkles would crease her forehead at the instruction. Thankfully, those days are long gone. She obeys eagerly because she knows she¡¯ll love whatever I¡¯ve nned. She flips over, rising on her knees, and grips the tall, leather headrest, curiously looking over her shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t want me naked?¡± I smirk, making quick work of unbuckling my belt and sliding my zipper down. ¡°Later. I need to feel you first.¡± From the nightstand I grab the lube, coating my cock, then move closer, using one hand to toy with her clit while removing the plug. As soon as it pops out, my cock is right there. ¡°Rx,¡± I whisper, my hands full of her hips. I hold her still, slowly pushing inside her, sinking inch by inch. My arms break out in goosebumps from how fucking divine this feels. With a satisfied moan, Hailey¡¯s head lolls onto my shoulder, pure ecstasy painting her gorgeous face. ¡°There you go,¡± I whisper, my lips grazing her temple. ¡°That¡¯s my good girl.¡± She¡¯s perfectly stretched, letting me glide in effortlessly, yet she¡¯s still so fucking tight it¡¯s like heaven on earth. ¡°How does it feel, Hailey?¡± ¡°Different.¡± ¡°Good different?¡± ¡°So good¡­¡± ¡°Any pain?¡± I pull my hips back and thrust deeper, testing how far I can sink before she jerks away. ¡°None at all,¡± she admits, jutting her hips back to meet my moves. ¡°You can go faster.¡± ¡°My girl needs a rough night?¡± I gather her hair into a ponytail and tug, making her back arch further. The tempo of my thrusts grows relentless with every sound falling from Hailey¡¯s sweet lips. ¡°You love it when I use you, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I love everything you do,¡± she mewls, the words breathless, another orgasm looming nearby. It takes a minute before she¡¯sing again, then another five before the next orgasm rattles her warm body. It takes forty minutes before I allow myself the release. My chest still heaving, Iy beside her, my head propped on one hand, the other ghosting the skin between her breasts and along her t stomach. She looks at me through her eyshes, her lips curled into a blissful, exhausted smile. ¡°I really hope you¡¯re not expecting another round. No more orgasms left in me tonight. I mean it. I love you but I¡¯mdone.¡± I smirk, brushing a few strands of damp hair over her ear. ¡°I love you too, pretty girl. And I have my forever with you, so tonight, you can rest.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!