Page 129 of Tempting Fate

Deep, conscious breathing, in through my nose and out through my mouth, helps me regain control.

For now.

“Right,” I murmur to myself. “Camomile tea, ebook, and bed.”

Toker will be another hour or so checking in with the perimeter guards stationed around the hillside property Dad kept secret from everyone. As the kettle boils, I pull the oven door open and check that the meal I’ve left in there to keep warm isn’t getting too crisp. Satisfied that it’s going to survive my very basic cooking skills, I knock the oven door shut with my hip, then make my cup of camomile tea.

Normally, I’d switch to decaf coffee at this time of the night, except for the past week or so I’ve been feeling queasy. When I mentioned to Crystal in a text that I’ve been battling an upset stomach, she added a box of camomile tea bags to my food supplies. Out of sheer desperation to end the nausea stalking me, I gave in last night and tried some.

It worked, so I made the switch from caffeine to camomile this morning.

The urge to vomit hasn’t completely gone, but it has improved.

With my e-reader tucked under my arm and a mug of tea in my hand, I double-check that the doors are locked and switch all the lights off, apart from the one over the stove. It’ll guide Toker to his meal when he finally ventures inside and will reduce the likelihood of him tripping over the coffee table in the dark like he did last night.

The bone-deep weariness that’s accompanying the queasiness means I’ve been more tired than usual. It probably doesn’t help that my sleep has been infested with nightmares. Plagued by bad memories and a recurring dream where I’m running after Zeke, yet never catching up with him, a good night’s sleep is well overdue.

After placing my tea on the bedside table with my e-reader, I strip down to my tank top and panties. When I go to pull the comforter back, I find portrait-sized photos propped against my pillow.

The images are of Zeke and Slash.

“No. No. No.”

In one, my man has his face in Honey’s cleavage. There’s photo of Slash staring at her with his mouth open while she dances on the pool table. In the others, the two men are in bed with her. I scan them with disbelieving eyes as reality sets in. Not only has my man fucked around on me, with the last woman I thought possible, but our best friend is involved in his betrayal, too.

As the shock subsides, I grasp the bigger implication.

The safe house has been breached.

Heart racing.

Stomach churning.

I try to breathe through the nausea that threatens to incapacitate me in the wake of my realisation. After I tug open the top drawer of the bedside table, I pull the burner phone free. When I touch the screen, I discover that there’s no signal. Calling for help is off the cards. I’m stuck in a house, alone, unable to contact Toker or Cub.

I need to get the hell out of here.

My mind is racing, my thoughts imprecise, as I scoop my clothes from the floor and rush toward the front door. I’m hopping on one leg, attempting to pull my jeans on without slowing my exit too much, when someone steps out of the shadows and knocks me on my backside.

I shriek.

A man’s shadow looms over me.

The cologne that fills my nose when I inhale ready to scream again makes me vomit in my mouth.

Alex.

“Going somewhere, angel?” he enquires in a pleasant tone.

Heart in my throat, I scramble backward as I yell for help, “Weston! Toker! Help me! Weston, help me! Toker! Come now!”

Unperturbed by the noise I’m making, Alex advances on me. There is a wicked smirk on his face as he tells me, “Oh, hush, angel… Do you know a man by the name of Marcus? He wears a Shamrocks patch, goes by the road name Bear, but actually works for me.” He holds his hand near his ear to demonstrate his next point. “He’s about yay high. Dark hair. Has an old lady named Nadia… your best friend if I recall correctly?”

My voice cracks as I ask, “What about him?”

I already know the answer, but I need to buy myself some time. If playing dumb will do that, then I’m willing to pretend to be the dumbest woman on earth.

Because I just might be.

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