Page 132 of Cruel Riches

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Alexis

Nearly three hourshad passed since Nate’s departure. Just as I was starting to think he wasn’t coming back, the hatch opened, and his footsteps echoed in the passage.

I jumped up and dashed over to the entryway, pulse racing. “Did you find anything?” I asked.

His lips pressed together in a slight grimace, and he waved over at the bunk. “You need to sit down.”

“Why?” I asked, brows furrowing. “What happened?”

“Just sit down, Alexis,” he said curtly.

When he’d spoken to me in this tone on past occasions, his face had been thunderous, but right now he didn’t seem angry. He seemed conflicted.

I went back to the bunk and sat on the edge, twisting my hands in my lap. Nate remained on his feet. He paced the length of the shelter a couple of times, running his hands through his hair, and then he finally came and stood in front of me.

“I don’t even know how to tell you what I found,” he muttered, head slightly shaking. “It’s fucking crazy.”

“Just say it,” I replied, mind whirling. What could he possibly have discovered that would set him on edge like this?

He rubbed his jaw and let out a short sigh. “You’ve always thought your father was innocent of the Blackthorne Butcher crimes.”

“Yes.”

Nate crouched in front of me so that our eyes were level. “You were right,” he said. “He didn’t do it.”

“I know.” I tilted my head to one side and slightly narrowed my eyes, wondering what sort of game he was trying to play with me.

“The Golden Circle is real,” he went on. “They framed him for those murders and covered for the real killer, and they planned to have him killed in prison so that he’d never be able to tell anyone the truth.”

“I know,” I said in an exasperated tone. “I’ve been telling you this stuff for weeks. Why do you suddenly believe me now? Or are you just pretending to believe me to mess with me?”

“I’m not pretending.” Nate put his hand on my knee and squeezed hard. His eyes were steely in their intensity. “Alexis… he survived.”

I frowned. “What?”

“The Golden Circle didn’t get to him. Someone else saved him.”

My stomach clenched, and I blinked rapidly, wondering if this was all part of a vivid dream. “That’s not funny,” I muttered.

“I’m not joking. He’s alive.”

“Stop,” I said in an acid tone. “If you think I’m going to let you do this to me, you really need to think again.”

“What?”

“I’m not stupid, Nate. I know you’re trying to fuck with my head,” I said through gritted teeth as I got to my feet. He rose to his full height too, and I pushed on his chest as hard as I could. “This is another one of your schemes to torture me, and it’s not going to work. You’ll have to stick to slicing me up or electrocuting me if you want a reaction from me.”

I expected him to be mad at me for shoving him, but his expression didn’t change, and he didn’t push back. “I know what it sounds like, but I swear I’m not fucking with you. Your father is still alive. I just saw him.”

“Oh yeah? Where?” I asked, throwing my hands up. I didn’t believe a word he said.

“In the other bunker. That’s what I found,” he said. “That’s where the music was coming from. It’s him.”

A sudden coldness struck at my core, and I took a step back. “Please stop, Nate. This is really fucked up,” I murmured, looking down at the floor.

He put a hand under my chin and pushed it upward, forcing me to meet his unwavering gaze. “You need to listen to me. I’m not lying. I found another bunker, and I went inside. Your father is chained down there.”

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