Page 30 of New Year with the Cartel

"When?" I demanded, my voice dropping to a growl. "How?" He had to tell me everything.

"Does it matter?" Gustall finally turned to face me, and I saw tears in his eyes. "What matters is that I know. About him, about the others, about everything you did after he lost the baby."

"Lost the baby?" My laugh was harsh. "They killed my child. Of course I hunted them down. What alpha wouldn't?"

"No one killed your child, Fendwyr." His voice cracked. "The stress of being confined, of being controlled every minute of every day—that's what killed your baby. Just like it could kill ours, and I'm not going to allow that to happen. I can't. I would never forgive myself if it did."

I moved without thinking, gripping his arms. I didn't want to hurt him. I just wanted to show him that I was serious about this.

"Don't say that. Don't you dare—"

"What? Speak the truth?" He tried to pull away, but I held firm. "I've seen the evidence. Rodriguez sent me files—"

"Rodriguez?" Red tinged my vision. "You've been in contact with Rodriguez? Behind my back? Don't you remember what he did to you? How I had to save you?"

"He sent me proof of what you did. Medical records, police reports, surveillance footage. The way you hunted Elias after he escaped, the others you 'protected' until they couldn't take it anymore." His free hand moved to his stomach, protective. "I won't let that happen to my child."

Well, it wasourchild, actually. It wasn't only up to him. The decision was also mine.

"Our situation is different," I insisted, trying to make him understand. "We're fated mates. What we have is real, destined—"

"Being fated mates doesn't change who you are!" He finally wrenched free. "It doesn't excuse what you've done, what you're still doing. Look at you now, gripping me like I'm property, ready to lock me up just like you did to them. I'm not going to allow it. It's going to be different with me."

"I never—"

"Never what? Never meant to hurt them? Never intended to drive them away? But you did, and you will again, because you can't help yourself." He backed away, dropping the golf club. "I'm leaving, and you can't change my mind. I can't spend another day with you."

The words hit me like ice water. "No."

"Yes." His chin lifted in defiance. "I won't let our child grow up in this world, surrounded by violence and your obsession with control. I won't become another Elias."

"You're not going anywhere." My voice was deadly calm now. Inside, my mind raced through options and contingencies. I'd learned from past mistakes. This time would be different. It had to be, and I was going to make sure of it.

"You can't stop me."

"Can't I?" I pulled out my phone, pressing a single button. Within moments, my security team emerged from discrete positions around the golf course. "I think you'll find I can."

Fear flashed across his face—real fear, of me. It should have made me pause, should have shown me I was proving his point. But all I could think about was another omega, another child, slipping away from me. Except that, this time, it wasn't going to happen. I was in control.

"Take him to the secure room," I ordered. "Careful with him. He's carrying something precious to me. If you hurt him, I'll kill you."

"Fendwyr, please," Gustall begged as my men approached. "Don't do this. Don't prove I was right about you."

"I'm protecting you," I insisted, even as part of me screamed that this was wrong. "Both of you. You'll understand one day."

They led him away, his final look of betrayal burning into my memory. I stood alone on the golf course, the setting sun painting everything blood-red. This was necessary, I told myself. This time would be different. This time, I wouldn't lose them.

This time, we would have a happy family. The family of my dreams…

But as I watched them escort my mate—my pregnant, terrified mate—into confinement, another memory surfaced: Elias, looking back at me with that same expression before his failed escape attempt. Before the stress and fear had taken our child.

No. This was different. Gustall was different. He was my fated mate, destined to be mine across lifetimes. And if keeping him safe meant keeping him locked away, then that's what I would do. Even if it meant becoming the monster he already thought I was.

I was no monster. I was only doing what was right.

I picked up the abandoned golf club, studying its weight in my hands. Such a civilized game, golf. All about control, precision, and maintaining the proper appearance. Just like everything else in my life.

My phone buzzed—a message from my security team confirming Gustall was secured in the room I'd prepared months ago, though I'd hoped never to use it. The room was comfortable, equipped with everything an omega might need. Everything except freedom.

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