Page 1 of Depraved

CHAPTER 1

Two months month after Diabolic

Layla

The stench of piss and vomit assaulted my nostrils as I stalked through the dingy alleyway. Neon signs flickered overhead, casting a glow on the crumbling brick walls. My boots splashed through puddles of God-knows-what as I hunted my prey.

Rage simmered just beneath my skin, a constant companion since that night on the docks. The betrayal burned like acid in my veins, Gage's final words echoing in my mind on an endless loop.I love you, Layla. I always have.

Bullshit.

If he loved me, he wouldn't have lied. Wouldn't have made me feel things I'd sworn never to feel.

Fucking narc.

I gritted my teeth, shoving the memories aside. I had a job to do. Raul was counting on me to bring in this informant —a greasy little rat named Javier who'd been feeding information tothe cops. I'd tracked him to this cesspool of a neighborhood on the outskirts of Juarez.

A flicker of movement caught my eye. A figure darting between shadows up ahead. I picked up my pace, hand instinctively moving to the gun holstered at my hip.

"Javiiieeerrrr!" I sang, voice dripping with false sweetness. "Why don’t we have a little chat?”

Javier froze for a split second before bolting down a side alley. I cursed under my breath and gave chase, my boots pounding against the cracked pavement.

"Come on, man, I didn’t mean it like that!" I shouted after him, a smile stretching my lips.

The alley opened up into a small courtyard littered with trash and abandoned furniture. Javier stumbled over a broken chair, giving me the opening I needed. I launched myself forward, tackling him to the ground. We went down hard, my knee digging into his back as I pinned him. Javier wheezed and squirmed beneath me, but I had him firmly in my grasp.

"Please," he gasped out. "I'll tell you anything you want to know. Just don't kill me!"

I yanked his arms behind his back, zip-tying his wrists together. "Oh, we're way past that, sugar. You're coming with me."

As I hauled Javier to his feet, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I ignored it, focusing on securing my captive. It was probably just Sarge checking in again. He'd been hovering like a mother hen ever since...

I shoved those thoughts away. No use dwelling on the past. I had a job to do.

"Start walking," I growled, shoving Javier forward. We made our way back through the maze of alleys toward where I'd parked my car. Javier stumbled along in front of me, whimpering softly.

"Please, señorita," he pleaded. "I have a family. Children who need me."

"Should've thought of that before you started ratting to the cops, dickhead."

My phone buzzed again insistently. With an irritated sigh, I fished it out of my pocket while keeping my other hand firmly on Javier's shoulder.

Three missed calls from Sarge.

A text:

CALL ME ASAP. URGENT.

My stomach clenched. Sarge knew better than to interrupt me during an op unless it was an emergency.

I shoved Javier against the brick wall, pressing my forearm across his throat. "Don't even think about moving," I hissed.

Keeping one eye on my captive, I quickly dialed Sarge's number. He picked up on the first ring.

"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded. "I've been trying to reach you for hours."

"I'm working, in case you forgot," I snapped. "What's so damn urgent?"

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