Page 15 of Depraved

"Of course we fucking have. Did you really think Layla would just let you disappear?"

Gage sighed, rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw. "Fair enough. Yes, Sarah is the woman I've been meeting with. She's been helping me gather intel and set up the safe house."

"And what exactly is your relationship with her?" I pressed, unable to keep the edge from my voice.

Gage's eyes hardened. "That's none of your goddamn business."

"It is if you're fucking her," I snapped. "Because that means you never gave a shit about Layla in the first place."

"Don't you dare question how I feel about Layla," he hissed, leaning in close. "Everything I've done, every lie I've told, it was all to protect her. You have no idea the shit I've had to do, the lines I've had to cross."

"Spare me the noble martyr act," I sneered. "You're a lying piece of shit who broke her heart. Nothing you say will change that."

Gage stood abruptly, his stool scraping on the floor. I tensed, ready for a fight, but he simply tucked his gun back into its holster. "I'll text you the coordinates to the safe house on a restricted line. You won't be able to trace it, so don't bother trying."

I grunted in acknowledgment, watching him warily. For a brief moment, I almost felt sorry for the bastard. Almost. Then I remembered the broken look in Layla's eyes, the way she'd crumpled in on herself after his betrayal, the beating she took for letting him live, and any flicker of sympathy vanished like smoke.

"You better pray to whatever god you believe in that this information checks out, because if you're lying, if this is some kind of trap, I'll hunt you to the ends of the earth. And what Layla wants to do to you will seem like a mercy compared to what I'll do to you."

Gage met my gaze unflinchingly, a muscle ticking in his jaw. "You already believe me. Don’t bother lying to yourself. If you didn’t, my brains would have painted this bar red ten minutes ago.”

CHAPTER 6

Layla

The crystal tumbler shattered against the wall in a glittering explosion of glass, sending shards skittering across the floor. The lingering scent of expensive whiskey filled the air as amber droplets trickled down the wall.

"You son of a bitch!" I snarled, my voice raw. "You let him walk away?"

Sarge straightened slowly from his defensive crouch, hands raised placatingly. "Layla, listen to me. I know you're angry?—"

"Angry?" I laughed, the sound harsh and brittle. "Angry doesn't even begin to cover it."

My hands trembled as I paced the length of the hotel suite, bare feet silent on the plush carpet. The early morning sunlight streaming through the gauzy curtains felt too bright, too cheerful. It mocked the storm of emotions raging inside me.

"He was right there," I hissed, whirling to face Sarge. "You could have ended this. Could have put a bullet in his lying mouth and been done with it."

I grabbed another crystal tumbler from the minibar, hurling it at Sarge's head with all my strength. He ducked just in time,the glass shattering against the wall in another explosive burst. Tiny shards rained down, glittering in the morning light like deadly diamond dust.

"You stupid, gullible bastard!" I screamed, my voice cracking. "How could you fall for his bullshit? After everything he's done, everything he's put us through!"

My chest heaved as I glared at Sarge, tears of rage burning in my eyes. The ache of betrayal that I'd been carrying for months roared to life, threatening to consume me. I wanted to tear the room apart, to feel something break beneath my hands.

Sarge straightened slowly, glass crunching under his boots as he took a cautious step towards me. "Lala, please. Just listen?—"

"No!" I snarled, snatching up a heavy crystal ashtray. "I'm done listening. I'm done with lies and excuses and false promises."

I hurled the ashtray at him, but my aim was wild. It smashed into an ornate mirror, spider webbing cracks across the reflective surface. Our fractured reflections stared back at us—me with my wild eyes and disheveled hair, Sarge looking weary and resigned.

Alex's strong arms wrapped around me from behind, pinning my own arms to my sides as I struggled and thrashed. His tattooed forearms flexed as he held me tight against his chest. I could feel the rapid beating of his heart, smell the lingering scent of sweat and sex from last night.

"Easy, Lala," he murmured in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. "Let's hear him out before you destroy the entire suite, yeah?"

I cursed so colorfully I didn’t even know what I said once the words were out. Alex chuckled. CHUCKLED. The motherfucker thought this was amusing.

"How the fuck did we not see him on the security cameras?" Alex asked, addressing Sarge over my shoulder. His voice vibrated through his chest, rumbling against my back.

Sarge ran a hand through his hair. "I think he manipulated the cameras before approaching me. You know how good he is with tech. He probably looped the footage or something."

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