Page 17 of Depraved

"There has to be something we can do," I muttered, more to myself than the others. My fingers itched for a weapon, for some tangible way to fight this invisible threat.

Alex cleared his throat. "I might have an idea," he said cautiously. "It's risky, but it could get us the information we need faster."

I turned to him, hope and suspicion warring within me. "What is it?"

“I could reach out to some of my father's associates. Play it off as curiosity about his recent moves. If he's really planning something big, there might be chatter."

"No," I said immediately. "It's too dangerous. If they suspect you're digging..."

"They won't," Alex assured me, his confidence unwavering. "I've been working my way deeper into his inner circle. This kind of inquiry wouldn't be out of character. Besides, you’ve got the motherfucker tied up in your little torture room. He can’t do shit to you from in there."

I felt my jaw clench, torn between the desperate need for information and the fear of Alex putting himself in harm's way.

River's low voice cut through my internal debate. "It's not a bad plan," he said, his single eye fixed on Alex with grudging respect. "Carlos expects his son to be ambitious. Asking questions could be seen as you asserting yourself, positioning for more power."

I ran a hand through my tangled hair, fighting the urge to scream. "And what if it backfires? What if Carlos decides his son is getting too nosy and decides to tie up loose ends?"

Alex's lips quirked in a humorless smile. "Then I suppose I'll have to rely on my charm and dashing looks to talk my way out of it. It's served me well so far."

"This isn't a fucking joke, Alex," I snapped, my nerves frayed to the breaking point.

"You think I don't know that?" he shot back, his eyes flashing. "Your mother's safety is on the line. But so is mine, and I'm still willing to take the risk, are you?"

The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. I felt a pang of guilt, realizing how selfish my reaction had been. Of course Alex understood the stakes. He was putting his neck on the line for me, for my mother—a woman he'd never even met.

"Fine," I said finally, the word tasting like ash on my tongue. "But you better be careful, Alex. I mean it. No unnecessary risks."

He nodded, a ghost of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he lifted my chin and brushed the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. "Careful, gorgeous, for a moment there, it almost sounded like you cared about me."

Alex stoodby the floor-to-ceiling windows, his phone pressed to his ear as he spoke in a hushed voice. The city lights twinkled beyond the glass, a sea of neon and street lamps stretching as far as the eye could see. His reflection in the window looked haggard, dark circles etched beneath his eyes.

"Yeah, that's right," he murmured into the phone. "Wheels up at 0600. No, just the four of us. Keep it quiet."

Sarge paced near the door, his heavy boots muffled by the plush carpet. He ran a hand through his loose, wavy hair, jaw clenched tight as he listened to the voice on the other end of his cell phone.

"I know it's late, Raul," he growled. "But this can't wait. We need to talk."

I sat perched on the edge of the bed, feeling River's intense gaze on me as I methodically cleaned my gun. My fingers trembled slightly as I reassembled the weapon.

I risked a glance at River from under my lashes. His broad shoulders were rigid, muscles bunching beneath his tight black t-shirt. One large hand clenched and unclenched at his side, and I couldn't help but imagine those rough fingers on my skin, leaving bruises in their wake.

Our eyes met for a brief, electric moment. River's pupil was blown wide, his gaze dark with hunger. A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled the sound of the bathroom door slamming behind him, the muffled curses and the rhythmic thumping that followed.

I shifted on the bed, suddenly hyper aware of the ache between my thighs. River's nostrils flared, as if he could smell my arousal from across the room. His tongue darted out to wet his lips, and I had to bite back a whimper.

The way I needed that man was fucking insane.

There was something seriously fucked in my head.

He wasn’t interested in fucking me. Not really. He’d been passed around from one sadistic sexual predator to the next his entire adolescent life, and killed and slaughtered his way through his adult one. The last thing that man needed was some fucked up cartel princess lusting after him.

His chest rose and fell with each measured breath. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck, disappearing beneath his collar. I found myself transfixed, imagining tracing that same path with my tongue.

River shifted in his seat, the leather creaking softly. The sound sent a jolt of electricity straight to my core, igniting a fire low in my belly. I crossed my legs tightly, trying to alleviate some of the ache.

It went on like this for the next two hours, until we finally decided to get some sleep. Alex booked us the jet for the morning, so we had several hours to kill. I dressed in a t-shirtthat I was pretty sure I stole from Sarge at one point, and nothing else, plopping down onto the bed.

Alex had already passed out cold with his arm thrown over his eyes. Sarge was in the shower, leaving River and I alone.

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