Page 56 of Wicked and Bound

And just like that, the past loosened its grip.

They held each other as the storm raged outside, both aware that dawn might bring fresh danger. But for now, in the dark with their hearts laid bare, they were stronger than ever. Whatever came next, they would face it as one.

“As soon as I can, I’m putting that ring on your finger where it belongs.” Nash tightened his grip on her. “No more time lost. No more secrets. No more running.”

She pressed closer, her tears dampening his skin. “Promise me we’ll make it out of here.”

He wished he could. But in this hellhole, there were no guarantees. “I’ll do everything in my power to get us home safe. To give you the family we both want.”

Thunder crashed again as they clung to each other, their love stronger for having weathered the storm of secrets. The future was uncertain, but finally, their hearts were in perfect sync.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

February came. Nash watched Haisley drift awake in the pale morning sunlight. She’d fallen asleep beside him on the window seat last night, both of them curled together while watching the stars. After he’d carried her to bed, her hands had found his in the darkness, their fingers interlacing as they’d shared passion, followed by more unspoken thoughts about their lost son.

Despite the surveillance, despite the danger, they’d grown closer this past week. Now, her sleepy smile warmed places inside him he’d thought had frozen over when she’d left him.

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, then stood and stretched. “You’re thinking too loud.”

“Just lots on my mind.” He pressed a kiss to her temple, drinking in her familiar vanilla-musk scent while he could, before she made her way to the bathroom.

They’d been here too long. This place kept trying to chip away at her soul, but she remained so damn brave. Fierce. Ready to fight. He’d never been prouder—or more terrified for her.

Nearly a week had passed since she’d confessed the devastating truth about their son. Her admission had changed everything between them. Now when their eyes met across aroom, he saw not just love but absolute trust. Each casual touch carried the weight of shared grief and renewed hope. But that made the horror of this place harder to stomach. This trafficking operation was bigger than any of them had first imagined, and the intel they’d gathered made his blood boil.

Unfortunately, their sources were drying up. Martinez in maintenance had gone silent. Lia, Gray’s secretary, had vanished—and Nash tried not to think about what that might mean. Even Karliah hadn’t picked up anything useful at the spa lately. This fucking investigation felt like three steps forward and two steps back.

But quitting wasn’t an option.

Haisley emerged with clean teeth and curled onto her usual spot on the window seat, propping a book on her knees.

He passed her a cup of coffee, and she thanked him with a smile. Sunlight caught her fiery hair, and his chest tightened.

To his knowledge, she hadn’t had her period since arriving on the island. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. After what happened last time… Images flashed through his mind—her alone in that hospital room, holding their dying son. Grief wrenched his chest. His hands curled into fists. If she was pregnant again, he’d burn this whole fucking island down before he’d let anyone hurt her or their child.

He forced the thought away. More immediate concerns first.

His sat phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket and answered, keeping his voice carefully neutral. “Jasper King here.”

“It’s Hunter. You good there?”

Something in the boss’s tone had Nash’s pulse quickening. “Define good.”

Hunter snorted. “Kane mentioned setbacks with your intel sources. But that footage he took during that storm last week. We’ve combed through it. And we shared it with the FBI.”

“Anything new on that front?”

“They’re taking point but can’t move until the next auction.”

Damn it. Nash would love to get Haisley off the island, but he couldn’t unless this ring got busted up…or Haisley turned up pregnant. “No idea when that will be.”

“Looking like Friday.” Hunter’s voice crackled through the encryption. “The feds are prepping a team to come in. We’ll pass on as they advise.”

Finally. Light at the end of the tunnel. “Thanks for the info.”

“There’s more. The FBI’s theory about Benedict seems solid. He was a mid-level player at best. Expendable, so when he botched the mall operation, he put the whole ring at risk. Black Velvet or someone close had him eliminated, staged to look like a murder-suicide. By the way, the dental records came back. The mistress was the other body. She was collateral damage—wrong place, wrong time.”

Nash absorbed that information. “Makes sense.”

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