Page 125 of Through the Water

“She’s been relieved of her duties here,” the director answered. It looked as if she’d been dragged out of her bed. I imagined she probably had once Tristan was made aware of my disappearance.

I tore my eyes from hers as Brad moved in, shaking his head as he gave Killian a once-over. “I knew something was off with this guy. Thank God you’re safe. Let’s get you out of here.”

He caught the collar of my shirt and yanked, sending me stumbling forward. Killian wrested me from his hold, placing his body in front of mine like a shield.

“Don’t touch her,” he warned in a low voice, his muscles taut with rage. “She said she’s not going back. Respect her decision.”

Brad rolled his eyes. “I’m allowed to touch my fiancée, kid. How many does this make for you now—four? Five? You seem to have a real knack for taking advantage of unavailable women, but surely even the team has their limits.”

Shit. Damn. Hell.

“Fiancée? Okay, buddy. Sure.” Killian exhaled a mirthless chuckle before turning to me, his confident expression falling into a look of horrified recognition. “Wait, you’re engaged?”

Emotion clogged my throat, but I nodded, forcing the words through stiff lips. “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you. I swear—I never meant to keep it from you.”

Killian raked a hand through his hair with a muttered curse, shaking his head in disbelief. When I placed my palm on his chest, he jerked away, and I was forced to see the coldness in his eyes for the truth it was.

I’d broken his trust. Nothing I said or did now would restore it. Brad’s hand came down on my shoulder like a weight, and I closed my eyes, letting it drag me under.

One of the officers stepped forward, almost reluctantly. “Killian Reed, you’re under arrest—”

I jerked away from Brad’s grip with a cry of anguish before putting myself in the middle. “Please, don’t!” I held up my palms, pleading, “He didn’t do anything—I’m an adult! I—”

“It’s over now, son. I hope you see this as a wakeup call to get the help you need,” Tristan stated flatly, shaking his head while remaining a safe distance away.

“Please,” I begged again, knowing it was falling on deaf ears. “I wasn’t kidnapped or abducted or any of the other bullshit you’re charging him with!”

My father’s eyes briefly flashed with fury before he managed to blink, blink it away.

“You’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, little dove,” he explained, in a tone so utterly condescending it made me want to scream. “You’re not capable of making rational decisions right now. It’s obvious he took advantage of your mental state—”

Tristan James was no man. He was a monster who used and discarded people for his own twisted amusement. A villain who preyed on fears and weaknesses, turning those around him into little more than husks.

Chained. Beaten. Sold to the highest bidder.

I would have endured all of it and more if it meant saving Killian. But monsters didn’t negotiate, not when they were convinced their way was the only way. Not when he had the opportunity to destroy someone I cared about.

“No,” I gasped, my heart clenching painfully in my chest. Tears began sliding down my cheeks, but I refused to move. “I won’t let you.”

Tristan was silent for a moment. I thought I’d gotten through to him when Killian spoke.

“Just get it over with.”

The words were like a punch to my belly, but it was the look of resignation on his face that left me doubled over, fighting to draw a full breath. I barely recognized him as the man who’d promised me forever just a few hours before.

An arm went around my back, and I straightened to see it was only Georgia. “I’m here,” she said, lacing her fingers through mine.

Killian stood frozen as they handcuffed him, his eyes dull and distant. There was no greater terror than watching the very thing you loved being ripped from your arms and knowing you were powerless to stop it.

Everything hurt.

I struggled against a sudden wave of dizziness as they forced him onto the elevator, unable to right myself before crumpling against her with a defeated whimper.

“Remember, my dear,” she whispered in my ear while rocking my body with hers. “The smallest voices can be the loudest. You have to pick up your shield and fight back.”

“I can’t,” I uttered brokenly.

I knew how it was going to end. I’d always known. I just got caught up in how it all began, almost letting myself believe things could be different for me.

But there were no happily-ever-afters here.

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