Page 91 of Sutton's Shadow

Well, that didn’t sound good, but she wasn’t ready to give up. “So, let me see if I understand the situation. I messed up your plans, right? I freed the girls you were planning to, what, sell to some sick pervert? And because I’m the one who messed that up for you, you’re going to sell me instead. I don’t know how that’s going to go over for you. I’m kind of long in the tooth. Are your buyers interested in someone as old as I am? I thought most of those pervs like them young.”

“You may be older, but you are still very attractive. We already have multiple bids for you.”

“Ah, well, that’s nice for the old ego.”

“There will be no room for ego where you are going.”

The joke was on him. She had no ego left. The last two years had demolished any ego she might have had. This guy thought to knock her down a peg or two, but she was already at rock bottom. And with the way Wyatt had laid into her, she was presumably even lower than that. She was swimming in the sludge below rock bottom, surrounded by shadows and doubt until she couldn’t breathe.

For most of her career, she’d tried to do good. She’d worked hard to expose the problems in the world while also celebrating the good. But lately, everything she worked on, people she cared about, ended up getting hurt. First, Liam had made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her. Then Wyatt got hurt saving her on the pier. Now Bethany, and by association, Wyatt. Because what hurt Bethany hurt Wyatt.

She wouldn’t blame Wyatt if he wanted to give up on her. She’d put Bethany in danger, after all. That was unforgivable. He could forgive her for Liam’s death because she wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger. But with Bethany, she was the one who’d prompted his sister’s actions. She was the one who talked her into exposing injustices. She was the one who inspired her to go into that house with the desire to document the bad things that were suspected of happening.

Even though there was no doubt things between Wyatt and her were not the best right now, she knew, deep in her heart, he would never stop searching. Bethany wouldn’t let him, even if he didn’t care for her anymore.

She was terrified, of course. Beyond terrified. But maybe her ridiculous banter would stall them long enough for help to arrive. And she had to believe help would arrive.

God, please let help come.

“Right, no ego. Got it,” she quipped. “So, what’s the plan? Oh right, get rid of me. But I’m not your only problem. By now, the girls are reporting everything to the cops, who probably called the FBI. Your operation is exposed.”

“Not an issue. We will move on. We have resources.”

“Ah, I see. Well, I hope you kept meticulous records. We’ll need those to find all the girls you sold into slavery. Not to mention locating your associates as well. There will be no moving on for you. You have no idea what’s coming for you, the type of friends I have.”

He scoffed. “From what I hear, after you got your lover killed, the big security companies want nothing more to do with you. Too much of a liability.”

Well, that cut. At least she’d grown some thick skin lately, even if her time with Wyatt had scoured some layers off. He’d gotten her to open up and face everything head-on. He’d given her that power, at least.

She perused the man’s dark gaze, the smug expression giving her anger a boost, keeping her fear contained for the time being. This was a game to him. A man like him got off on seeing her cowed.

Two could play that game.

She gave him what he wanted, letting tears fill her eyes. She dropped her head, her shoulders slumping forward, defeated.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she sniffled. “I... I have friends still.” She put as much uncertainty into her tone as she could.

He laughed. “That’s where you are wrong. No one is coming for you. The rumors about you seem to be true, if this situation is any indication. Reckless. A danger to herself and others. Willing to do anything for the story. Does that sound accurate? No one wants to work with the impetuous photography princess.”

She sniffed, letting a few tears slip down her cheeks. “No,” she whispered.

“You filled that girl’s head with all sorts of grandiose ideas, didn’t you? You put her right in the path of danger. Your cavalier attitude toward the peril she could face while thinking she was doing ‘the right thing’ filled her with false bravado. And where did it get her?”

“She’s been through worse. She’s strong. She’ll be okay.”

“But you won’t. You just had to play the hero.”

“Don’t care. As long as she’s safe.”

“How magnanimous of you. But your bravado rings false. You sit there, my prisoner. Vulnerable to my whims. I see the terror in your eyes. You have no idea what’s coming for you.”

“Funny, I was going to say the same about you.” Squaring her shoulders, she hardened her expression and met his gaze, the tears gone. “You have no idea what’s coming foryou.”

His laugh echoed through the space, the cinderblock wall doing nothing to absorb the reverberation. “Who would come for me? Nobody wants you.”

“Let’s see. There’s the former Army Ranger, the former Navy SEAL, a former Air Force special mission’s aviator, and the former Chicago police detective. Oh, and let’s not forget the former Delta Force soldier. And they will come for you. You know why? Because you messed with one of their own. And I’m not talking about me.”

She saw the moment he understood her meaning. His jaw twitched as he ground his teeth, telling her she’d hit the mark. His fist clenched at his sides, and the flaring of his nostrils was the only warning she had.

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