Page 65 of Deviant

Someone always got hurt.

With an impatient sigh, Zach withdrew another cellphone from his pocket and hit a button. Someone answered within five seconds. “He’s not cooperating.”

My breath stalled as Zach listened to the voice on the other end. “I got it. Yeah, I’ll tell him.” He pinned me under the certainty of his gaze, his lips tilting into a smug, sadistic smile. “If you don’t drop that fucking gun right now and kick it to me, the kid’s gonna lose some fingers.”

The gun slipped from my hand, almost of its own volition.

“Good. Now kick it over.”

This wasn’t happening. Not again.

But as I kicked the weapon to Zach, I knew I was screwed.

I had no choice.

Alexhad no choice.

If she were standing next to me right now, she’d drop to her knees and crawl to Zach if it meant saving my son.

Zach stopped the gun with his foot. “We’re good here,” he spoke into the cell before ending the call. He reached for the gun, then he removed a pair of handcuffs from his belt and tossed them at my feet. “Put ‘em on, hands behind you.”

“Promise you won’t hurt her.” What a ridiculous plea, but I had to try. Somehow, I had to reach the part of him that still knew what humanity was. The part of him that really did care about her. “She won’t survive your cruelty. If you care about her at all, then prove it.”

“She isn’t your concern anymore.”

That’s where he was dead wrong, but arguing with him wasn’t going to get me anywhere. I had to trust that Alex could survive him until I found an opportunity to save my son and get back to her. Assuming Shelton didn’t want me dead. My instincts told me he wanted me for more lucrative reasons.

I glanced toward the ceiling. “Let me say goodbye.”

“No can do. Quit stalling and put the cuffs on. You might not believe this, but I don’t want the kid to get hurt, so don’t make me call again.”

As I clicked the cold, heavy cuffs around my wrists, I thought of the moment when this all began—when Zach and Abbott De Luca forced Alex into a lie that wrecked my life.

Now three lives were on the line.

My son’s. Alex’s. Mine.

I’d die for both of them, but no one wanted me dead this time. The bad guys only wanted to make a deal, and it sure as fuck wouldn’t benefit us.

We were just pieces on these sick bastards’ chess board.

My son the pawn.

Alex the coveted queen.

And me?

Fuckingcheck.

But this wasn’t over. As Zach shoved me in front of him, propelling me outside to Shelton’s waiting goons, I anticipated the day when the game would turn.

Because it would be checkmate, assholes.

30. Mate - Alex

Dawn’s early rays tickled my cheek. Peeking through my gritty lids, I took in the cloudless sky through the skylights above the bed. As I stretched the night away, I reached for Rafe, but his side was empty. I sat up, and sudden nausea sent me sprinting to the bathroom. Pulling my hair back, I lifted the lid and heaved into the toilet bowl.

God, I hoped Rafe didn’t hear me barfing. I had to tell him, but the morning after our wedding wasn’t the time to do it. I wanted to relish this day, stow every memory away so I could take it out again and again to relive during hard times.

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