Page 55 of Hateful Union

“Let me guess, she ran straight into you?”

I nod, “Yeah, she wasn’t just in bed with me. She was fucking a different man each week. But the worst of it, she lied a fuck of a lot. She pretended that she wanted to bring down your family. That she was scared out of her mind. She laid it all out. That every single member of the Silver family was in on the business. That Mayer and Ashton were just as bad as Harry, if not worse. That Mayer tortured, raped, and killed women. That he, Harry, and Ashton were the head of the trafficking ring along with the prostitution ring.”

Tears fall from her eyes. “None of that is true. God, why would she do that?”

I shrug, “I’ve no fucking idea. I hated her, told her that if I saw her again I’d kill her. I meant every fucking word.” My voice vibrates with anger. I’ve never told anyone the threat I made to Sienna.

Her eyes get big, “What? What the hell did she do?” Her voice barely above a whisper. “Mal, you would never say that unless she did something, so spill.”

Fuck, we’ve barely known each other that long, but yet she knows who I truly am.

“I ended things with her and she told me that she’d ruin me, that she’d cry rape and everyone would believe her as I’m a bastard and feared.”

“She, what?” Raylee screeches as she gets to her feet. I watch on as she explodes. I’ve never seen anything so fucking beautiful in my life. “That fucking bitch. God, if she weren’t already dead, I’d strangle the whore. Who the fuck does she think she is?”

My lips twitch, God, Raylee pissed is a sight to behold. “Baby, she’s gone, it’s over.”

She turns to me, her eyes blazing with rage. “No it’s not, because you feel guilty for her death and you fucking shouldn’t. That bitch doesn’t deserve your guilt.”

“I don’t like how well you fucking see me.”

She sticks her tongue out at me, a small smile playing on her lips. She starts walking towards me. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this mess, Mal, I promise. We’ll find out what the hell is going on.” She climbs onto my lap and wraps her legs around my waist, her hands resting at the back of my neck and her eyes scan my face. “Together.” She swallows hard, looking scared. “I’m falling so fucking hard for you. You have the ability to completely shatter me,” she confesses quietly.

My hands go to her arse, “Ah, my beautiful golden girl. Don’t you know? You own me, mind, body, and soul.”

Her eyes shine brightly. “We’re going to get through this,” she promises me.

I hold her tightly against me and start to plan. She’s right, we’re going to get through this. I’m not losing her. No fucking way. I need to make sure that whatever happens, she’s clean. Going up against the cops is one thing that you never do, it’s a sure fire way to get your arse into lock up. In this case, I'd fucking happily bring them down, the whole lot of them, if it means that my girl is safe.

22

Raylee

“Ray,” Gabs whispers from beside me, her hand grasping mine.

I shake my head. “It’s going to be okay,” I try to assure her, but really, I’m not sure if anything’s going to be. Staring at my phone, the email I received from Gabby’s dad has bile rising from my throat.

“How can it be?” she questions. “He knows everything, Ray, everything.”

She’s right. Ramirez knows everything I have on my father. I was so fucking stupid. I believed that because he was a cop that he was safe. How wrong was I? For the past three years, Ramirez has been receiving monthly payments into an offshore bank account, money that comes from my father.

Fear courses through me. Does my father know? God. Why the hell did Malcolm leave today? He’s been with me every day for the past month and today of all days he had to go to work. What the hell is happening to me? I’ve never wanted anyone to protect or hold me, I was never that type of girl. Until Mal.

“I’m going to call Dad and see if he knows if Ramirez has said anything to Harry,” Gab says, pulling me out of my thoughts. “It’s going to be okay, as much as I’ve come to hate your father, I don’t think he would hurt you.” She gives my hand a reassuring squeeze before getting to her feet and moving towards the kitchen.

I’m glad one of us thinks that. I believe that my father has worked hard to get his business up and running, a business that makes him almost eight figures a year. If he finds out that I’m threatening to tear it down, I doubt he’ll have any qualms on taking me out.

I read through the email once again, wanting to make sure that I’m reading it right. It’s all there in black and white. Ramirez is on the take and has been for a long time. Now it makes sense as to why my father is not behind bars where he belongs.

After everything I’ve risked, it’s gotten me nowhere. I’m at a loss of what I should do next. I want to continue doing what Mayer started, I want my father’s business burned to the ground. I want all those women that he’s forced against their wills to become part of his stable—I want them free. I want them to be able to decide what they want to do next in their lives. I know nothing can change what’s happened, or give them back what they’ve lost, but it will give them a future and for me, that’s what’s keeping me going.

The past few weeks my mind has been whirling. I had so many unanswered questions. Right now, I need to get the rest of them. I’m losing myself in the depths of despair. I’m sick, constantly, I’m always looking over my shoulder, and I’m scared. Out of my mind fear that takes a hold of me and doesn’t let go.

With shaky hands, I do the only thing left. I call my mum. “Ray-Ray,” she breathes, “You’re okay? Your father’s been looking for you…”

Oh shit. He’s coming for me.

“Mama,” I whisper, “I’m scared.”

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