Page 41 of Hateful Union

“Babe, think about it for a second, and you’ll see what I’m saying is true.”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t. You have no idea who Mayer was. What he was capable of and what he actually did.” Tears sting the backs of my eyes, begging to be let free, but I hold them at bay. “I knew the heart of him. He didn’t do what you think he did, trust me on that, Malcolm. Today, I learned that for myself. I hate that people believe he was that type of monster. Abhor him to be seen in that darkness.”

He stares at me in shock, “Raylee…”

I shake my head. “He was many things, many, many things Malcolm, but he was no rapist or trafficker. I know that in my heart and soul. The man that saved me against all odds would never do that to a woman.”

His eyes narrow. “Saved you? How?” he barks.

I glare at him. “Not your business.”

He rakes his hand through his hair. “Fuck!” he explodes. “If that’s true, baby, then I’m sorry.”

The sincerity in his voice has my tears free falling.

“He was the best man I knew,” I whisper, unable to stop the raw pain from entering my words. “I’d have happily given myself over to those men for him.”

“Mo stór…”

“He earned that loyalty from me,” I tell him. “He more than earned it.”

He truly did, in ways that I’d never be able to repay. Ever.

“Okay, baby,” he whispers, his voice hoarse.

I keep his eyes as I say, “He didn’t deserve that death.” He’s unable to keep the flinch at bay. “No matter what, he didn’t deserve it.”

He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “I’m sorry.”

I suck in a sharp breath. That’s all I wanted to hear. An apology.

“Now, do you want to tell me why the hell you’re talking with a cop?”

Fear grips me in a chokehold. Fuck. If he knows, does my family?

17

Malcolm

Fear creeps into her eyes at my words and I tense. Fuck.

“Raylee?” My voice harder, demanding her to tell me what the fuck is going on. I need to know so I can help her, I need to know why she’s doing this.

“I couldn’t let it happen anymore,” she whispers. “I have to stop it.”

“Stop, what?” I ask, hoping she’ll be open and honest with me.

She looks me dead in the eyes, the fear shining in the depths of them. “My father.” She spits his name out with stark hatred.

Damn it. “Are you crazy?” I hiss at her. “He finds out what you’re doing and he’s going to kill you.”

She juts her chin out, sheer determination etched on her face. “That man isn’t my father,” she returns. “That arsehole has caused enough heartache and pain to last a lifetime. I won’t stand by and watch him continue to do this.” She shrugs. Fucking shrugs. “I have the means to bring him down and, Malcolm, nothing you can say to me is ever going to change that.”

Stubborn as fuck.

“How safe are you?” I question and the hope that shines in those magnificent eyes almost blind me. “Raylee, I need to know how secure you are.”

“I’m fine, so far, only you know, and I’m not sure how that happened.”

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