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God, how did I ever think I could live without him?

He tries to sit up, his face scrunching in pain. “What happened?”

“Relax,” I say gently, placing a hand on his shoulder and guiding him back down. “You’re safe. I promise.”

His breaths come in pained gulps as his gaze pins me. “I didn’t break our deal,” he says hurriedly. “I was going to come, but Kane—he drugged me. He was behind the emails. And Anders—”

“I know,” I say, my voice steady. “It’s okay.”

He freezes, staring at me like he didn’t hear me right. “You do?”

I nod. “Rachel Anders is dead. So is the man she was working with. They were taking orders from someone in The Judiciary—someone who wants Hawthorne’s research as well.”

“Kane,” he whispers. “Where is he?”

“Sying,” I answer carefully.

Alex frowns, his brows knitting together. “Is he…?”

“He’s alive,” I admit, although I really wish he wasn’t. I’d rather his brain was splattered on a dirty floor right now.

“How did you get him to tell you where I was?”

I chew the inside of my mouth. I know he’ll be horrified but I confess anyway. “I sent him a video of his family. It was the only way to get him to talk.”

His face falls, and when his eyes meet mine, they’re sharp and cold in a way I’m not used to. “Rowan, tell me you didn’t touch Tanya and the girls.”

“They’re fine,” I assure him quickly. “I didn’t touch them. I just needed leverage, and it worked.”

He exhales shakily, leaning back against the headboard. “What did he say?”

“Anders had something on him,” I explain.

His lips press into a thin line. “What was it?”

I swallow. I hate that I’ll have to burst whatever idea of Isaac Kane Alex has—ifhe still has any shred of respect for the man.

“He was having an affair,” I say bluntly. “Anders knew. She was going to tell his wife if he didn’t help her, although I think it was more about the promotion he’d get once Anders got a position in The Judiciary.”

His mouth falls open, and he stares at me like he’s searching for the lie in my words. “Oh,” he whispers.

“There’s more,” I say cautiously. His eyes snap back to mine, and I see the heartbreak he’s trying so hard to hide. My handsclench into fists, the urge to kill Kane surging again. “He wanted to make a deal. I kill Anders, and he tells me where you are.”

Alex stills, the pain evident on his face. I hate Isaac ten times more if that’s even possible.

“He’s a piece of shit,” I say, trying to pull him back to me.

His hand hovers over his bruised wrist, his thumb brushing the raw skin absently and when he looks up at me, there’s something haunted in his eyes. “What will you do with him?”

“That’s up to you,” I say honestly. “I’d rather let Xander have his way with him, but it’s your choice.”

Alex’s eyes glisten, and he blinks quickly, forcing back tears. “He has a family. Tanya and the girls—they depend on him. She doesn’t work, and the kids are still in school…”

“I can make sure they’re taken care of,” I say softly, “If that’s what you want.”

He shakes his head, his voice breaking. “I don’t know what I want.”

“He deserves to die for what he did to you, Alex.”