Page 43 of Single Mom’s Navy Seals (Claimed by the Alphas #2)

AVA

T he door clicks shut behind the guys, and their gentle laughter filters through the walls as they head downstairs. I lie still for a moment, catching my breath. My body is still humming from the afterglow of what just happened.

The peace shatters abruptly when a phone rings loudly from the nightstand.

I startle, rolling over and seeing Liam’s phone buzzing urgently, the bright screen illuminating the dim room.

It rings once, twice, three times, then goes silent.

But before I can settle again, rapid vibrations signal a flurry of incoming text messages, one after another in quick succession.

Concern twists in my chest. Whoever’s texting this urgently clearly has something important to say.

Liam probably forgot it here in his rush to grab a towel for me.

Carefully, I reach over and pick up the phone, intending only to take it downstairs to him.

But as I lift it, my eyes catch a glimpse of the screen, and my name flashes clearly in the preview of a recent message.

Curiosity and confusion surge within me, tightening my grip around the device.

I hesitate, guilt prickling in the back of my mind. But my name is right there, and the words beneath it tug at my attention. I lower myself to the bed, sitting upright and tapping on the message. Immediately, the full text appears clearly on the screen, my heart sinking as I read.

“We’ll meet in three days at the agreed coordinates. Once Ava is turned over, you’ll have her out of your hair.”

The message comes from a number without a saved contact name.

I frown, confusion and anxiety blending within me.

My chest tightens as I realize this must be Ben Morales reaching out to Liam.

But something about the message feels distinctly off—colder, harsher, not the neutral tone Ben usually uses.

My curiosity deepens, overriding my hesitation as I scroll upward, skimming earlier texts.

My heart clenches tighter with every word.

Liam has exchanged multiple messages with this person—someone called Roger, not Ben.

A sickening realization settles heavily in my stomach.

This isn’t Morales. Whoever Roger is, he has arranged to take Eli and me in three days’ time.

Liam’s responses appear cold, detached, as if discussing something tedious rather than the safety of two people he supposedly cares for.

There’s no warmth here, no hesitation. Just a clear, calculated agreement.

“Looking forward to collecting the bonus,” Liam had texted. “You can have her; it’s no trouble at all. Ready to be done with this.”

My heart pounds violently against my chest, nausea rising swiftly as I read on.

Another message from Roger promises an additional incentive—a significant bonus of $1.

5 million—for delivering Eli and me directly to the arranged location.

Liam’s replies become increasingly eager, his responses short and mercenary, entirely devoid of any emotion or care.

I swallow hard, bile rising in my throat.

My vision blurs briefly with tears of anger and betrayal.

The man I’ve come to trust, the men I’ve given myself to, have been negotiating my fate like a business deal.

All the gentle words, tender touches, moments of intimacy—all of it feels sickeningly false.

The phone buzzes, and I nearly drop it from my trembling hand. Roger’s number flashes clearly on the screen, the unknown digits somehow more menacing now. I stare numbly, unable to bring myself to answer. The call finally fades, the phone slipping to voicemail.

My pulse roars loudly in my ears. Without fully thinking, I tap the notification to play the message Roger left behind. The recording crackles, a deep voice filling the room clearly.

“Liam, this is Roger,” the voice says coolly, irritation evident. “Just confirming the plan for Ava. You better not disappoint me, buddy. We don’t pay that kind of money for mistakes.”

My entire body freezes, blood turning ice-cold in my veins when I hear the familiar voice. Randy. My ex-husband. The monster I’ve spent years hiding from, the man Morales promised would never find us.

My stomach twists violently, a wave of dizziness surging through me. It’s him. There’s no doubt in my mind. Randy’s voice—cold, sharp, commanding—is etched permanently into my memory. Every cruel word, every threat, every scar left behind comes rushing back, overwhelming me completely.

I can’t breathe, can’t think clearly as realization sinks deeply into my bones.

Liam, Cole, and Jax have betrayed me. All of them.

The men I allowed into my heart and bed have sold Eli and me back to Randy, treating us like objects in a business transaction.

My trust shatters, replaced by a fierce, cold panic.

My fingers tremble, dropping Liam’s phone to the bed as tears blur my vision. Emotions clamor for dominance. But beneath it all, one single instinct screams louder than any other:

Protect Eli.

I push shakily from the bed, grabbing clothes hastily, my heart pounding painfully against my ribs. I don’t know how I’ll do it or where we’ll go, but one thing is clear—I have to get Eli out of here before it’s too late.

As footsteps sound from the hallway, approaching the door, panic surges through me. I slip Liam’s phone back onto the bed, stepping swiftly away, my pulse racing.

I turn toward the door just as Liam pushes it open, stepping inside. His eyes meet mine, expression calm, concerned—so perfectly convincing that nausea twists again in my gut. This man, this liar, betrayed me for money.

“Hey,” Liam murmurs, stepping closer. “Everything okay?”

I force a shaky smile, masking the heartbreak screaming inside my chest. “Yeah. Just tired all of a sudden. I don’t know what happened, but I have the worst headache.”

They all make concerned sounds, and Liam steps even closer, reaching out to touch my cheek. It takes everything in me not to recoil from his touch.

“You’re probably dehydrated,” he flashes me a grin as if thinking about what I could be dehydrated from. That makes me even sicker to my stomach.

“Here, baby girl,” Jax says, passing me a cold water bottle and a banana.

“Why don’t you take that with you back to your room and get some rest with Eli?”

I smile, though it feels strained and hollow. “Okay, I think that might help.”

Jax places the cold water bottle into my hand, fingers brushing against mine in a gesture meant to comfort. But instead of warmth, nausea twists in my gut. I have to fight the urge to pull away. The ache of betrayal is making it hard to fucking breathe.

“Drink plenty of that,” Liam advises, stepping just a bit closer. “Dehydration can hit fast, especially after…”

He trails off, a faint, teasing smirk curving his lips. The implication is clear, but instead of amusement, a fresh wave of sickness washes through me.

I force a soft laugh. The sound feels hollow even to my own ears.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” I reply, gripping the water bottle tighter. “I just need to rest, I think.”

Cole’s eyes linger on my face. He reaches out, brushing a loose strand of hair from my cheek. It takes everything in me not to flinch away.

“Get some sleep, Ava,” Cole says, his voice soothing, steady. “We’ll be right downstairs if you need anything.”

Carefully masking the bitterness that swells within me, I nod again.

“Thanks,” I manage, stepping away toward the doorway. “Goodnight.”

They each step forward to give me affectionate kisses, as they’ve now done countless times before. But this time, every brush of their lips against my skin makes me want to vomit. Each touch makes my heart break a little more.

“Sleep well, sweetheart,” Jax murmurs.

I simply nod, unable to speak without my voice breaking. Turning, I move swiftly down the hall toward my room, pushing the door shut behind me. I sink onto the edge of the bed beside Eli’s sleeping form, tears stinging behind my eyelids.

For a long hour, I remain still, listening closely to the quiet movements from downstairs, waiting until the cabin settles fully into silence. When I’m certain they’ve finally fallen asleep, I slip from the bed, heart pounding against my ribs.

I move through the dim room, grabbing a small duffel bag and filling it with essentials—clothing, toiletries, cash tucked into a hidden pocket. Each quiet movement feels heavy, painful, the weight of betrayal settling deeply into every careful action.

Tears slip down my cheeks as I pack, my heart breaking further with every gentle reminder of the trust now shattered. When the bag is finally packed, I zip it shut and slip toward the closet, tucking it away behind coats and shoes. Out of sight, ready for a quick escape.

Returning to bed, I curl around Eli’s small body, holding him against me. Tears continue to fall silently, soaking into my pillow as exhaustion pulls me into sleep.

Morning comes, sunlight illuminating the small room. I wake early, careful not to disturb Eli’s peaceful sleep. I slip from the bed, preparing myself mentally for the difficult task ahead.

Padding downstairs, I find the three of them already gathered in the kitchen, talking over cups of coffee. When they see me, concern fills their expressions immediately, the sincerity cutting through me.

“Ava, you alright?” Liam asks, stepping forward.

I force a soft, pained smile, clutching my abdomen. “I woke up feeling awful,” I murmur, voice strained. “Cramps hit me out of nowhere. I think I started my period. I don’t know what happened, but it’s bad this time.”

Jax immediately steps forward, brows furrowing with concern. “What can we do to help? Tell us what you need.”

I glance toward them, masking my true intentions beneath quiet discomfort. “Honestly, I’m just craving chocolate, maybe some Advil, and one of those heating pads. But I don’t think we have any of that here.”