Page 114

Sydney straightened. “Things have escalated since you’ve been taken, Avery. A man has been killed.”

“Porter. I know,” I said. “I… saw him.” My heart broke again for Porter’s family, as well as for Langston and Zayde. The three men had been inseparable the entire time I’d known them.

Sydney nodded gravely. “Kyle’s gotten word that some expertly trained wolves are on the way.

Some from North Carolina and more from Iowa.

Cole will have a big army soon. It’s freaking Kyle out because he hasn’t been able to build his numbers like he’s wanted.

All this was supposed to be sort of stealthy, but he threw that playbook out the window when he ordered Dallas to kidnap Ashton. ”

I held my hand up. “How do you know people are coming? There’s no way you could know that.”

Sydney glanced away, licking her lips nervously. “You guys protected your phone, but no one else’s. I managed to hack into this Langston guy’s phone. I heard everything he told his friends. Your guy, the cute black dude? He’s good. Damn good, actually,” she admitted. “But I’m still better.”

“Shit,” I muttered. None of us had thought about what might happen if Kyle’s people broke into other phones. We were so focused on protecting me, we’d never thought of it. Not even Zayde.

“I didn’t use my talents to only help Kyle, though. I did what I had to do to stay on his good side, but I’ve been compiling evidence. Video, audio, pictures, emails, texts. I’ve got enough to take this fucker down once and for all.” She looked me dead in the eye. “Will you trust me?”

I thought about it. Ashton looked at me with pleading eyes. Finally, I let out a heavy breath.

“I will. I’ll trust you, but if anything happens to my son, you will be the first one who pays. Not Kyle. You .”

Sydney bowed her head. “Fair enough.”

Ashton grinned. “Nice.”

Sydney smiled at me and put a hand on Ashton’s shoulder. “You’ve got a special guy here. Be ready tomorrow night. We’re getting you two the hell out of here.”

She turned to leave, and Ashton watched her go with a look of deep fondness. I almost rolled my eyes. I had to force myself to not tell him that girls could come later. Boys. Even when their lives were in danger, they made googly eyes at pretty ladies who walked by. Unbelievable.

We ate in silence. Turkey and cheese sandwiches, chips, a fruit cup, and a cookie—like a school cafeteria lunch. Actually, it was probably closer to a prison lunch, but I didn’t allow myself to think about that very long. It hit too close to home.

We’d barely finished when a guard came in.

“Let’s go, pup,” he snapped at Ashton. “Back to your room.”

“What?” I gasped. “Aren’t we staying here together?”

Ashton shook his head, a look of remorse on his face. “No. They moved me here when they brought you in. I have my own room.”

“I don’t want you to go,” I said, fighting back tears.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” The guard groaned. “Let’s go. Let’s go!”

“You’ll be safe,” Ashton said, trudging after the guard.

The click of the lock nearly undid me. I missed him already.

To have been apart for so long, only to be torn apart again so soon, was a sick joke.

Though, if Kyle really was as obsessed with me as he seemed, Ash was probably right.

He wouldn’t hurt me. Not yet. But God, what other things might he try? I shivered at the thought.

As though summoned by my thoughts, Kyle unlocked the door and entered ten minutes later.

He wasn’t dressed in the suit with the partly unbuttoned dress shirt he usually wore.

Today, he wore a simple polo and slacks with penny loafers.

The way he looked at me as he closed the door made my skin crawl.

Bearing down hard on my own instincts to flinch away, I stayed motionless as he crossed the room. I swallowed hard as he brushed my cheek. His skin barely made contact with mine, but I felt dirty nonetheless.

“They weren’t supposed to hurt you,” he grumbled in a low and threatening manner. “As soon as I saw this—” he touched my split lip “—the man responsible was taken away. I can assure you, my love, that he is being dealt with. Harshly .”

That should have sent a chill up my spine, but I could still feel the crack of the man’s palm against my cheek.

That man—both of those men—had killed Porter.

Deep down, the bitter, vindictive part of me hoped the man was screaming.

Screaming in wretched agony. Screaming the last scream he’d ever scream.

Kyle must have seen that in my eyes. He grinned. “Yes. He won’t be touching anyone. Not ever again.”

“Why did you send them?” I asked, doing my best to maintain the character I’d built during my conversations with him. “I thought we were going to wait until Cole was taken care of before I joined you.”

“I’m truly sorry for that, but things have been growing more dangerous by the day. I was afraid Cole might snap and hurt you to get back at me. It was in your best interest that we extracted you ASAP.”

“And you drugged me?” This time, I couldn’t keep the anger from my voice. “Was that part of the plan?”

Kyle sighed and gave me a strange half-smile, half-frown that showed contrition. “That was part of the plan, yes. I’m sorry, but it was much easier to transport you in the trunk of a car than?—”

“ Trunk ?” I pulled away from his hand. “Seriously?”

He bobbed his eyebrows up, a happy little grin on his face.

“We do what we must. That way, you could be transported here without anyone spotting you through the windows. But you’re fine now, aren’t you?

” He touched my face again, and I managed not to recoil, allowing him to slide those reptilian-like fingers across my cheek.

“I suppose,” I said.

“I can only imagine how awful it must have been,” he said, gazing down at me lovingly, “being forced to be with a man you don’t love.”

A braying laugh nearly erupted from my throat at the irony of his words, but I managed to hold it back.

He was right. It was awful being forced to be around a man I didn’t love.

I was experiencing it at that very moment.

Not that I could say that. No, I needed to keep feeding his delusions.

Keep up the act until Cole came for us, or until whatever plan Sydney and Dallas were concocting came to fruition.

“You’re right,” I said, forcing my voice to hitch with emotion. “He’s become a monster. I’m not happy with how you got me out of there, but I’m much happier now that I’m here. With you.”

Forcing down my revulsion, I clasped his free hand with mine. He grinned at the show of affection, and I knew I had him.

Kyle licked his lips and scanned me up and down, devouring me with his eyes. “I’m gonna make you forget all about that bastard.”

For an insane moment, I thought he might try one of the degenerate fantasies that were probably playing through his head right then.

If he did, I’d have to drop the act. I could never allow him to touch me like that.

The mere thought of his sweaty body atop mine, his fetid, grunting breath billowing into my face as whatever pathetic thing he called a cock rammed into me, was enough for me to wish for death.

No, not death. There might be a child growing inside me. Instead of death, I’d simply fight until there was nothing left to fight with.

Thankfully, he didn’t nudge me toward the bed. Instead, he took a single step back.

“Before that, you need your rest,” he said. “You’ve had a busy day, and I want you to fully recuperate before we enjoy each other.”

As badly as I wanted to be rid of the man, I still had questions. Things I needed to know, or else I might go mad trying to figure them out.

“Wait,” I said. “Don’t go.”

Another of those hungry smiles appeared on his face. “My love, all you have to do is ask.”

Before he could think I wanted him here for something more physical, I sat on the small loveseat beside the bed.

“What’s the plan? For Cole? They have no clue what you’re trying to do. I have to be honest, I can’t figure it out, either.”

I’d hoped to play on his ego, and sure enough, it worked. He sat on the chair across from me, resting his elbows on his knees.

“I suppose you would be curious. To be honest, we’ve had to do some additional planning since things didn’t initially work the way we wanted.

My plan from the beginning was to get Lance to sign over the rights to his pack to Dallas.

Once that was complete, we’d push Lance out and install Dallas as pack alpha.

I would take control from the shadows until Dallas was established.

Afterward, he would sign it over to me, lawfully.

” Kyle grimaced. “Of course, that old bastard up and died. Not only that, but he died before getting the new will notarized and filed. If I had to guess, he probably still has the original will hidden away somewhere. Once that avenue was destroyed, and Cole returned from whatever wilderness he’s been in for nearly sixteen years, things became more complicated. ”

“I bet,” I said sympathetically. “But you’re such an intelligent man. You probably already had another plan going, didn’t you?” It was a miracle I could compliment him with a straight face.

Kyle’s eyes gleamed at that. “At first, I hoped he would only be passing through and give control of the pack to his brother. But then he didn’t, and it came out that he had a son.

” Kyle winked at me. “A strong boy who inherited all his mother’s glory and none of his father’s trash DNA.

The plan became simple at that point. Kill Cole, and by law, the pack will pass to Ashton.

As Ashton’s new stepfather, I will lead the pack as de facto alpha until he comes of age.

I will expand my influence, as well as begin to groom an heir to the empire I’m building. Two birds with one stone.”

“It makes total sense,” I said, the sick weight of his words in my stomach like a heavy stone.

Kyle sat back, grinning, pleased with himself.

“It does, doesn’t it? Though, to truly assert our dominance, me and my son will need to prove our power to the Harbor Mills pack.

I have a plan in place for that. A coming-out party, if you will, for Ashton.

He will be the one to kill Cole Garrett and steal away his pack lands. ”

I stared back at Kyle, keeping my face emotionless while a storm of emotions roared through my mind.

He wanted Ashton to do his dirty work? This asshole didn’t even have the spine to face Cole himself.

He had to send a boy to do it? Even if Ashton had actually been on his side, it would be disgusting.

“Oh my God, Avery,” Kyle said happily, throwing his head back.

“It’s going to be glorious. You have no idea.

The plans I have would sweep you off your feet.

I know you’ve seen the effects of the drug we’re developing.

It will change the world one day. Not just the state or the country, but the world.

Once we perfect it, I’ll use it to increase the numbers in my army.

I’ll slowly take pack after pack. One day soon, I’ll be the richest and most powerful alpha in the country.

” He gave a self-satisfied shrug. “Maybe the world. We’ll see.

Even the humans won’t stand against me, because I could turn any of them into a shifter or wolf whenever I want. ”

This man was completely unhinged. We’d already decided Kyle was crazy, but this was a whole other level of madness. The fact that I could see he believed every word of it only cemented that fact.

Biting back my thoughts, I said, “I don’t know that I like the thought of Ashton being a killer, Kyle. You’re so much stronger than Cole. Wouldn’t it be better if you did it?”

Kyle’s smile slipped, his eyes turning hard. Had I stepped too far? Had he seen through my ruse?

“I have already shown my strength, Avery. To lead a pack, one must make a show of force. Otherwise, your pack members will never respect you. Your son— our son—must show strength. Do you want the pack to think Ashton is a weakling?”

All I wanted to do was stand up and plant my foot in his face, but I restrained myself. There was a plan in place. If Sydney was right, by tomorrow night, I’d be out of this place. Ashton and I would be safe again with Cole. All I needed to do was survive until then.

“Of course. When you say it like that, it makes sense.”

The smile reappeared. “Good girl.”

He stood and stepped close, bending over and planting a kiss on my temple. My stomach heaved.

“Get some rest.” He traced a finger down my shoulder to my collarbone, but blessedly pulled away before reaching my breasts. “After tomorrow night, we can celebrate.”

Watching him walk to the door, I swallowed again and again, feeling the hot burn in my stomach. As soon as the door was closed and locked behind him, I sprinted to the bathroom. Lifting the toilet seat, I shoved my head inside and emptied my stomach.

“One more day,” I whispered before I heaved again. “One more day.”