Page 123 of Wanted

“I can’t stay here,” I revealed.

“I know that. I’m not asking you to.”

I cursed under my breath. “What are you asking of me?”

Fylox exhaled. “I’m asking you to leave.”

“But I’m her husband.”

“And I want to hurt her. I have the right to. She asks for it.”

“She won’t forgive you,” I told him. “If you make me leave, I won’t come back. I’ll leave you to it.”

Fylox’s chuckles were rare and a strange sound to my ears.

Wrath ascended the stairs in loud stomps. “ALEX!”

“We’re in here,” I yelled back.

My father shoved the door open. Out of breath, he panted. Sweat dripped from his skin, and he looked like he’d sprinted over here. “We need to get you out. Now.”

I shook my head. I wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye to Kamila first.

“There’s an earthquake coming. Travis assumes that it’ll be followed up by a tsunami, son. The island is too small. You have to leave.”

“Fuck no.”

I felt a sharp pinch in my neck. Before I could shove whatever had stung me away, everything went black.

†Doesn’t Exist†

Instantly, Jordan charged at me. His son lay unconscious on the floor, a massive obstruction of movement, but Jordan managed to climb over the body to aim his fists at me. “What the fuck did you do?”

“He wouldn’t have left otherwise,” I gasped. Jordan’s fingers were draped my neck, squeezing the sanity out of me. “I-I did you a f-favor.”

“FUCK THAT! My son’s been your best friend forever, and this is how you repay him?” Jordan seethed. The man was old, but he worked out harder than anyone. One push and he had me pressed against the cold floor with his knee digging into my chest. He could break my ribs with one shove. I almost anticipated the sweet pain. “What’s your endgame?”

There was no need for a response. I took in the fury on his face, feeding my deepest desires. This was my family, and I did the best I could for them. It was all for the greater good.

“SPEAK NOW!” he spat at me. “Or I’ll kill you. I won’t fucking hesitate! YOU FUCKING IDIOT!”

Every bad word caused a flash of red in my eyes, spots of breathtaking blood. I wanted to reach out and touch the liquid, feel it with my fingertips, and taste it with my tongue. Breathing was secondary. I could do without air. If I only could touch the blood that I envisioned. Fascinated by the veins on his neck that were about to pop, I replied, “Put him on an airplane. Get him back to the States where he’s safe. He doesn’t have to be involved in what’s about to happen.”

“What are you planning, Fylox?”

“There’s no time. If there’s a natural disaster coming, we have to get Alex out of here.”

Jordan inhaled, his grip around my neck loosening. My chest heaved in response. He shook his head. “You shouldn’t have used that syringe on him. He would’ve left on his own.”

“He would’ve taken Kamila with him, and that’s a hard no,” I blurted out.

“What is your obsession with Kamila? Leave the woman alone. She’s married now.”

“And we still share her. We will share her forever.” I took a deep breath, and Jordan scrutinized me, his eyes full of distrust.

“If she’s dead, she can’t be shared,” Jordan stated coldly. “Was that your plan all along? Do you want her dead? Is that why you infiltrated Katantia? You sent the guard to get her out before the wedding. You made me believe it was Spencer, but it wasn’t. I taught you well, it seems. The other day, he discussed Kamila’s disappearance with Aram, and I found out. I’ve bugged the palace. He doesn’t care about Kamila or the Wraiths. He wants Katantia, and he has it now. Legally speaking.”

“I wanted her dead. That is the truth,” I revealed. I didn’t feel any better now that I had come clean to Jordan. He didn’t judge me for my other killings. The victims weren’t innocent. I did what I had to do for my peace of mind, Jordan always claimed about me. But killing Kamila crossed a line, even for him. “I planned to make it look like a suicide in Chicago. But then you disappeared, looking for Mandy. Alex popped up in the safe house in Indianapolis, and his interest in the princess hadn’t been diminished. I’ve decided that she won’t die on my watch.”