Page 137 of Wrapped in Their Arms

The thin, pale line of his mouth curled upward.Itwasn’t a smile—it was the hard-edged mockery of one.

“So, are you having fun up there on theKindredMotherShip?”he sneered.“Beenfucking lots of those bigKindredassholes?”

The venom in his tone should have scared her—but instead, something inside her snapped and a fury she’d repressed for years rose to the surface.

Noelle lifted her chin.

“As a matter of fact,Ihave,” she said coolly.“Twoof them, in fact.”

Branson’s beady eyes narrowed to mean little slits.

“You littlewhore,” he spat.“Iknew you went up there just to cheat on me!”

“No,Branson,”Noelleretorted.“Icame up here to teach a class—and to get away from you.”Hervoice trembled only slightly.“Ileft you the divorce papers on the kitchen table.Justsign them and we can both move on.”

“Move on?”he barked.“Fuckthat!Itold you,I’mneverletting you go.”Hislip curled.“Nowget your ass back down toEarth.”

“No.”Noelle’svoice was like ice.“I’mstaying here on theMotherShip.TheKindredprotect women.”Herthroat tightened.“Theydon’t beat them or hurt them.”

“I only punished you when you deserved it!”Bransonexploded.“Wasn’tmy fault you were so damn mouthy—Ihad to beat some respect into you!”

“Dios, listen to yourself,” she snapped.“You’redisgusting.Andyou look ridiculous.Whyare you even dressed like that?It’snot hunting season.”

At those words, something terrible lit his eyes…an ugly, triumphant gleam that made her stomach clench.

“That’s what you think, babe,” he murmured.“See, the reasonI’mdressed like this, is thatIsigned up with a certain government agency.”Heleaned forward until his face filled the screen.“Onewhere it’salwayshunting season…and the roads are always icy, if you know whatImean.”

Noelle’s mouth went bone dry and her heart stuttered painfully in her chest.

“You… you wouldn’t,” she managed to get out.“Evenyou wouldn’t stoop that low.”

“Fuck your ‘stooping,’” he snarled.“Therewas a sign-on bonus.”

The room felt suddenly too small…too hot and bright.Noelle’shands trembled as she dug her nails into her palms.

“And guess what?”Bransoncontinued.“NowI’vegot the power to go arrest your precious littleAbuelitaand throw her ass in a detention center.”

“You can’t do that!”Noellegasped.Herheart hammered so hard she felt dizzy.“Mygrandmother is anAmericancitizen!Shegot her citizenship whenIwas ten!Iremember—Iwent to the ceremony!”

Branson just shrugged.

“Too fucking bad.Youthink anybody cares?”Helaughed—a dry, ugly sound.“Citizen, not a citizen, legal, illegal—doesn’t matter.Allanyone sees is that she’s brown and doesn’t speakEnglish.”

“You’relying,”Noellewhispered.Buther chest felt tight and her pulse thundered in her ears.

“AmI?”Bransonasked, poisonous satisfaction dripping from each syllable.“Don’ttest me, babe.Ican have her disappeared just like that.”Hesnapped his fingers sharply.“Couldship her back toMexico.Ormaybe someplace worse.Prisoncamp inSouthAmerica, maybe?Wonderif sweet little abuelita’s heart could take it?”

Noelle’s vision went blurry with tears—hot, stinging tears of rage and helpless terror.

“You wouldn’t dare!”she choked.

“Oh yesIwould.”Bransonleaned in, filling the screen with his self-satisfied smirk.“Now…you come down here right now, andImightnot break down her door and drag her off to a detention center.Butyou better get here quick.Andyou better come alone.”Hisvoice sharpened.“IfIsee anyone else—anyone at all with you—I’llgive the word, and my boys will pay her a little visit.Andyou’ll never…neversee her again.”

Noelle felt sick—the room seemed to have tilted sideways.

Branson was threatening her grandmother—her sweet, gentleabuelita.Theone person who had loved her unconditionally her whole life—who had raised her after her parents died.

Branson would use her as bait.Andhe’d do it smiling, the asshole!