“I’m not sure what she’s told you, but I think you need to read this one. So you fully understand. It’s important.”
Emotion filled my eyes.
Fuck.
I couldn’t handle any of this shit.
My mind spun with every scenario.
Aster hurt.
Scared.
The baby…
My breaths clotted off as my throat thickened in a vise of agony.
“She loves you,” Taylor urged.
“I love her. More than life. And I promise you I will get her back.” Razors filled the last words.
“I know you will.”
It was then my phone buzzed with a text. I scrambled to grab it, praying for a miracle.
That this whole thing was a misunderstanding.
That she was safe.
I frowned when I saw it was a text from Haille.
Haille: It’s rude to turn down a thoughtful invitation, no? My house at 10 or I’ll have to find a more interesting way to entertain myself. She is an intriguing artifact.
A cold sweat broke out on the nape of my neck.
Haille: I think you are well aware of what tonight’s ante is. I hope you don’t disappoint me.
A tacky awareness slipped over my skin.
Prickles of disgust and disbelief.
Greed.
It had driven me for years.
I’d believed I’d had something to prove.
Had hungered for the power.
For the gain to rise superior over my enemies.
So I’d sat at that man’s table and made friends with the beast.
I’d filled my cup with treasure until it’d overflowed with wealth.
But in the end, there was only one thing I wanted.
FORTY-SIX