Page 74 of Under Fire

He wasn’t honorable. He wasn’t serving his country.

“So, what’s it going to be?” Dean asked, examining her throat as if she were a prize. “Should we make it official?”

She hoped to God he wouldn’t notice the bruising from Warren’s biting. But he did—running his fingers along the exact place where Warren’s teeth had claimed her. Deanknew, she realized, watching the man’s pupils dilate. That competitiveness was rising within him, and he wouldn’t be outdone. He wouldn’t be taken for a fool.

She closed her eyes, shaking her head—wishing it all away. She was immobile in his arms, crumbling. Breaking down.

“Dean, please—I can’t.”

“You aren’t going to say ‘no’ to your man, are you? After all I’ve done for you?”

Your man.The words burned. She flashed her gaze at him, a warning.

“Let’s stop pretending. All you ever wanted was to control me.”

“Shut the fuck up.” He brushed her hair from her face, then threw her forward.

Alisa stumbled in front of him, crying inside. She’d known it would come to this…eventually. There had never been any other way.

Dean’s final words confirmed it.

“The reverend will be here soon, so we better get you pretty.”

.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Alisa

Alisa drew the creamy sweater closer to her form, wrapping it tighter around her, as she watched the cop who’d kidnapped her casually chat with Dean halfway down the beach. She knew without a doubt that Dean had the guy on his payroll. That was how he got what he wanted—by throwing cash around.

Warren’s questions came to her mind, and she chewed her lip, unable to admit it, even to herself. But she couldn’t lie to herself anymore. A tear fell down her cheek, which she promptly wiped away. So many emotions roiled through her, and she was unable to accept how things had ended.

Dean trailed his gaze back up the beach, grinning at her. He didn’t give a fuck about her deep discomfort—her hurt. His narcissism had grown everyday she’d known him, until it had exploded to levels she couldn’t describe. He’d cheated. He’d lied. He’d manipulated.

The dirty cop motioned to the top of the beach where a man in a black button-up shirt was walking down the path from the clubhouse.God, it’s the damn reverend. He held something in his hand—paperwork.

It all hit her. She was really going to marry Dean. She was really going to throw it all away.

The wind picked up, whipping her long hair around her face and body, and it promised some protection. She wouldn’t have to show how she really felt. Not really. No one cared anyway.

The reverend looked up at her, smiling and beckoning her over. The dirty cop left, saluting Dean on his way out. Then—all eyes were on her.

The wedding march of death played on loop in her head. One numb foot in front of the other, she reluctantly strode down the sand, closer and closer to where Dean stood, watching her. Holding out his hand for her, he called her name. His flawless smile, poised and fake, would charm a snake.

As she found her spot beside him, the reverend clearly had no appreciation that she was under duress, and she didn’t dare show it. He’d kill her…she knew it. She had no doubt it would come to that.

The reverend started his spiel, glancing down at the paperwork he had.

“Here we are on Sunset Beach,” the man explained, “ready to seal you together in marriage.”

The reverend went on, talking about vows of marriage and the legality of what he was about to do, his responsibilities and theirs. He promised a quick ceremony, seeming to misread Alisa’s behavior for bridal nerves.

Pain stirred inside Alisa, knowing just how impossible it would be to save her now. They were far out of the city, and how the hell would anyone find her? Only Maria knew where the clubhouse was—perched at the top of the beach, a multi-million-dollar surf shack obtained by the proceeds of crime.

She closed her eyes, dreading her fate. She stopped hearing the reverend. She stopped feeling Dean’s clutch on her. All she could think about was her mother—specifically, her mother on her death bed. As her mother had drawn her final breaths, she’d been so happy that Alisa was going to med school, so happy that she was going to be someone.

Alisa opened her eyes, listening and observing as they drew closer to the legal part of the short ceremony. Her hair blowing, the beach was still except for the strong wind. It made it serene, almost unreal.

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