Page 118 of Drown My Sorrow

Shale’s question comes out of nowhere, blasting into me like a ghost of the past. I swallow hard and shove the memories back.

“What do you want to know?”

Typhor is the reason I’m making this confession, he’s the reason we’re here on the beach. Because I can’t tell him this stuff in the light.

I shake my head and have to resist the urge to shove him away from me, shove everyone away from me.

“Typhor is one of the most disgusting humans I’ve ever met in my life. He’s an alpha who uses manipulation and control to get what he wants. When my father was disowned, Typhor, who was married to my aunt, inherited the position of caretaker of Alpha Labels. My dad met his scent match and refused the arrangement my grandfather had made for him. Typhor is mean. He beats his wife and my cousin. I tried to have him arrested, but he’s got too many stings, too much leverage. He got out the next day, even though he almost killed my aunt.”

“You know him that well?”

“Oh, yes. There is a clause not many people know about where Grandfather made sure a Raines would be at the helm of Alpha Labels. Typhor can’t stay there without one. So, from the age of sixteen, he would shower me with gifts, take me places, show me off. It was intoxicating, that world. I came from a small town on a farm, and, suddenly, I was Kelly Raines, long lost Raines progeny. I was powerful, and Typhor was there steering the way.”

“And what happened?” There is no judgement in his tone.

“His image slipped. He relaxed enough to show me the cracks. Sleeping with underage girls. Cheating. Ruining careers, ripping off his friends and business partners. His gleeful joy and delight in destroying those around him was horrific. He didn’t care about anything but money and power, and he doesn’t even like the label. He was ruining it from the inside out.”

“So?”

“So, I was going to leave, my decision was made. The conversation was about to happen. And we walked into a café. I was done, I was going home, and I think he knew that when that happened, I would talk to my brother and dad, and it would end him. And there she was. My one weakness, my salvation, everything I’d longed for, laid out for my most fearsome foe to see. And worse, she was injured and so very young. Typhor attacked, and I had to try to divert him, but it didn’t work. He said he found them. He made me stay, and he used the fact I couldn’t find them to keep me on a hook.”

Shale’s hand slides down my forearm, and his fingers lace with mine.

“Eventually, our hostility was spilling over, the company was talking, the people were dividing into two camps, and he sat me down, showed me proof, and told me to leave. Right there and then. Don’t contact my family. Don’t come home. Just go. Or he would kill her. I have never been more scared in my life than staring down at the image of her walking with her mother, shopping, of all things. He could end her, and there was nothing I could do. I’m not strong enough.”

“Kelly,” Shale steps closer and pulls me up against him.

“I found her mum at the airport. So, I gave her most of my money, told her about Typhor’s plan to kill Aspyn, and I told her to pick a flight. Any flight. Don’t tell anyone, just get on one and vanish. I begged, and I pleaded. I told her to keep moving until this life is just a memory.”

“You let her go,” Shale murmurs and holds the back of my head. “Why didn’t you tell her?”

“She’s suffered enough. I don’t want to tell her that there’s a monster out there hunting her.”

He searches my face, hearing the threat. “Is he still searching for her?”

“Yes,” I whisper. “He wouldn’t give up. With my aunt divorcing him, he needs a Raines. He can’t touch the others. I’m the only one left, and to control me, you need Aspyn.”

Shale holds me until I pull away. I wipe at my eyes and shrug.

“He’s not a problem, though. He’s in the city. We have time.”

Shale stares at me.

“What?”

“I believe he’s been watching us. Or he’s sent people to follow us. Keagan beat the shit out of someone he caught yesterday. Nat has disappeared. She met someone, and every time I organise to meet up with them, he’s not available. She is physically okay and is happy, but, this guy, I have a bad feeling. And Nat is never like this. She’s not even answering Aspyn’s calls at the moment, and I can only distract our omega for so long.”

I pace away from him and then back, sorting through the information in my head.

“Why is he doing this?” I hiss. “No, I know why, he’s malicious and evil and is set on keeping hold of the power he’s stolen. I never want to go back. He won’t stop hunting her, not if there’s a chance I’ll find her and we might return. He will kill her or lock her up and make her wish she was dead.”

Shale watches me in silence.

“How would you handle it?” Keagan asks from the shadows.

I hadn’t even felt them approach. Beau, Gael, and Keagan all stare at me, their expressions grim.

“I would go and try to talk sense into him, but it’s a waste of time. I know that it won’t do anything. So, then, I’d just take what was his until he had nothing.”

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