Page 54 of Depraved Truths

“Where is it?” Eli growls.

“My shed behind the house. The safe is behind the Matthew Wong painting.” He rattles off the code. “Please, let me go.”

“I’m not finished with you just yet.” My voice is hard as steel as I dig my fingers into his shoulder. “Do you think I’d simply let you walk away after you attacked Allie? After you killed your child? Nah. I think we’ll keep you a little longer.”

“Who are you? Who are you really?” Dalton eyes me, fear and confusion swirling in his gaze, as though he’s seeing me for the first time

“I’m the one you should fear the most.”

“Eli?” Dalton whines, looking at Eli, hoping for some sign that he has a chance to escape his destiny.

Eli lands another punch to his face. “The first one was for Allie. That one was for my sister.”

Chapter 36

Iglance down at my reddened knuckles. It wouldn’t take much to lose control and end this bastard now, but we leave him shackled, bloody, and bruised. Tess hits play on a Spotify playlist andEnter Sandmanby Metallica blares on loop. As we leave the room, she cranks the volume.

I love a good Metallica song, but on repeat at full blast? That could drive a man crazy.

When we reach the outer room, she seals the door shut, and blessed silence greets us. I’ve seen my fair share of torture techniques from my deployment, but that’s something I’ve never taken part in. I’ve got to give my girl props for her variety. And remind me never to play darts with her.

“We need to deal with Wilson. The longer he’s out there, the higher the chances he runs to his father or disappears,” Tess says as we walk upstairs.

“Let me message Bryce to confirm his whereabouts.” A few minutes later, Tess gets a text back and shows me the location.

“That’s his address,” I confirm. “We can take my boat to his house.”

She thinks for a moment. “Yeah, that works. Let me grab a few things.” She returns with her black duffle bag. Her hair is piled up in a messy bun, and she is still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Her eyes shine focused and determined. Despite everything happening right now, I want to lay her down and fuck her senseless.

When we arrive at my house, it’s still pitch black. A light breeze has picked up, and ripples run across the water. The only light guiding us is the moon. I know this lake like the back of my hand.

We use the trolling motor to glide quietly toward the middle of the lake. Then, I pull it out and start the boat motor as we head to Wilson’s cabin.

I alert Tess that we’re getting close, and she prepares herself. Cutting the motor, we drift quietly toward the edge of his property. While I secure the boat, she pulls out her thermal imaging binoculars and gestures in the direction where Wilson is sitting.

As we approach, I see his silhouette in a chair, facing a small bonfire, surrounded by several empty beer cans. His back is to us, making it easy to sneak up unnoticed.

“Wilson,” I say coldly.

Wilson jerks around, looking over his shoulder in our direction. “Who’s there?”

We silently move forward, into his line of sight.

“What is this? Eli? And you’re that nurse. No, doctor. Nurse practitioner.” He snaps his fingers toward Tess. “Ah, yeah, you aretapping that shit! Right on, man,” he slurs, leering at her. I want to rip his eyes out of his head.

“What are y’all doing out my way?” he asks, oblivious to the rage burning in my chest.

“We’re here to talk,” Tess says, her voice steady. “Or rather, you’re going to be the one talking.”

I only now notice the latex gloves she’s wearing.

Where the hell did those come from?Shit.

We should’ve gone over the plan on the way here, but part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe I didn’t want to know the full truth. That part of me was afraid of what I might have heard. She’s nothing like I expected. I thought I had everything figured out, but she’s shattered every expectation. In the most overwhelming way, she’s consumed me—every thought, every breath. She’s become my obsession, my reason for everything. My soul feels tethered to hers, and I can’t untangle the two of us, even if I wanted to. Tessa is my everything now. Mine. I’ll be by her side until my last breath. No matter what comes, I’ll face it with her.

Tessa draws a gun and clicks off the safety. “Now. Tell us everything about Dalton, the drug trafficking, thehumantrafficking, and what Eli’s sister’s murder has to do with it.” Wilson stills, staring at her in disbelief. His mouth drops open in stunned silence. Tessa sneers at him. “Did I stutter? Use your words, asshole.”

“You’ve been talking with Dalton. He was supposed to be long gone—” Wilson cuts off abruptly, realizing what he’s just admitted.

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