Page 24 of Risky Passion

“I know who you are!” His glare held more fear than fury.

“Good. Then you know exactly how this is going to end.”

He released a noise like he was swallowing a dead rat.

“Now get up.”

“I can’t.” His voice cracked, and he seemed to melt into himself.

I leaned down, gripping his jaw and forcing his face upward to meet my eyes. “Then I’ll make you.”

The links clinked as I lifted the chain from the ground.

"No! Please!" Panic flashed in his eyes. "I'll do whatever you say."

"I said, get on the chair." I wrapped the chain around his neck.

"Wait!" Gasping, he clawed at the links. "I'll do it!"

It was almost disappointing how quickly men broke.

My phone buzzed. Fuck. This was a call I had to take.

"Get on that chair, Hughes." As I stepped back, he dragged his trembling body toward the seat.

I pulled out my phone, expecting it to be the dipshit managing my shipment; the one who’d created that Border Force clusterfuck. Instead, the screen displayed a number that only appeared when things went seriously wrong. Detective Cooper Heathcote.

Grant’s movements were erratic, and his limbs were stiff and uncoordinated as he finally collapsed into the chair. His chest heaved, and his trembling hands gripped his thighs above the bandages like they were the only things anchoring him to reality. He looked up at me, wide-eyed and quivering, like a cornered thief staring down the barrel of a gun.

I answered the call. "This better be good, Heathcote."

"Well, that depends. Did you bury someone at Angelsong in the last year?"

The blood drained from my body, and I tightened my grip on the chain until the links bit into my palm. "What are you talking about?"

"Jaxon and his K9 just dug up a fresh body. A woman."

Oh, Jesus, they found Alice. My Alice.

My throat constricted.

"Are you there?" Heathcoat asked.

Tears prickled my eyes. I couldn't swallow. I could barely fucking breathe.

Behind me, Hughes shifted in the chair and the wood creaked beneath him. His breaths came in short, terrified gasps.

I turned away from him, brushing a tear from my cheek. One tear. That was all they would get from me. That was all I could afford. I had to get through this.

Had to endit.

"B, I'm guessing the answer is yes."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Who else knows about this?"

A whimper escaped Hughes, followed by the creaking of the chair as he fidgeted.

"Jaxson told his brothers, Whitney and Parker. And I overheard Parker telling the captain."

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