Page 138 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“I told you Dallas was in on this,” Avery hissed in disgust.

I couldn’t argue. It broke my heart to see my half-brother doing Kyle’s bidding. I was just glad Farrah wasn’t here to see it.

“There’s more,” Zayde said, clicking through some more videos.

Kyle’s goons physically assaulting townsfolk. Kyle threatening the guy I’d met at the coffee shop. Another video showed Dallasand another guy cornering a guy in a parking lot. When they were done, the guy looked shaken and terrified.

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, wiping a hand across my mouth.

Avery glared at the screen, watching Dallas threaten some helpless man. Her expression was pinched and angry. All her suspicions were being confirmed, and I had to admit, it didn’t look good. Maybe Farrah and I had been wrong about Dallas? If that was true, it meant Ashton was in even more danger than I’d first thought. Deep down, I’d hoped that with Dallas nearby, he’d do his best to keep Ashton safe until whatever agreement Kyle wanted could be made. But if it had all been an act, and Dallas was only playing the part of the unwilling, then God only knew what he was capable of. In fact, that might make him more dangerous than Kyle.

“Show him the worst part,” Langston said.

“You mean this isn’t the worst part?” I asked.

“We fucking wish,” Porter said.

Langston closed the other camera thumbnails and brought up another. This one didn’t appear to be from the street cameras as before. It was a private security cam that showed what looked to be a breakroom of some sort.

“Where the hell is this?” I asked.

“Close-circuit security footage from a small bakery in downtown North Crest,” Zayde said. “No clue how it ended up with the rest of the stuff. It was in the same trash file as the others. Good news is, unlike the others, this one has audio.”

On screen, a middle-aged, balding man sat shivering in a chair. I doubted it was from the cold—more likely, it was from the factthat six large men stood around him, Kyle and Dallas among them.

“Mr. Giles,” Kyle said, mild and businesslike. “I’m very disappointed in you. I thought we had an agreement.”

“I tried,” Giles said. “I really did, but business is down. That sandwich shop in Harbor Mills started baking their own bread in-house, which cut into my revenue. I simply didn’t have the money last month. Please.”

“Last month?” Kyle said as he rolled his sleeves up. “And what aboutthismonth? You still haven’t paid me. So explain to me, why should I let you off, when all the other people in town pay their taxes and fees to me on time?”

Kyle punched him, his knuckles smashing against Giles’s cheek, making the seated man’s head rock back. Blood appeared on his split lip.

“Oh, God,” Giles whimpered. “I’m sorry. I… I’ll pay double next month. I swear. Don’t hurt me.”

My blood ran cold as I watched how clinical Kyle and his group were, like torturing a man for money was the most natural thing in the world.

“You know what happens to people who don’t pay, right?” Kyle said. “If I let you off, then it starts a chain reaction. The folks start to talk. ‘He let Sam Giles off this month, maybe that means I don’t have to pay this month.’ I can’t have that.” Kyle shook his head. “No, I can’t have that at all.” Kyle snapped his fingers at one of his men. “Hal, bring me the case.”

A bigger man vanished from the screen, running to grab whatever Kyle wanted.

“Holy shit,” Trent said. “Are we about to watch a fucking snuff film?”

Langston sighed wearily. “I almost wish we were. Just wait.”

The man handed Kyle a small case. Kyle unzipped it and pulled out what looked like a hypodermic jet injector. He held the pistol-like object up in front of Giles.

“You see this? I’m going to show you what happens to liars. Because that’s what you are, Giles, a liar. You promised to pay, and now you aren’t. In my book, that’s the same as a lie.” Kyle glanced at his men. “Hold him.”

The others, Dallas included, rushed forward and grabbed the man. Giles, eyes wide with panic, began to scream and shout for help.

“Help me! Dear God, someone help! Help!”

Kyle jammed the nozzle of the injector against the side of the man’s neck and pulled the trigger. Giles went rigid, face red, mouth open in a silent scream of pain as he slid to the floor, convulsing.

“Oh my God,” Stormy said, covering her mouth with her hand. She and Avery looked horrified. Tears shone in Avery’s eyes, but her gaze was transfixed on the horror unfolding on screen.

“What was that?” I asked. “What did he inject him with?”

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