Page 115 of Poisoned Promise
“That’s… good?” She raises one brow. “You wanted to, right?”
Wrapping my hands around my cup, I nod. “Sorry. I don’t know why I said that. I just woke up and felt so guilty and I thought…”
Bree’s expression softened. “You thought telling a stranger would earn you the judgment you feel like you deserve.”
I squint at her and fight a yawn. “Yeah. Maybe. I think so. I don’t know.”
“I’m not going to judge you,” she replies warmly. “And you shouldn’t hang yourself for a few minutes of pleasure.”
“But Alex is still out there, I should have been?—.”
“Stop.” She cuts in with a voice so sharp that it reminds me of the tone I’ve used on Alex. “Don’t do that. If you weren’t sleepingwith Felix then you would have just been sleeping because I would not have let you leave. It’s completely normal to want to feel something good amid the horrors you’re going through. If anyone can understand that, I’m sure Felix can. Beating yourself up for the little things? That isn’t going to help you and it isn’t going to help Alex.”
Staring down at the liquid in my cup clinging to the last few spins of my spoon, the acidic guilt in my gut doesn’t ease but some of the pressure in my chest does. “I feel like I should be doing more.”
“You’re doing everything you can.” Bree moves closer and leans across the counter to grasp my wrist. “You are no good to Alex dead or exhausted, you hear me? He needs you at your best, and if a little sex helps click everything back into place, then so be it.”
The guilt eases a little. I lift the cup to my lips and take a large sip of the coffee, intent on thanking Bree but before I can, Felix rushes into the kitchen. He’s half-dressed with his hair standing up at all angles and a little breathless from his run.
“Dove!”
“What is it?” The dark look on his face makes my chest seize instantly. “Felix, what’s wrong?”
“I just got a call from Reese. He’s got Alex and he wants to trade. Alex… for you.”
34
FELIX
“How are they one step ahead?” Dove snaps, twisting her hands together in her lap as we race through the city streets. “I thought you and Bree were on top of this! I thought you both had every avenue covered?!”
“We did.”
She turns to face me, her eyes as sharp as daggers. “Then how the hell did that bastard get a hold of my son?!”
I wish I had answered.
Reese’s phone call threat was followed by a picture of proof and the wounded noise that escaped Dove at seeing her son beaten and tied up will haunt me forever. It plays in my mind even now, repeating on a look with every lurch and swerve of Toph’s expert driving.
“I don’t know.”
“Then what use are you?” Anger heats her words, and she turns back in her seat, gazing out the windscreen and chewing on herlower lip. Every muscle is tense like they’re about to burst right out of her skin, every movement rigid and controlled.
I have no clue how Reese managed to stay one step ahead of us.
Bree and I have been working tirelessly, searching and tracking everything we can think of. There were no hits from Alex’s phone, no hits from any of his friends, no sightings other than the gas station; how did he get him?
My leg begins to rock back and forth the closer we get to the warehouse district, the location Reese demanded we come and meet him. There wasn’t enough time to organize more than a strike squad and when we meet him, I’ll do everything I can to delay whatever happens in order for Bree’s men to get into position.
But deep down, I’m not sure any of it will matter.
Dove’s one and only concern is her son.
There’s nothing she won’t do for him.
That kind of love and dedication is so fucking rare, yet it’s written all over her tired, beautiful face.
Reese has to know what kind of monster he’s unlocking inside her by threatening her child and he’s bound to be prepared.
