Page 70 of Crossing Arizona

She scowls down at me as I beg, tears tracking down my cheeks, nausea roiling in my stomach. The thought of losing Hannah forever makes me sick, my hands shaking when I fist Valerie’s shirt and plead with all my strength.

Anything. Anything but that, please.

I won’t survive it.

A slow, cruel smile forms on her lips as she lowers our screaming daughter into my arms. I cling to Hannah’s tiny frame, probably squeezing too tight, but I can’t get my limbs to unlock.

I don’t ever want to let her go.

“You’d do anything for our daughter, wouldn’t you?” Valerie leans against the door, tapping her cheek amusedly, and I already know I’m going to hate myself for this.

Nothing will ever be the same.

“Yes. Anything.”

Even sell my soul to the devil.

Chapter thirty

The house is dark when I get home from work.

It’s not unusual since I work the closing shift at Rebel Threads, but Matty’s been dodging my calls and texts all day. It’s put me on edge, especially after what we did last night.

As soon as I step inside the entryway, I immediately feel the energy shift in the house. It emanates from the walls, soaking into the hardwood under my feet like a toxic cloud. Something definitely feels off.

Glancing sideways, I catch sight of Matty sitting on the couch with the lights off, elbows resting on his knees, with his fingers laced behind his neck.

When he lifts his head, our eyes lock, and all the blood in my body turns cold.

“What the fuck did she do?” I demand, rushing over to take my best friend’s tear-stained face in my hands. “What did she do, Matty?”

“Nothing,” he croaks, grabbing onto my wrists. “It… nothing.”

“Bullshit.” He’s fucking lying to me. The anguish on his features is enough to send me to my knees.

Matty presses his forehead to mine firmly, shutting his eyes as he takes a shuddering breath. “Can we just go upstairs? Please? I want to hold you.”

Pulling back, I search his face, stomach twisting into knots, but his lids are still closed. “Baby, what’s going on? Talk to me.”

Swallowing hard, he kisses me softly. “Please, Ducky. Come to bed.”

With my heart pounding painfully in my throat, I let him lead me upstairs by my hand. A ringing in my ears serves as a warning bell, my nerves sensing danger while my body presses into the familiar curve of Matty’s side when he pauses at Hannah’s door.

We gaze into her room for a moment, purple night light casting shadows on her sleeping form, and I stiffen when Matty lets out a choked sob.

“What’s wrong—"

He turns away before I finish speaking, pulling me into our bedroom before quietly shutting the door.

“I need you,” he whispers, walking me backwards to the bed as his lips descend on mine.

When we fall onto the mattress, we’re a tangle of limbs and teeth, his muscled body pressing me down with desperate kisses. Momentarily, my brain statics out as I give into the moment, licking into his mouth while he grinds on me, his cock growing heavy in his sweatpants.

Reaching under the waistband, I palm his asscheeks with both hands, spreading him open to dip a finger through his crease. “How are you feeling? Sore?”

“A little,” he mumbles, nipping down my jaw as he unbuttons my work shirt with trembling fingers. “Not bad.”

“Matthew.” The way his voice shook has me gently pushing him back, but he won’t meet my gaze. His sky-blue eyes are puffy and rimmed with red. “What’s going on? You’re scaring me. Did I hurt you last night?”