I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel of my car, anxious as I inched through the late afternoon traffic that crawled at a snail’s pace.

It was kind of crazy how you feared the consequences of something so much that you carried an inordinate amount of dread as you waited for it to be revealed, all the while praying that moment would never actually come to pass.

Now that the time had come for me to pull it from the shadows, to take the stand and shine light all over my sins, I couldn’t wait to finally lay it out.

To purge the weight.

To give it to someone else and beg them for the chance.

Praying that maybe she’d get it. That she might share it with me.

I zigzagged across lanes, trying to pick up time and distance. Worry needled at my senses.

I couldn’t help but worry for Liam. I prayed the little man was fine. No question, he couldn’t be in better hands than those of my family.

They would embrace him. Accept him. I knew they would.

He was every bit a part of this family as any one of us.

Funny how my entire focus shifted the second the total responsibility of something so utterly important was placed in the care of my hands.

Keeping him that way was gonna be a fight.

A fight I was willing to battle to the end.

That worry needled deeper at the thought of standing in front of Alexis and confessing everything.

Every sin.

My mistakes.

The secrets.

It would be a lot for anyone to take.

But this girl…she was good and grace. If there was anyone who would believe in me, it was her.

I breathed out in relief and anticipation when I finally took the last right into her neighborhood. Picturesque and quaint, light shined down through the lush leaves on the trees, like the sun was pitching daggers of warmth and faith.

I pulled up at the curb in front of her house and cut the engine. Jumping from my car, I rushed toward her door.

My footsteps slowed when I noticed the door was wide open. A knot of apprehension tugged at my gut, and my heart kicked an extra beat.

Breaths going shallow and quiet, I edged forward, angled to the side so I could peek inside. A frozen hush echoed back, everything completely still.

Too still.

I gulped around the panic that tried to work its way out.

“Alexis,” I called, nudging the door open a fraction wider as I took a single step through her door, eyes darting everywhere.

Silence answered back.

A shiver of dread raced down my spine, and that was all it took for me to shoot into action, rushing for her kitchen, gaze frantic as I took in the area.

Quiet. Calm.

Completely opposite of what I felt.

I threw open the back door to her backyard.

Nothing.

I raced back inside, heading straight for the single bedroom tucked in the back and the bathroom attached.

Empty.

Panic tightened my chest, my tongue a rumble with the plea. “Oh God. God…Alexis…where the hell are you?”

I ran back down the short hall and into the living room, headed for the door. I stopped short when something on the floor, right up against the wall, caught my attention.

Alexis’s cell phone.

The back was busted open and the battery had fallen out. Like it’d been dropped, shattered on impact.

And I knew. I fucking knew.

I rushed for my car, dialing 9-1-1 as I went. I shouted out Veronica’s address, shoved the keys back into the ignition, and threw my car in gear, jamming on the accelerator. The tires squealed on the asphalt as I spun the car around and peeled off down the road.

Whatever was going down? No question, Avril was involved.

Had no idea how seriously they took me when I said I thought my girlfriend had been abducted, that I had no proof whether she was actually at this address or not.

It was nothing but a hunch. A hunch that felt a whole lot more like a premonition.

Ending the call, I dialed Anthony. He answered on the second ring. “Pretty sure we have proof of where Veronica has been funneling the money,” he said before I had the chance to say anything.

Right then, I didn’t give a fuck about the money.

“They have her.” It scraped from my throat. There was no missing the fear. The fury.

I could feel his confusion. “What?”

“Alexis…I went to her place because I couldn’t get in touch with her. I needed to explain to her about Liam. Was going to tell her everything. I got there, and her front door was standing wide open, her phone in pieces on the floor. She’s gone, man.”

“Shit,” he hissed. “Did you call the cops?”

“First thing…gave them Veronica’s address. I know she’s involved, one way or another.”

“Where are you?”

“On my way over there.”

“Goddamn it, Zee. You can’t go running in like some kind of white knight. If what you said about Alexis’ sister pans out, that guy is dangerous.”

My laughter was sharp. “We already know that piece of shit is dangerous. He proved it the first night in that alley. Whatever happens, make sure Liam is taken care of.”

“Don’t talk like that, Zee. Just…step back. Take a breather and figure out the right way to handle this before you go in there with guns blazing.” Anthony sucked in a breath when he realized what he said.

“I appreciate everything, Anthony. You’ve had my back on this the whole time. Took care of the situation and, in turn took care of Liam. You don’t know what that means to me.”

Without a parting word, I ended the call and tossed my phone to my lap, clenching the steering wheel in fists as I swerved and careened through traffic.

Panic and rage ricocheted through the cabin of my car. Every pass growing stronger. That energy a fucking blaze of blinding light.

Alexis.

She was mine.

And I’d gladly die before I let anyone hurt her.

Just like I would’ve done that night.

I got it. What my spirit had already recognized in her. That goodness that was meant to be a part of this world.

A huge SUV blared its horn when I swerved in front of it to take a sharp left turn. But I couldn’t stop, wouldn’t slow.

My phone pinged with a text message just as I was turning onto the last street before I got to Veronica’s.

It popped up on the touchscreen.

I pressed the button for the text to voice. The canned voice rang through the speakers.

An address came in behind it.

What the fuck?

This dude was insane. No question it was him, Veronica his goddamned pawn. I couldn’t help but wonder if she had been all along.

Quickly, I punched the address into the navigation and made a second call to 9-1-1, praying they would listen and not think I was leading them on some kind of wild goose chase. I probably sounded like a lunatic.

God knew I felt like a madman.

* * *

Took me all of three minutes to come to the address. The same damned street I’d been walking when I’d found Alexis.

My heart roared so loud I could hear it in my ears when I fumbled out of my car.

In front of me was a deserted building, two stories high that looked like it used to be some kind of retail store. The bottom floor was a wall of windows that were cracked and splintered and littered with the evidence of bullet holes. Graffiti marked its exterior walls in despair and hate.

A tremor of violence shivered all the way to my bones. I edged forward. Anxiety clamped down on every cell in my body, the fear I felt fuel for the desperation to get this girl back, safe where she belonged.

I peered toward the second floor windows, wondering just where the fucker was. If he was watching. Waiting for me.

There was no doubt in my mind this bastard had me walking straight into a trap.

But if money was his end game, wiping me out would be about the fucking dumbest mistake the asshole could make. Problem was, I didn’t know just what I was dealing with, had no clue the lengths he would go.

Daylight slowly slipped away, casting the heavens in pinks and grays that glittered through the air and tumbled across the ground. It darkened against the cracked, fractured windows. Darkness spilled inside its walls like the pour of a river, filling it up with the intent to desolate and drown.

I edged closer, my boots crunching on a piece of broken glass on the sidewalk. It rang out like a warning.

Caution slowed my steps, and I did my best to bide my time, to be rational, to find reason, a solution while I silently pled with the cops to show.

A muted whimper echoed from deep within the walls.

My chest tightened to a fist.

Alexis.

There was absolutely nothing I could do. No reason to be found. No thought of consequences or repercussions when my entire being shot into action.

There was only one outcome I could see.

Alexis safe.

Alexis home.

I yanked at the main door.

Locked.

Frantic, I moved, searching, sucking in a deep breath when I reared back, lifted my leg, and shoved the sole of my boot against a splintered pane of glass.

It dented, the fractures multiplying into a million tiny squares. Drawing my leg back, I rammed my boot back into the same spot with all the force I could find.

With my desperation.

With this love.

Fuck.

I shook my head, trying to purge the thoughts that were coming at me just as furious as the fear. The window gave, finally breaking.

Pieces shattered from their hold and pinged across the floor.

Raging, I stepped through, eyes wild as they narrowed, pinpoints as I peered into the depths of the rundown store.

Garbage littered the floor, more graffiti inside, light fixtures destroyed and dangling from the ceiling where they’d been ripped from their holdings.

But it was the needles discarded on the floor like tokens of their victims that kicked me in the gut. The abhorrent reality of it stung my spirit.

Memories of Mark flashed through my mind.

His smile.

His talent.

The loss. The loss. The loss.

I reeled with the impact of it, this place nothing but a shrine to the casualties of the souls that had been swallowed by addiction. I blinked against the tragedy of it, turning my ear deeper to the foul dungeon’s depths.

Quiet echoed back, dense and malicious.

The sound of evil.

Doubted it made much difference at all that I kept my footsteps quieted and contained.

Asshole already knew I was coming.

Still, I stole forward cautiously, slowing even further when I edged around the display case near the back.

I pressed my back up against the wall and inched closer to the archway that led to another room in the back. My chest heaved with the strain of my breaths, muscles tight with adrenaline.

I gulped down a stealing breath and rounded the corner.

Then I froze.

Fury licked at my insides. Flaming. Scorching. Inciting a war.

That foul piece of shit was leaning casually against a pillar in the middle of the room. Like he was the king and this vile, run-down building was his kingdom.

Maybe I should’ve expected it. But I couldn’t stop the horrified shock when I found Veronica hidden deep in the shadows, this deep, gutting pain that she was actually there and involved this way.

She was a raging silhouette of agitation. Arms crossed over her chest, hugging herself as she stalked one direction and then spun to head the other.

An illicit storm. Out of her mind.

Gone.

There was no other explanation.

It was Mark who’d told me it was the needle that made you do wicked things.

Yet, none of it compared to the terror that ravaged my senses when my frantic gaze caught movement to the side of the pillar.

Alexis and Avril.

Both were huddled on the ground, bound at the wrists and ankles. Alexis’s head was twisted as far as it could be, like even then, she was struggling to find me in the darkness.

Lighting the way.

The space between us leapt, fierce and hot. Desperate and mad. Those blue eyes a storm of terror.

Craig tossed a lighter into the air and caught it in his hand, like he was just standing there passing time. A sneer curved one side of his mouth. “I don’t see the kid.”

Protectiveness rushed through me, this crashing wave that stole my breath. “You’re obviously more of a fool than I thought you were if you’re actually stupid enough to think I’d bring him down here.”

Maybe I should’ve acted like I was caving. But I was putting an end to Liam being used as a tool for greed.

Veronica increased her pacing, fidgeting when she suddenly took a step in our direction. “Zee, just give him the money and bring Liam back. Where he belongs.”

I glared at her. “Where he belongs? In this mess? I can’t fucking believe you’d subject him to this, Veronica. All these years, I wanted to think better of you, thinking there might be a spec of good in your black soul. But I’m done doing your bidding with the hopes it might give Liam a better life. What Liam needs is to be with me. Where I can take care of him. Protect him.”

My attention moved to Alexis and Avril on the ground. “And this…you’re an accessory to this?”

She might have been a bitch. I’d never thought her a monster.

Craig kept tossing that lighter. So damned casual. But there was nothin’ casual about his words. “You see…now that’s where there’s gonna be a problem. I’ve grown partial to that nice, fat check you like to drop in Veronica’s account every month to take care of that rotten kid.”

Rotten kid?

Aggression curled my fists, body rocking with the need to take the bastard out.

I forced myself to stay rooted.

Buying that time.

Praying the cops had taken my call as seriously as it was.

Craig tsked, and I wanted to fucking vomit when his corrupt gaze glided to Alexis. “And then we had sweet, unsuspecting Alexis running this way every time her sister made even a peep.” He glanced between me and her, wearing that sneer like pride. “Seems the two of you have made quite the contribution.”

“Pretty sure you already know that game’s up.”

He cocked his head. “You sure about that?”

“Not giving either of you another dime. Now, I suggest you give me Alexis and Avril and we’ll be on our way. Give you a little headway to clear out before the cops show.”

I was playing with fire. I knew it.

Making demands. Tossing in the word about the cops was a low, dark threat I was only praying he’d heed.

The fact he even had Alexis there showed how desperate he was. If he were smart, he’d give it up, let both of them go.

But that was the thing about those living on the outside of the law. They were always running a step ahead of it, dodging it at every turn, thinking they were above it.

Craig suddenly reached down and grabbed Alexis by the hair. She screamed out in pain when he jerked her up, and my insides curled into rage, the asshole forcing her to stand when her ankles were bound.

The only thing I wanted was to lunge at him. Destroy him. But I was frozen, a chill slicking down my spine like ice, petrifying everything when he reached behind him.

A flash of metal struck through the gloom.

Anger jerked my muscles, twisting them in taut, rigid bows that ached to be released as I stood there.

“Craig,” Veronica whispered on a plea. “This wasn’t part of the plan. What do you think you’re doing? You told me we were here to get Liam back. That’s it. The girls for my son. That was what you promised. You promised.”

Her words turned frantic at the end.

Fisting his hand tighter in Alexis’s hair, he swiveled a fraction to look at Veronica, gun waving in the air. “Shut the fuck up, Veronica. You know better than to open your mouth.”

Alexis whimpered.

Fear and pain.

Fear and pain.

My heart shredded into a million fiery pieces while I stood there, trying to calculate how to set her free. How not to set this guy off when he was so clearly gonna blow.

Craig turned back to stare me down, aiming the barrel of the gun at Alexis’s head. “These girls…all of them…a fucking dime a dozen. Just like her sister. You think anyone’s gonna even notice if she goes missin’?”

My guts curled with nausea. Terror for Alexis. For Avril. Sickness at the realization this was no new thing he was talking about.

Avril, just like the girl I’d found with her in Veronica’s apartment, weren’t anything but dispensable. Disposable. Puppets he left mangled before he discarded them like trash.

“Craig,” Veronica rasped, word rippling with her stunned fear. Like she’d had no idea just what this guy was made of.

That he was vile and sick.

Cold laughter rocked from the well of my chest, my feet pinned to the ground to keep me from rushing forward while I did my best to shift his attention to me. “Are you really dumb enough to think someone wouldn’t notice if I went missing?”

Fight me, asshole. Fight me. Let her go.

I twitched in restraint.

And Alexis…that sweet, good girl, I could see her pleading with me, her thoughts in turmoil.

Help us.

Run.

Go.

Please.

“That’s funny. No one seemed to be all that concerned when they found your brother face down in a pile of his own puke, did they?”

Shocked horror kicked me in the gut, and I barely rasped out, “What did you say?”

He grinned, still holding on to Alexis like she didn’t mean anything. “Come now, Zee. Are you really that stupid? Who do you think it was milking the info out of him?” He shrugged like what he was saying was inconsequential. Like he weren’t tearing me into a million pieces. “Told Jennings keeping him around wasn’t worth the risk. All these years, and not even you were smart enough to make the connection.”

That familiarity came crashing in. Vivid. The realization of where I’d seen him before.

The last night I’d seen Mark alive.

A roar tore up my throat, and I started to lunge for the bastard, rage clouding my eyes.

I froze when he jerked Alexis’ head, and she cried out, that cry downshifting into an agonized whimper when he cocked the gun against her head. “How about we test this whole theory out on her? Then we can have a little conversation about the boy.”

Everything slowed in the same second every thread of sanity tying me to the ground snapped.

I charged.

His eyes grew wide right before I rammed my shoulder into his stomach, arms around his waist. Our footing broke, and the two of us flew through the air.

Alexis’ scream was nothing but a resonance of the gunshot that rang in the air.

We hit the floor with a thud, and I scrambled to get on top, pinning him down while he struggled to break free. “Motherfucker.”

My fist rammed into his face. Cocking back, I did it again. And again.

Craig fought like the bastard he was.

Nothing to lose.

I had no idea what was more dangerous.

That or the fact that I stood to lose everything.

He managed to toss me off, and he scrambled to roll me over and get on top of me and take control.

My knee came up in the same second and nailed him in the ribs.

A moan ripped from his bloody mouth, and in a second flat, I had the prick pinned on his back, his arms flailing and grappling.

He took hold of something. A split second later, the gun was in my face. A sharp gust of surprise jetted from my lungs, and I went for his wrist, struggling to shake it loose.

From out of nowhere, a blow hit me from the side.

Full body.

Veronica.

That was at the very same second another gunshot pierced the air. Fear clawed through my body, but I wrangled the gun free, slammed the butt of it across his face.

Gasping, I flung myself off of him and climbed to my hands and knees, crawling to where she was whimpering, hands pressed to her stomach as blood spilled out.

I gathered her in my arms. “Oh God.”

She gurgled. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I loved you. I did.”

I blinked as I choked over a sob that climbed my throat.

I could barely make out her last words.

“Take care of him.”