Forbidden (Blood Ties #7)

“It’s time,” Harmon spoke tersely. “New shipments will be there by morning. I want them prepared as quickly as possible, do you understand?”

My pulse spiked, thundering in my ears. “Yes.”

“And I expect you’ll show my men the same respect you’d show me?”

I forced the words through clenched teeth. “Of course.”

“Good. Remember, this is your one and final warning, Cruz. Step out of line and you’ll find yourself and your brothers staring down the barrel of a gun.”

I swallowed hard, turning my head to stare at the sleeping form in my bed. “Understood.”

“By morning,” Harmon finished.

But I didn’t need to respond, because he was already gone, leaving me staring into the dark once more.

My teeth clenched until my jaw bulged.

I closed my eyes as a wave of hopelessness hit me. I shook my head, my soul in torment as I grasped the drawer of my nightstand and eased it open. The soft glow of the keypad was all I needed to steady me, allowing me to punch the code into the lockbox and pull the gun free.

Stupid.

Stupid!

What the fuck had Ithoughtwas going to happen? I winced and turned around, finding the slow rhythmic rise of her chest. That I could play happy fucking family with a woman I’d drugged and held prisoner for the rest of my goddamn life?

This wasn’t me.

It wasn’t anything I deserved.

I stood and stepped toward the foot of the bed. It wasn’t whatshedeserved, either.

I lifted my gun and rounded the side of the bed before I froze. Her lips were parted, her eyes closed. I loved her hate…but when she was like this, she looked so peaceful.

One pull of the trigger and it’d be over.

It was better this way.

For me.

For her.

She’d never know.

My hand shook as the gun rose.

She’d never know.

THIRTEEN

Helene

“I need you to wake up.”

I opened my eyes instantly, to see him at the side of the bed, staring down at me. Heat bloomed, stirring something in the pit of my soul. That reaction alone terrified me, until my gaze sharpened and I saw the gun in his hand.

“What time is it?” I asked, carefully meeting his stare, my mind racing.

“Almost morning.”