I rub my chin. “Nah, go ahead. But don’t think I’m having her back after she’s been used up.”
He watches me intently and I start reciting the menu from the Chinese takeaway in my head. I won’t let him get the better of me.
Mushroom egg foo young. King prawn satay.
“What about your son?”
Chicken in black bean sauce. Kung poa beef. Singapore chow mein.
I risk a glance at the screen but it’s empty; Lizzie is no longer there. Terror shudders through me. “That’s a big assumption. How the fuck do you know he’s mine? So I shagged her years ago. She was fucking some other guy at the time, too. The kid could be anyone’s.”
Agitated, I stand, but try and keep my body language neutral.
Then I hear it, the gentle sobs of a female. The one thing that can shake me to the core and anger me beyond livid—Lizzie’s distress. I struggle with the nuclear bomb about to go off in my mind, wrestle with it to keep it under control.
“Well, son. I thought by taking something important to you”—Lizzie comes into view as she struggles against Jase’s grip, tears marring her perfect face—“I could get you to do a job for me.”
I laugh, hard. “I know the sort of job; it’ll probably wind up with me dead. She may be an A-class fuck, but that’s not worth getting killed over.” I cringe at the words and hope Lizzie can’t hear them, but I need to keep up the pretence.
As she nears us, the faith and love in her eyes nearly floors me. The pure relief in her whole body is evident. Jase releases her and she races over, wrapping herself tight around me. My arms, on autopilot, wrap around her, but I can’t respond like that. If I do, they’ll know for sure she’s my world. I force myself to unclasp her arms and push her away. Inside I’m screaming, on the outside I’m heartless.
“Noah? What’s going on?” Her eyebrows knit and confusion consumes her features.
I can’t answer. Briefly, I take in every mark on her face. The bruise purpling under her eye, her swollen lids, even the crack in her bottom lip from tugging on it with her teeth. I hate seeing the injuries, but I’m unable to meet the storm of her beautiful eyes. I’d never be able to tear myself away and show indifference.
“Ah, so I see the love is one-sided.” Archie’s smug words grate on my ears and I’d give anything at this minute to rip his face off.
“Tell him you love me.” Her whispered, trusting, words rip a hole the size of the fucking earth through my chest as I glare at Archie.
“No.” I spin around and grab her. She glances at my hand wound tight around her wrist. Panic floods every one of her features. “What makes you think you’re so special?” I let out a wry laugh and my heart shreds into confetti when her face crumples. “You’re just like the rest, love. A quick fuck.” I force a look of distaste onto my face. “Well, you were a bit better than the rest. That’s why I kept you around.”
Every lie coming out of my mouth kills a little more of her light. Tears cascade down her face, and I want to take the gun at my back and blow my own fucking brains out. I want to scoop her in my arms, ask for her forgiveness. Beg for her forgiveness. But I can’t. And it’s killing me.
They’re watching every move I make, and the only way she is getting out of here alive is if they think she means nothing to me. Even then, the chances are remote. But if there’s one thing I can do well it’s lie. Her storm-ridden eyes search mine, delving deep into my soul. I throw her wrist back, unable to cope with the fact I’m hurting her.
“Did you honestly believe you kept me entertained enough to not fuck around? Thought that hot pussy of yours was powerful enough to make me love you?” I let out another harsh laugh. “When I’ve been out for a drink with the lads, did you really not think the night ended without some other girl’s mouth wrapped around my dick, or my cock deep in some slut’s arse? Are you really that naive?” I just need to get her free. Then I’ll do whatever Archie asks. Because I’ll have no reason to live.
No recognition of my lies flickers on her face and I may as well have just slapped her with the way she shrinks away from me. But I catch sight of it; the golden flecks flare in the grey and I know what she’s going to do before she even makes a move. I stand my ground and brace myself for the impact, as she steps forward and strikes me hard across the face.
“You’re a worthless bastard,” she snarls. Turning her attention to Archie, she screams at him, “Why? Why would you do this?”
The smug bastard smirks. “Because, Elizabeth… You took one son from me; you aren’t destroying the other one.”
Lizzie falters and stares at me, her gaze flicking back to Archie like she can see something I can’t.
“What the fuck is going on?” He’s trying to mess with my head.
“Elizabeth was my son’s partner. Has she ever told you about Mac?”
“I’m fucking her, hard, just how she likes it. She’s doesn’t get to tell me her life story.” The lies continue to fall from my lips while my brain tries to piece together all the jumbled parts.
Lizzie turns, her face wild with rage, and charges me. Her small frame’s no match for my larger one. Her fists pummel into my chest but have no impact. I clasp her against me to stop her arms from flailing, and soak in the last time I’ll have her body against mine.
“Will somebody get this crazy bitch out of here?” My yell echoes around the hangar as her sobs reverberate against my chest. Every part of me is at its limits. I’ve no idea how much longer I can maintain this false front; it cracks and crumbles with each tear falling from Lizzie’s eyes. The angel in my arms needs to be out of here before this whole thing shatters her. She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever come across, but if I’m near my breaking point, she’ll soon be over the edge.
Jase pulls her from my arms, and my whole body protests at her loss. Something passes over his face as she struggles in his hold.
“Alex?” Lizzie cries. She stops fighting and stands stock-still. I turn to see who she’s talking to and come face to face with Zander. His expression says the usual ‘couldn’t give a fuck’ when he glances at me, but it fades a little as his gaze falls on Lizzie.
The world rocks beneath my feet. Zander is Alex? Lizzie’s Alex. The one she’s always mentioning. Bear’s cousin, Zander, is fucking ‘Alex’? He’s been with her all this time?
He walks over and takes Lizzie from Jase. She barrages him with questions but instead of answering them he spins her so her back is to his front and clamps his hand down over her mouth. Her wide eyes find mine and new tears spill over onto her cheeks. My internal battle of wanting to kill the bastard but being unable to subsides when she clenches her jaw. From the look on Zander’s face, she made pretty good contact with her teeth into his hand. Good girl.
He leans forward and whispers something in her ear. She stiffens and nods her head. I try and communicate to her that it’ll work out. She’ll be okay. Me, I can’t vouch for. But I’ll do anything I can to make sure she’s set free.
Everything’s fucked up. I’m so confused my head’s spinning, but I resist the urge to turn and watch when they usher her away. Instead I force myself to listen to the soul-destroying whimpers as they fade out, and pray she doesn’t give up.
Cold on the outside, but burning up with rage on the inside, I gather my senses. “So, say again, why did you want me here?”
“Two reasons. I have a problem; one you are familiar with. Alberto Zaffino. You remember him? He remembers you…”
I nod my head, as the feeling of iced water trickles down my spine.
“Well, I’ve been doing some business with him. The Dogs have been doing some of his… dirty work, shall we say? It’s been good but now he wants more from me, which is interesting news, but as proof of my allegiance he wants… you.” His gaze pins me as I roll my neck to ease the tension in it. “So, this leads to my second reason.” A cocky smirk crosses his face. “Imagine my surprise when I looked into you, delved into your past, and discovered you are my son.”