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“I used to be an addict too, son,” Gideon says. “And with the help of the Heavenly Host, I was redeemed—as you can be too. Here on the Rig, we believe in the Gospel of Strength, and I am here to grant you salvation.”
A shadow falls over me as Gideon reaches out and puts his hand on Javi’s head. I half expect Javi to explode with rage, to give up on his composure—but I know it would mean death for us both.
“I’m giving you my daughter, Javier,” he continues. “The chance to continue my family line and keep preaching the Gospel of Strength on the Gulf. I hope you’ll come to think of me as kin.”
This is all a game—promising Javi power and safety.
And it must be tempting, right?
“What’s the catch?” Javi asks.
Gideon withdraws his hand and hums as he stalks back to his throne. His footsteps are too loud in the silent room, the other alphas lurking like they’re waiting to shred us both apart. All I can think about is my mother in this exact place, her knees on the steel floor.
“You have to learn our ways,” Gideon says. “And you’re certainly strong enough, tough, brutal. But youhaven’tbeen stern enough with her.”
I freeze.
“I didn’t let you take her because I wanted her to live pampered,” Gideon says. “Do you know what she did?”
“No.”
He has to know, right?
“She took our people,” Gideon says. “Separated mates—alpha from omega. Stole ourchildren, our little girls. She got her ownmotherkilled, for God’s sake.”
“I didn’t!”
My voice is tearing free and my head snapping up before I can stop myself, a sob wrenching itself free with those words.
“You killed her!” I shout, pointing my finger. “You!”
The alphas snarl from the circle around us and Javi’s hand clenches on my shoulder in a vice-like grip. My father springs out of his chair and Ephraim and Abel are right on his heels—but Javi steps in front of us to get face to face with the Prime himself.
He’s taller. Bigger.
Javi is the biggest man here.
“If you touch her, I’ll kill you,” Javi snarls. I cling to his leg, my face pressed to his knee. Oh no…I’ve made a huge mistake…this could be the end.
But Gideon just lets out a cruel laugh.
“As an alphashouldbehave,” Gideon says. He backs up, looking around at his pack. “Fellas, you could learn a thing or two—if you’d been so possessive, your females might not have run out on you.” He turns his attention back to Javi, crossing his arms. “So what are you gonna do with her?”
Javi shifts slightly. “What do you mean?”
“What are you gonna do to show her she’s misbehaved?” Abel pipes up.
I start trembling, unable to stop myself. They want a show—but I don’t think Javi is the type who’s willing to put on a performance. He glances down at me and I tuck my face closer to his leg, burying my nose in denim.
“Come here,” he growls.
Before I can register what’s happening, he reaches down and pulls me up by one arm, meeting my eyes. It’s like he’s trying to apologize, and I know right then he’s about to do something bad.
He sits and drags me over his lap, the t-shirt sliding over my hips. I cry out to try and stop him, but he holds me firm with his left arm. His right hand settles on my ass, then he draws back—and white hot pain ricochets through my body.
The alphas laugh.
He slaps me again.
