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My throat tightens, so choked up that I can't even breathe. Holding back tears, I glare at Dexter with hatred as he gives me a cruel smile.
“Send my regards to yourex-husband, Kristine. See you soon.”
And with a bored gesture, he dismisses me from the premises by having one of his guards escort me back to my car.
My eyes, suddenly rising to the sky, try to hold back tears as I notice how the cold of the season has come early. The first snowflakes are beginning to fall.
The leather of the steering wheel feels icy against my palms, my grip on it a lifeline as the world outside the car blurs into a whirl of snowflakes. My breath comes in shallow gasps, fogging up the windshield and sealing me in a cocoon of fear and indecision.
The package sits beside me, a small, unassuming parcel that holds the power to shatter lives. Dexter's words echo in my mind, a relentless drumbeat threatening to overwhelm me.
I should drive away, leave this all behind and take Asher far from this madness. But the image of my son, with his olive-greeneyes so much like mine, stops me cold. I can't run—not when his future hangs in the balance.
Brandon's influence is like a chokehold I can't escape. Even now, his threats find their way to me, suffocating any hope I cling to.
The thought of sprinkling that poison into an innocent man's drink repulses me. To involve Ethan or any of his associates in this treachery feels like a betrayal too great to comprehend.
How can I drag them into this twisted game? They've done nothing but accept me and my relationship with Ethan.
My fingers trace the outline of the package, its weight deceptively light for the burden it represents. I think of Ethan's protective embrace, the way his eyes bore into mine with such intensity it feels like he sees straight through to my soul. Would he understand if he knew what I was being forced to do? Would he forgive me for even considering it?
Tears threaten to spill over as frustration claws at my insides. Why must I be the pawn in their cruel game? I've fought so hard for freedom, for peace—for Asher's smile and laughter to fill our home without fear tainting every moment.
The snow outside gathers in drifts against the curb, each flake unique and fleeting—like moments with my son that I may never get back if I don't comply. My heart aches with love for him, each beat a reminder of what's at stake.
The love for my son has forged me into something stronger than they can comprehend.
I grab my phone from the passenger seat with trembling hands and dial Ethan's number before I can second-guess myself. The line rings once, twice—a lifeline cast into turbulent waters.
“Ethan,” I say when he answers, my voice steadier than I feel. “Still need a date for tonight?”
CHAPTER TEN
ETHAN
“I wasn't expectingyou to come tonight.”
“Seriously? I had to see it for myself. Plus, this was my first invite. I guess I wasn't VIP enough before,” Kristine jokes.
Lux Escape is an annual event for Club Allure. Jackson's wife Haley created it two years ago and now serves as the official host and organizer. It's a secret party that's no longer a secret. We don't disclose the theme, date, or specifics to anyone other than invited guests. Every year, it gets bigger and better. It's also the basis that we plan to use to make a shift in our business model.
Kristine turns and looks through the glass into the room below us. She looks stunning in the short gold dress she is wearing. Her dark hair is pulled back and long dainty earrings dangle like chains down her neck.
Her dark red lips smile at me when she notices me looking at her, but there’s something strange about her smile. It lacks happiness.
“Are you going to tell me what's going on with you?” I inquire in a low voice as I pull her to me, kissing her gently on the neck.
She shakes her head. “No, Ethan. I'm sorry, but I don't want to get caught up in my drama. Tonight, I just want to be with you and have a good time.”
I make her look up so her eyes meet mine. “Asher?” I ask. She turns her face away.
“He's with his father.”
So that's what this is about.
“It'll be over soon,” I promise, kissing her forehead.
Kristine nods and gives me a fake smile. “I'll go dance for a while, okay?”
