“Stop.” I hit my fists against the mesh. “Please stop.”
“He betrayed the brotherhood. He’s getting what he deserves.”
Another moan. “I didn’t betray them. You did.” Each word sounded like it hurt. “You’re selling children… You… killed Maya…”
Maya? “Killed Maya?” It wasn’t a car accident. “But the official report…”
I looked up just as Colter slammed his fist into the side of Kane’s jaw and the man went limp. Colter spit on him. “I should never have saved your life, Saint.”
Colter’s attention returned to me. “It’s amazing what money can buy when you live in a small town.” He smiled. “Now, we have business to discuss.”
“Jason will come for me. He won’t let you get away with this.”
“I can assure you that he won’t.” He glanced over at Kane. “He’s the only one who managed to make it out alive.”
Suddenly I was lightheaded. My pulse thrummed in my ears. A haze clouded my vision. “What?”
Colter laughed. “It’s unclear how the fire started at the courthouse, but that old building made it spread so quickly… And with the bars on the windows, it made it difficult for people to get out.”
I couldn’t get enough air. The concrete walls felt like they were closing in.
Jason was dead.
I’d been afraid of telling him that I loved him.
I’d almost told him. Then I’d stopped short because I was a coward. His wealth, his world, the differences between us—none of it mattered.
And now it was too late. All because I’d dragged him into this…
He stepped closer. “So, what’s it gonna be? The kid goes to someone who will probably take care of it or are we going to leave it to hope and prayer?”
“What about the appeal? He wasn’t allowed to leave the county.”
“You leave that to me. All I need for you to do is sign the papers giving me custody. We’ll file it with the court, and you can be on your way.” He smiled. “Too bad it won’t be with a new husband.”
I blinked back tears. No way was I going to let this creep see me cry. What did I do? Both options made me sick to my stomach.
“Elias is my son. Maya wanted me to have him. I’m not giving him to you. Not now. Not ever.”
He tilted his head. “I thought you might say that.”
There was noise on the steps. Two men set up a TV on the floor. “Maybe you need a little convincing. I’ve some movies to show you.”
Once the TV was set up, Colter and his men left. The screen flickered to life.
“What?”
The images made my stomach turn. Mental torture. I faced away from the television and the volume increased. I walked to the back of the cage and sat on the floor with my hands over my ears as I cried.
My baby was in the hands of this evil lunatic.
Chapter Twenty-Six
JASON
The tensionin the room could choke a person. I’d been in hostile territory before, but this was different. These guys operated by rules that were slightly different than the ones I typically lived by.
“I want to know where Colter might have taken Cora and Elias. Do we know where Daisy is?” I looked from Shade to Tank.
