“One phone call.” He lifted his phone slowly, waving it in his fingers like it was a weapon. “One bullet. That’s all it takes.”
My stomach dropped. Oh my God. He was serious. “You wouldn’t.” My voice barely made it past my throat.
Hire an assassin? He was talking about hiring someone to murder Egon.
“Why wouldn’t I?” He leaned closer. Too close. I could smell his cologne—the same expensive scent he’d worn for years. Tonight, it was sharp with sweat and desperation.
“You want to save him?” Derek murmured. “Then you come back to me.”
My pulse thundered in my ears.
“Publicly. On camera. You tell the world you made a mistake. That you chose the wrong man.” His gaze bored into mine. “That you’re sorry. Be convincing, Victoria.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then he disappears.” The words landed with brutal finality. “There are consequences to stealing from me, Tori. Even for an alien.”
“You can’t steal a person. I’m not your property.” My voice shook now, fury rising fast enough to burn away the fear. I sounded like a broken record.
“You are. You are my wife. My property. I will not allow you to walk away from me.” He stepped back, giving me space again.
That smile returned. He was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Fucking Hyde. How had I never realized he was like this? I’d known him for years. Years. “You have three days.”
My chest tightened. The season finale was in three days. I was supposed to be on stage as Egon placed his mating cuffs around my wrists and claimed me.
“Come back to me publicly. Tell the world you choose me over him, and all of this goes away.” His shoulders lifted in a casual shrug. “Your alien lover survives. Everyone wins.”
“Except me.” I already knew what my answer was going to be. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t give up Egon. He was an Atlan Warlord. A born warrior. One of the most feared soldiers in the universe. He wouldn’t be afraid of Derek, so I couldn’t allow myself to be afraid either.
“Except you.” Derek’s expression didn’t change. “But you’ve always been good at sacrifice, haven’t you?” His gaze slid over my face, calculating. “Working those double shifts. Paying your way through school. Working extra hours as my personal assistant.” His voice softened almost sympathetically. “Surely you can sacrifice your happiness to save your alien’s life.”
Footsteps echoed from around the corner.
Heavy.
Booted.
Male.
My body reacted instantly.
A rush of awareness slid through me—something deep and instinctive that had nothing to do with logic.
Egon.
I knew it before I saw him.
Derek heard it, too.
His head snapped toward the sound, tension flashing across his face. He stepped backward toward a narrow service door I hadn’t even noticed. “The clock is ticking.” His fingers closed around the handle. “Choose wisely.”
“Derek—” But he was already gone.
The door swung shut behind him, swallowing him into the shadows.
I stood frozen in the hallway, my heart slamming against my ribs hard enough to hurt.
Three days.
