Page 121 of Poisoned Promise
“I’ll take it from here,” he remarks, stepping around me and cuffing my hands behind my back.
“Whatever,” grumbles one of the guards, and they leave without complaints.
Reese escorts me down the steps with a cold, dark chuckle. “I wanted to see you before I went out and got Alex. Sort of commit to memory what you look like before Caterina gets started on you.”
“What was that? Sorry, I couldn’t hear anything over the ratty squeaking that erupts from your lips every time you open them.”
“Motherfucker!” He slams me into the wall, crushing my shoulder as he throws his weight against me and pins me there. “You’ve no clue the amount of shit you’re in, do you? You’re trying to act all cocky, like there’s anyone here who could help you, but let me tell you, Caterina is a force to be reckoned with. You’re going to die here, bitch.”
As he drags me into a nearby cell, I fear he’s right.
“Aren’t you supposed to be looking for my son?”
Reese doesn’t reply.
The metal inks between the cuffs around my wrist are attached to a small hook and chain dangling from the ceiling.
Reese hooks me up and quickly tightens the chain, forcing my arms to rise behind my back.
Higher and higher they drank until I’m forced to lean forward, but he keeps tightening it until my arms are raised parallel to the floor, then he forces them higher still.
Sharp, throbbing pain pulls through my shoulders from the angle and I grit my teeth, glaring down at the stone floor.
His boots walk into my line of sight and he cups my chin, then forces my head up.
“One more thing that you, and everyone else around here, seems to have forgotten. I didn’t know Felix back then, it’s true. But you know who I did know?” He leans forward and his sharp, acrid breath floods my lungs. “Nico was my friend too. I hope you rot in here, Dove. It’s the least you deserve.”
36
FELIX
“Here, kid.” I place the large mug of hot, sweet tea in front of him. “Drink.”
“Not thirsty,” Alex replies, his voice thick from his tears. He sits on the couch in Bree’s lounge, tucked up under a blanket but refusing to eat anything or drink anything.
Can’t say I blame him.
“Well you better drink it quickly because I put some scotch in there to help you feel better so you’ve got about ten seconds before I start to feel guilty and fear what your Mom will do to me if she finds out.”
The mention of Dove spurs life into Alex and he glances up at me, sniffling. “Is she gonna be okay?”
“Yes.”
“Do you promise?”
The urge to repeat myyeslingers on my tongue but experience keeps me quiet.
Sitting slowly down on the couch next to him, I scrub my hands over my thighs while searching for the right thing to say.
I have no idea what that is.
“Truthfully? Your Mom’s in a really tough spot.”
“Because of me,” Alex sniffles and the tears well in his eyes again.
“No—.”
“Yes! I started that fire! If I hadn’t done that then we’d still be together, we’d still be in that penthouse and none of this would have happened! It’s my fault for splitting us up and then it’s my fault for making that call. I knew better and I just—.” His voice cracks painfully. “I just needed to hear a friendly voice.”
