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56. The Bets
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The Mark 57. Move
I spent the next while going over every detail of the bets with both Haley and Kayden. Kayden, however, didn't seem the least bit surprised, which made me wonder how he knew. But I didn't focus on that. Rather I focused on Haley. Her movements, reactions, everything. I tried to reach out to her. However, she pulled away from me. I felt absolutely gutted seeing her react like this to me."So all this time, I was nothing but a bet to you? A way to gain a position and further advance your business?" Haley replied, outraged."No! I swear! I truly love you!" I shouted, walking closer to her, hoping to wrap her in my arms. However, she backed away from me, holding a hand up, preventing me from getting close."And you! I trusted you! You knew about this and didn't tell me?!" Haley shouted incredulously at Kayden.Kayden's eyes went wide. He also tried to get closer to her; however, she backed away once more."Hales." I began, but she cut me off. She looked at me with daggers in her eyes. But
The Mark 58. Trouble
I looked to the street once more, hoping Haley would return any moment now. Seeing that she wasn't going to, I followed Kayden back into the house."Sorry, man. That wasn't my intention when I brought it up." Kayden explained, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck uncomfortably. I could tell he was upset and felt bad for how things played out.I nodded my head at him. I didn't blame him. It was my own mistake. I should've been truthful with her long before now. "Do you mind me asking why you asked then? Cause you already seemed to have known all about it." I asked, hoping to change the subject."Yes, that's true. I did know all about it. I asked because I have questions about the bets. Or rather one in particular." "Which one?" "The one with your friend, Lucas." Kayden said, making my eyes grow wide."What about it?" I asked, growing curious."Can you go over the details of the agreement itself? Because something isn't adding up."I eyed him but agreed, telling him in full de
The Mark 59. Dawning Realizations
...Haley POV...I was so hurt. Before I had walked in on their conversation, I was planning on asking Damian to rest with me. I was exhausted and needed him at my side. Part of me still felt on edge. As though I was in a dream, and when I woke up, Damian would be gone again. I couldn't rest easy knowing that Damian was in the other room, and Maverick had been taken from us. He had become my world, and I was at a loss with him gone. I didn't even know where to begin to get him back. I knew Kayden would've already begun to look for solutions. I would give him whatever he needed to get my son back, and Kayden knew that. We'd gotten close, and he knew that money wasn't an issue for me. So when I walked into the kitchen and heard them talking about bets. I was absolutely floored. But mostly, I felt like an idiot. Here I was, about to ask him to sleep with me, when all this time I was nothing but a bet to him. Not just one but two bets. He not only agreed to be in a relationship with me bu
The Mark 60. Luca
"You would really do that?" I asked. Turning his head up to look at me. I searched his eyes, looking for any sign of deceit.Damian simply looked at me and smiled. Cupping my face and stroking my cheek with his thumb. I found myself leaning into his touch."I'd do that a million times over if it meant you'd be safe." He replied. A tear began to fall as I realized he spoke the truth. Before I knew it, Damian took the opportunity and pulled me to him. I began to cry into his chest; however, that didn't seem to bother him. Rather, he pulled me tighter to him and ran his hand down the back of my head, calming me."Don't. I won't let you do that. We'll find another way." I replied, in between sobs."There is no other way." Damian replied."Yes, there is! We've only just started talking about this. We'll find a solution. I know we will." I replied."Like what?" Kayden questioned, making me turn on him. I was furious that he let Damian think this was a suitable solution."I don't know! I co
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The Mark 62. Treading Water
We had been on the plane for a few hours already when I saw Haley bolt upright in her chair to sit next to me."What's going on in that beautiful mind of yours?" I asked, turning to look at her."I was wondering..." Haley began, nibbling on her thumb."Wondering what?" I asked, helping her."D-do you want to see some pictures of Maverick?" She asked, gauging my reactions.My eyes went wide from her question. "Yes. Of course!" I shouted happily.Haley seemed to relax and grabbed her phone from her pocket. She flipped through a few things before handing it to me. I looked in amazement as our beautiful son's face stared back at me. I felt a smile curve at my lips as I began to swipe through pictures of Maverick and Haley. Before I knew it, tears had begun to fall."Is everything ok?" Haley asked, looking at me, concerned."Yes. Everything's perfect. Thank you." I said, pulling her close, wrapping my arms around her, thinking of our perfect family....The flight to Italy was long, and b
The Mark 63. Don't Push Me
...Haley POV...I was on my last thread. I was already worried sick because of Maverick missing. But this woman was pushing my last straw. I'd never shot someone, but I was willing to start with her. Luca was my last chance of finding my son. But the more she continued to ignore my requests to see him, the more my desire to shoot her became. I knew I needed to get Luca's attention, so I grabbed my gun and aimed it at her head without second-guessing. She pushed my final button when she tried to flirt with Damian. He was mine; how dare she flirt with him directly in front of me. My anger got the best of me, and I fired a warning shot at her. I wasn't even close to hitting her, but she didn't need to know that. I just needed Luca to come. I just hoped he didn't take my entrance wrong.The woman screamed, and to my amazement, Kayden came running in with his gun raised in our direction, searching for the source of the problem. Little did he realize that it was, in fact, me. But his loyal
The Mark 64. Pleading
...Damian POV...I grew worried for Haley. Luca had asked her to start from the beginning, but little did he realize how traumatic of an experience she'd gone through. She had put up a brave front for so long, that even I had begun to believe that she was ok. That she'd managed to block it out, and not let it get to her. But little did I realize that it was only a coping mechanism, so when she was asked to explain what happened, she was brought back to that fateful night.I felt her convulse in my arms. She was shaking in fear, but it was more than that. Soon she began to sweat as if she had a bad fever. Kayden figured out what was happening right away, which made me wonder if this has happened before? He knew exactly what to do, yelling orders at the rest of us. Luca went to a bar fridge and grabbed some ice, and wrapped it in a towel to place on her head. I laid her on her back on the couch, hoping she would calm down.Her breathing had become ragged, and soon I saw her eyes begin t
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