Malone's Fate (Haven, Texas Book 14)

Chapter 46

When he lifted her out of the truck, he didn’t bother putting her on her feet. His baby was done in. He was going to carry her inside and put her down for a nap.

Shutting the door with his hip, he winced at the creaking noise it made. He really had to go get his truck back. This was one of the Ranch trucks, and he missed his baby.

“Tanner, I can walk.”

“Perhaps. But you’re not going to. Just relax. I have you.”

To his satisfaction, she rested her head against his chest as he carried her up the stairs.

“Tanner, I was just about to call you.” Alec stepped out of the house onto the porch. “I need you guys to come into my office. Regent just called.”

* * *

“He thinkswe should negotiate with Stefan?” Lilac leaned forward, nearly toppling off Tanner’s lap.

He grabbed hold of her, holding her steady. “Careful, baby.”

Her mind was reeling too much from Alec’s words to hear him, though.

When Tanner had carried her into Alec’s office, West, Maddox, and Raid had already in the office, looking pensive.

Well, she kind of thought West always looked like that.

“Yes,” Alec replied. “Regent managed to get to someone in his organisation and pay them off for information. How much we can rely on that information, I don’t know. His contact said that Stefan has been slowly spiralling. The longer you’ve been gone, the more obsessed he’s become with you. Mateo’s contact confirmed that last past.”

It was sick and weird. She understood that. She just didn’t know how to make it stop.

Beyond killing him.

“Then a few days ago, Stefan packed up and left with several of his men.”

“What?” Her gaze shot up. “Where did he go?”

“Darlin’, he’s headed here. It’s likely that he’s here already. Somewhere around Haven. I don’t think he’d show his face here yet. Although I could be wrong.”

Would he do that? Just appear in Haven?

“He might,” she said. “Stefan thinks he’s more powerful than everyone else. He might be that bold.”

“That’s what Regent said, too,” Alec replied.

“How did he find her, though?” Raid asked.

“A few days ago?” she whispered. So, it didn’t sound like he’d had someone here all this time. Maybe he sent someone periodically or had paid someone off to inform for him. Or perhaps . . .

“It could have been the hospital,” she said. “It was why I didn’t want my name in the system. Lilac isn’t a common name. And if he knew about Ryleigh’s connection to you . . . he might have had someone scanning for Lilac Malone. I don’t know. Maybe that’s a stretch. But he’s powerful and rich and has some clever people working for him.”

“That’s a possibility,” Alec said.

“So, by giving you my last name, I could have put you on his radar?” Tanner asked, sounding pained.

“Hey, no.” She turned to cup his face. “The fact that someone called Lilac turned up in a hospital around my age was possibly enough for him to investigate. This isn’t on you.”

He didn’t look convinced.

“How does any of this lead to Regent suggesting we negotiate with him?” Tanner asked. “For what exactly?”

“For me,” she said quietly. “Do you want to negotiate for Ryleigh, Kye, and Opal’s safety with me?” And then she would kill him.

Trouble was, she didn’t know if she could do it anymore.

If she could leave Tanner. If she’d be able to take down Stefan alone. Because she didn’t want to be alone anymore.

“I . . . I can’t,” she said before any of them could speak. Tears drifted down her cheeks. “I can’t go back to him. Please don’t make me.”

“Like fuck anyone is making you!”

To her shock, the outburst came from Raid. He started pacing. “Damn it, Alec.”

Tanner turned her, so her legs straddled his. He cupped her face, wiping away her tears. His face was intense. Stern. “Not happening. Ever. You hear me? Not. Ever.”

With a sob, she leaned into him, her face pressed to his chest as she cried.

It was embarrassing, but she couldn’t stop. Behind her, voices raged.

“Stop!” Alec ordered. “All of you listen to me. We are not sending her back. And I’m insulted you thought I would allow that to happen.”

Oh no.

She hadn’t meant to upset him.

“Sorry,” she said, turning in Tanner’s arms.

He arranged her so she was sitting side-on. Then he grabbed a tissue to wipe her face.

Alec pointed at her. “You do not apologize to me. Understand?” Then he turned that finger to his brothers. “You lot, I’m disappointed in.”

“What could we possibly bargain with, then?” Raid asked, pacing back and forth.

“Why bargain with him at all?” West asked. “We should just murder the bastard.”

“And how do you suggest we do that?” Alec asked.

“I don’t know, pay Regent’s contact to poison him?” Maddox suggested.

“He has a poison tester,” she said.

“What?” Tanner asked.

“Yeah, someone always tastes his food and drinks first to make sure they’re not poisoned. He’s a murdering asshole, but he’s not dumb. Are you . . . are you planning this arrangement in order to lure him somewhere?” she asked.

Alec stared at her, approval in his face. “You’re smart.”

She was her father’s daughter, after all.

“What? I don’t like this idea, either.” Tanner frowned.

“Regent thinks it’s our best chance,” Alec said. “We agree to a trade, lure him out of hiding, and then we kill him.”

“And the person you’re going to offer to exchange is me,” she said numbly.

Alec leaned forward. “Let me make this clear. We are not trading you. You are not going with him.”

Lilac nodded, trying to keep her breathing steady. She got it. She really did. And she thought it was the best idea she’d heard.

There was just one problem . . .

“Not. Fucking. Happening.”

Yep. That problem.