Chapter 138
(MILES)
If you hadn’t interfered with my plans, Miles and Sasha would be dead.
It is the next morning, and my gut still churns when I remember Arlo’s words. He said them right before Sasha and I went into his room. Could it be that he spoke like that because he didn’t realize we were there? Could that be the reason he spoke that freely? Or was that why he was honest? I thought that his hateful feelings towards me had changed. I thought we had bonded. How could he just let those heinous words leave his mouth?
He still wants me dead.
I’d like to block that fact from my brain. I’d like to think that maybe he didn’t mean to say them. Or that maybe he did because he was angry. Not even Dalton’s screams of agony can drown Aldo’s hurtful words repeating over and over in my head. I feel like a fool. One thing I’m painfully aware of is that I’d die for Arlo. I’d have happily put my life on the line for him. Apparently, he’d be happy if I did that and died in the process. It’s hard to not feel like a fool.
I thought that after all the experiences we had gone through together, he’d trust me. That maybe we belonged together.
Turns out I was wrong.
I notice distractedly that Dalton has passed out. Ever since we came back to the mansion yesterday afternoon, Sasha has been torturing him. I’m hoping that Sasha will just kill him and get it over with. But one thing about Sasha is he takes his time to kill someone he hates painfully. Their ultimate suffering is what pleases him. He has already severed two of Dalton’s fingers with a bolt cutter. I don’t have it in me to stomach the things that are happening here today. I have a lot of shit to deal with than to sit here and watch Dalton die.
The basement cellar is now silent. The only sound I hear now is the methodical scrape of metal on a stone as Sasha sharpens his knife. Dalton jolts awake again, breathing shallow raggedy breaths as he watches Sasha with bulging eyes. His eyes are fixed on the edge of the sharpened knife. He strains against the ropes binding him to a chair.
Sasha gazes darkly at Dalton’s distracted eyes. “Betrayal is the very thing that I can’t stand.” His voice is low and menacing. “You will pay for coming after me and trying to kill your cousin p>
Sasha begins to circle Dalton and his pulse visibly throbs. The musky smell of sweat reeks all over the basement. “Please, Sasha, show me some mercy.” He begs.
“Mercy?” Sasha laughs. “Yah should have thought of that when you went after Arlo. What has it been now, thrice p>
“We… we’ve known each other for a long time, Sasha. That has to count for something, right? He swallows hard. “We haven’t always been at odds p>
“No, we weren’t. But your betrayal leaves a foul taste in my mouth, I’m afraid I can’t let you go.” He scowls. “I’ve never really liked you anyway. You always rubbed me the wrong way p>
“Please, Sasha.” He snivels. “Please… spare me p>
“It would have been smarter of you to stay in hiding. What made you think it would be a good idea to come after Arlo? Always the arrogant asshole eh?” he approaches Dalton and slices the knife done his cheek.
“Please, Sasha Dalton inhales sharply as blood trickles on the side of his cheek. His nostrils flare as he wails. “Please, please have mercy p>
“Alright, I’ll show you the same mercy you showed Arlo before we entered his room. Sounds fair, yeah? After all, you deserve so much mercy p>
“Please, I…I have a wife and a child. My baby girl. What would happen to my little girl if she is robbed of her father this early? Think about it, Sasha… please.” His lips tremble as he begs.
“Oh, the wife you cheat on with any omega who crosses your path p>
“I…I can be a better alpha. Just let me prove it to you, please p>
“Listen, Dalton, whether you can or not be a better alpha isn’t my concern now. I can’t have you looming around anymore. You are a threat to the Triple Triads just as much as you are to the Sovereign Ring syndicate. I don’t see a way I’m sparing you p>
Dalton begins to sob. “Please… please Sasha, I’m begging you p>
“You could at least die like a man.” He shrugs nonchalantly.
I watch them, feeling no remorse or pity for Dalton. He is so ruthless and greedy that he is willing to kill his cousin for it. That was too low even for him. I’m almost certain that he would trade his daughter’s life for his, given the chance.
The phone buzzes in my pocket and I pick it up. I check on the name on the screen and frown. It is coming from Gaffney’s Memorial Hospital, and I already know who that is. The fear that Arlo’s health has taken a turn for the worse jolts through me, and I answer, running up the stairs of the basement.
“Miles?” Arlo’s soft voice comes from the other side of the line.
I feel a tinge of relief that is immediately taken over by resentment. I’m afraid to reply to him because I might find myself blurting out how angry I am at him. I wouldn’t like him knowing that he hurt my feelings. Classic Arlo would rub it in my face for an eternity. I don’t want him to know that I care for him that much for that to even be possible.
When I hesitate, Arlo speaks instead. “They are releasing me in an hour p>
“Oh, okay.” I close the door so that he doesn’t hear Dalton wail over the phone. “I’ll send somebody to come pick you up p>
There is an awkward silence for a few generous seconds. “Can’t you come get me yourself p>
“I’m busy,” I respond callously.
“You’re that busy?” he lets out a confused laugh.
“That’s right. We are still taking care of Dalton. Speaking of which, I need to go. I’ll send somebody to come get you. Get your stuff ready so that you don’t keep them waiting when they get there p>
“Why are you being so off-hand with me, Miles? What’s wrong p>
“I just told you that I’m busy. My hands are full right now p>
“No. I mean why are you being so cold to me all of a sudden? You’re being so cold.” His voice wobbles. “You just walked out of the hospital yesterday without checking on me, why? What alpha treats their omega like that p>
I purse. Arlo never ceases to amaze me. He has the audacity to be pissed off when I don’t dote and hang around him, yet he wants me dead? He is angry that I won’t drop everything to go be with him. He is an unbelievable, entitled and spoilt asshole. “Your ride will be there in an hour or less. Get ready.” I hang up.
I text one of the lackeys to go pick Arlo at the hospital. My hands tremble as I type. Just hearing his voice makes me tremble. I’m longing to go be with him. What the hell am I going to do now that I’m in love with an omega who still wants me dead?
I can’t help but feel dumb. I was stupid enough to believe he had actual feelings for me. Now, I can’t help but suspect that he has been secretly waiting for this chance to finally kill me. Am I supposed to marry him knowing he wants me dead? That still doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. Who knows if he might slit my throat in my sleep?