Hallie

"Someone betrayed me," Marcus growled. "Someone who I've trusted."

Fear gripped me. Oh god. We've been caught. We've been caught even before it began. I look over Vin and he looked so calm. Collected. not a worry on his face.

He wasn't giving anything away. But knowing him. I know he's got a plan.

"Vin," Marcus barked. "You're slipping. This shouldn't have gone past you for this long."

Vin nodded.

"But you caught wind of it and discovered who has betrayed me."

Relief cursed through me. But... who?

"I want you all to see what happens when someone crosses me," he said with a smirk. "Bring him to me."

I looked over and it was Xavier. He face was swollen and bruised with fresh blood on the side of his mouth and temple.

I should feel bad, but I don't. Xavier is a monster just like Marcus.

Then I jumped as one shot rang loud and Xavier drops dead to the ground.

"Anyone else who think of betraying me better think twice."

Fear gripped me. Not for myself, but for the people that I love.

If our plan goes south, they'd be in danger. Marcus would not hesitate to kill them. I can't let that happen.

I have to do something.

It's now or never.

I know what I have to do.

Damien. Forgive me. It's the only way.

He will never stop.

Later that night I talked to Vin.

"Change of plans," I said.

He frowned.

"We're going with my plan after all."

"What?" Shock registered on his face.

"It's the only. He will never stop. Even if we succeed in trapping him, he has connections. He'll go after Damien and our kids. I can't let that happen."

"Are you sure about this?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Okay," he said. "But once you do this. There's no going back."

I nodded. "I know." Defeat tugged at me mercilessly.

***

"I'll be yours. But after you sign this," I said to Marcus.

He took the papers out of my hand and read it.

He laughed.

"You want me, then you let Ty and Michy go. I want it in writing," I said.

"You don't trust me?" He smirked.

"Not even a little bit."

He laughed again. "Alright. And when do I get my price?" He asked as he ran a knuckled down my cheek to the valley between breasts. I swallowed the bile that threatened to rise in my throat.

"As soon as it's final and after the wedding."

"You really do think highly of yourself, don't you?"

"I do. But I also know that you love yourself more than anything in this world, which why you would be interested to know that I have everything that will take you down. You'll lose everything."

"What are you talking about?"

"That file that contains everything against you. It came from me," I said. "Xavier worked for me."

Fury lit his face.

"Too bad you caught him. You see my plan was going according to plan until that idiot screwed up. And that Vin. Fucking loyal to you to a fucking fault discovered and exposed everything."

"So now this is your plan?"

"All I ever wanted was to get Ty and Michy away from you, and this does that. You get me and you get the file that will destroy you and everything you value."

"I could kill you," he started to threaten me. "But you won't," I interrupted. "You won't. Because if you do, you won't get that file"

"Nothing will stop me from doing it right after."

"Yes, but you want me. You want a son."

"I already have one."

I laughed. "Ty?" I said before laughing again. "What makes you so sure he's yours?"

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"He isn't yours Marcus. So you see, you have no one. You don't want Michy. She's a girl, remember?"

I could see the wheels turning in his head.

"You fucking bitch."

"Call me whatever the bell you want, it won't change the fact that Ty is not your son. And with everything that I've done to you? What better way than to punish me by claiming me as yours?"

With those words, I watched as I won.  There was no mistaking the lust in his eyes. He thinks he's won and he's relishing every moment of it.

"Are you ready to agree and sign?"

"How do I know you not betray me again?"

"You know how much I love Ty and Michy. I would never put them at risk."

My whole body was trembling on the inside. Only the thought of Damien, ty and Michy gave me the strength and courage to do this and continue with this plan.

He picked up his pen and signed.

"Now what?" He asked.

"Now. You wait," I said and left with the papers that gives Damien full custody of Ty and Michy.

Damien

"Listen to everything we tell you to do and keepyour temper in check," Nate said.

I nodded.

They stopped in the main entrance of Marcus' hideout. Nate and his team has scouted this place and know it inch by inch.

"Dave, Marshall come in," Nate said into his com. "do you have a clear view from where you are?" Nate asked on his com.

"All clear," Dave radioed through.

Nate got out first with his gun in position.  Alan was next, then the rest of the team.

We waited. Seconds turned into minutes until the front door finally opened.

Vin came out first and another man I don't know. Then finally, Marcus came to view.

I stepped forward.

"Damien Anastasi, heir to the Anastasi empire."

"Where is Hallie?" I demanded.

"Where's my file?"

"I want to see her."

"You don't make demands here," he sneered.

"I want to make sure she's not harmed," I said.

"Give it up, Marcus. We all know what we have is far more important to you than Hallie. So let us see her and let's get this deal done," Nate said.

He snapped his finger and a man came out with Hallie.

"Now. Show me the file."

Nate Nodded.

I raised my hand and showed it to him.

"Now let's do this quick and easy, Marcus. No one needs to get hurt," Nate said.

"That all depends on you," Marcus said.

"We just want Hallie back. We don't care about anything else."

Marcus smirked. "She must be really good in bed, if you want her back so badly," he said to me as he touched.

"Get your fucking hands off her," I growled.

He laughed.

"Damien. Easy," Nate said quietly.

I took a deep breath.

"This is how we're going to do this. My man over here will take Hallie to you and you will hand him the USB file."

"Okay. That sounds good," I said.

Hallie

He's here.

Sweat broke out on my forehead as fear gripped me. My stomach tightened in a knot and I felt sick.

"You make one wrong move and I will kill all of them," Marcus whispered to me before letting me continue my way down to Damien. 

"My signal," I heard him say to his men.

I fought back my tears.

This is it.

Damien

"Be ready to do what I tell you if this goes South," Nate said.

I nodded.

She's almost here. Almost back in my arms. Just a few more steps.

I could see the sweat bearing on her forehead.

A couple more steps.

"The file," the man said.

I handed it to him as he let Hallie go. The man turned around and nodded.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

She stood still.

"Hallie?"

"I'm sorry," she said.

I frowned and before I could react she stepped back and the man grabbed her and was leading her back.

"Hallie. No!"

"Damien, no," I heard Nate said. "Fuck," he growled. "Now. Come in now."

Then I was being held back. I fought as I watched Hallie get further and further away from and shots begin to ring around me.

"Fuck. Pull him back," someone said.

"Let me go! Hallie, no."

What's happening? Why did she go back to him?

No. No. Oh god no.

Had Hallie betray him? No.  She wouldn't.

I fought against the men holding me and took out the gun on his side.

I ran to follow Hallie. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught movement before a shot was fired.

Pain cursed down my shoulder, but I didn't care. I needed to get to Hallie. I needed to save her.

I saw Marcus drop down to his knees as he was hit.

Then there she was.

He looked back at me and smirked. Before raising his hand up towards her a gun in his hand.

"No. Hallie," I yelled as she was being led by the man back inside inside the house.

Shot fired and I watched as it hit her.

"No!" I yelled.

I raised my gun to fire it at Marcus, but was stopped by two men I don't recognize.

Then I watched as the house exploded and burned. a

"No! Hallie," I burst into sobs. I fell to my knees as fear and realization gripped me.

She can't be. I shook my head. No. She can't be.

She's not.

She's not dead.

*****

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Thank you for your patience and continued support.

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