CHAPTER 146

If she hadn’t been already, she would soon be fired from her job. Not that it mattered, because kidnappers weren’t good people, and as much as Tessa hated to even think this, the reality was she might not need to provide for her daughter anymore.

Then there was Zy. The man who had dragged her underground wasn’t the man she’d fallen for. This version of him was harsh and unforgiving. Pure warrior. There would be no reasoning with him. He’d become an enemy combatant with no compunction about doing whatever necessary to compel her surrender.

As the minutes dragged on, worry warred with regret. Neither did her any good. She had to live with the reason she’d never told Zy about Hallie’s abduction. It was the same terror for her child that had prevented her from sleeping for days—until tonight.

Earlier, after Zy had fucked her with such desperation and anger, she’d showered and fallen onto the sofa, curled up and sobbing with Hallie’s blanket for all she’d lost. Then she’d fallen into an ex