Chapter 23
Delaney stared at Beckett in shock, unable to believe that even after confessing everything, he still had no intention of letting her go. She bit down on the surge of panic rising in her chest and instantly regretted ever coming back to this country.”
Hatred twisted her features as she finally snapped, her voice sharp and filled with venom:
“I hate you, Beckett. You’ll never find Evelyn. Even if you do, she’ll never take you back.
You redirected all the hospital resources to search for me, remember? Her baby probably died because of you. How does that feel, huh? She’ll never forgive you. You pushed her. You cheated on her with me. I was in your bed while she was suffering! Evelyn’s dying of cancer and even if you do find her, she’s probably already dead. Just own it, Beckett. It’s too late for regrets. You and Evelyn were over the moment you chose me.“8
She laughed–wild, unhinged–her words slicing through the room like knives.
Beckett’s face turned bone white, his legs staggered backward a few steps as if her words physically knocked the air out of him.” The guards moved quickly, ready to drag Delaney away.
Only then did fear finally grip her.
She just had a miscarriage- if those rough, lowly brutes so much as laid a hand on her, she’d be ruined. Maybe even crippled.
And she knew Beckett. He wasn’t going to show her mercy.
Her entire body shook as she dropped to her knees, sobbing, her voice desperate and broken.
“Beckett, please–please! I’m sorry, I really am. Don’t do this. We had something, didn’t we? You really want to hand me over to these animals?”
“Evelyn’s dying! She doesn’t have long. Just let me stay and take care of you. I’ll do anything. I’ll be your servant. I’ll have kids as many as you want. I won’t sleep around again.””
I’ll even take care of Evelyn for you! Please, please, I’m begging you!“} Her pleas didn’t even register. Beckett didn’t blink. His face was stone.
Then, without warning, he kicked her hard, sending her sprawling back.
“I said get her out of my sight!” he barked. “Do I have to teach you how to do your job?“}
The guards stiffened, recognizing the edge in his tone. One grabbed each of Delaney’s arms while another clamped a hand tightly over her mouth, muffling her cries as they dragged her away like an animal.§
Moments later, her shrill screams erupted from the room next door–followed by the unmistakable, brutal thuds of flesh against flesh. Beckett didn’t flinch.
He turned to the man still cowering in the corner, pale with fear.
“When they’re done,” Beckett said flatly, “drag this piece of trash out too. You try to play games with me, you pay the price.”
The man fell to his knees, sweat pouring down his face. He shook his head frantically.
“No–no, please, sir. I didn’t even take money from her. She came on to me, I swear! I’ll disappear, I won’t tell anyone–please!” He slammed his forehead into the floor again and again.§
Beckett didn’t even look at him.
Another wave of guards marched
and dragged the man away like garbage.
Soon enough, the hallway filled with overlapping screams–his and Delaney’s–merging into a symphony of horror.
By the time Beckett finally turned and walked out, they were nothing but two broken bodies lying on the floor like discarded waste.
