Betrayed by Blood (Betrayed #1)

by Victoria Renteria

  “I’m sorry, who are you?” I say, surprised that my voice doesn’t show any hint of the unrest I’m currently feeling.

  What once would have been a beautiful smile has now turned feral as her lips curl to one side. Never breaking eye contact, she emphasizes each word. “I’m Sabrina Grant.”

  A gasp leaves me as a sudden coldness starts in the center of my body and begins to rapidly spread through my veins. Tears burn the backs of my eyes and I quickly blink them away as I glance at her very pregnant belly. Astounded . . . I honestly feel astounded. Alex broke down my walls, made me feel things no one else ever did, yet he has a wife and a child clearly on the way. Raising my eyes to her face, I take in the arch of her eyebrow and her tight set jaw. Sabrina crosses her arms over her chest as she waits for my answer.

  My chin trembles slightly as I whisper, “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

  An edgy laugh echoes around me, causing my cheeks to flame. “You think that’s a good enough excuse? I show up here today to surprise my husband and this is what I find.” Another laugh sounds, this time louder, echoing down the hallway. Cutting my eyes to the side, I look to ensure no one has been disturbed by the scene unfolding in front of me.

  “Mrs. Grant, I honestly had no idea Mr. Grant had a wife. I would have never spoken to him if I had known. You can be assured I will not be speaking to him in the future.” The truth in my words cause the crack in my heart to widen. Pain lances through my chest, stealing the very essence from my soul. Sabrina narrows her eyes at me as she takes a step forward, closing the distance between us as her voice raises an octave.

  “Let me make myself perfectly clear. You will stay the fuck away from my husband. We’re having a baby and I’ll be damned if some two bit floozy is going to split up our family because she can’t keep her legs closed.” Sabrina takes a noisy breath before continuing.

  “What makes you think he’d want the likes of you, anyway, huh?” A maniacal laugh escapes her pink lips as she sneers at me. Sabrina leans back and with sweeping arm motions gestures between us. “Who in their right mind would choose you over me, anyway? I mean, look at you . . . you’re not even pretty. You’re clearly some kind of mutt not worthy of Alexander’s attention.”

  Sabrina’s words sting like arrows hitting a bull’s-eye. Each word chipping away at the gaping wound left behind by Alex’s betrayal. Biting the inside of my cheek, I try fighting off the tears that are stinging the backs of my eyes but it’s no use. They begin to flow down my cheeks in rivulets. Blowing out a long breath, my shoulders slump forward and the will to live leaves my body, an empty crevice taking up the space left behind. What was once beginning to grow full with life is now a shell, empty and broken.

  Sabrina’s arrogant laugh has me raising my eyes from the floor. In a loud voice that carries through the hall, Sabrina hisses, “You’re pathetic. A waste of space. You disgust me.” The creaking of a door cuts her off and has her whirling around. Meeting the furious gaze of Alex, I take a hesitant step back. Tears begin streaming down my face faster as I drink him in. Even furious with waves of tension rolling off his body, he is statuesque.

  Sabrina’s tone turns sickly sweet as she croons, “Alexander, baby, I was just coming to see you.” Alex’s furious gaze lands on Sabrina and she withers, shrinking before my eyes. Alex raises his eyes to meet mine and I suck in a pained breath. His gaze softens as he takes a hesitant step forward.

  “Kylee, baby, are you okay?” The gentleness in his tone almost breaks me. Shaking my head, I take a step back and close my door just a fraction. Hot tears burn my cheeks as they furiously run down my face. Alex takes another step toward me and a small cry echoes throughout the hall. A smug smile graces Sabrina’s face while Alex’s features fall. Taking another step back, I look between the two, shaking my head once more.

  “I . . . I can’t, Alex.” Sniffling, I meet his eyes and see the pain flash before being replaced by determination.

  “It’s not what you think, Kai. Let me explain.” The nickname my best friend gave me rolling off his lips makes my heart constrict in my chest. Blowing out a breath, I muster up all of the strength I have left and look to him once more.

  “Alex, you have a family,” I say, swallowing. “I won’t be the cause of it ending. I’m sorry, it just wasn’t meant to be.”

  Quickly stepping inside my apartment, I shut the door and lock it.

  A thud sounds on the other side as Alex’s muffled voice comes through. “Goddess, it’s not what you think, I swear. Please, just let me explain.”

  Turning, I briskly walk away from the door, shutting out Alex’s words. Blanketed in sorrow, hollowness settles about me as I stare off into the distance. Mental images of my time with Alex bombard me once again, making my heart clench in my chest. Shaking my head, I grit my teeth and decide to wallow in my sorrow for one more day before closing the door on Alexander Grant and firmly rectifying the walls around my heart once more.

  SLAMMING MY OPEN PALM AGAINST her door one last time, I whisper, “Please, Goddess, let me explain.” Resting my forehead against her door, I can hear every sob as it leaves her body. My heart breaks knowing she’s in pain and I’m the cause. I’m such an idiot. I should have warned her. I should have told her about Sabrina and my past. “Please, Goddess,” I utter. My voice is so faint I can barely hear it above my rapid breathing.

  My body tenses as a hand travels the length of my spine. “Let her go. She isn’t worth it. I’m all you need, baby,” Sabrina croons. A feral growl travels from deep within me and rips from my throat. Sabrina steps back as I whirl around. Slowly, I move, taking deliberate steps in her direction. Blood rushes through my veins, pounding in my ears. The desire for vengeance fuels each and every step. Jabbing a finger in Sabrina’s direction, I bite out, “What the fuck did you do?”

  Sabrina flinches, shying away from me at the harshness of my tone. Somewhere deep inside I know I should feel guilty for the way I’m talking down to her, as if I were interrogating a terrorist. But right now, I can’t find it in me to give a damn. Taking another step closer, her back hits the wall and her arms instinctively wrap around her belly, protecting her unborn child. Wrinkling my nose, I avert my gaze from her swollen belly.

  “I asked you a question,” I grind out through clenched teeth.

  “I . . . I told her the truth.”

  My skin crawls with her admission. If Sabrina thinks for one minute I believe she told Kylee the truth, she’s lost her damn mind. Shaking my head, I let out a hollow sounding laugh.

  “If you actually believe that I’m going to fall for that shit then you’ve lost your damn mind.” A pained expression crosses her face as she reaches up to caress my jaw. Tossing my hands up in the air, I back away with a shudder.

  “Don’t lay a fucking hand on me. You lost that privilege a long time ago.”

  “Please, Alexander, we need to talk,” Sabrina whines as she pushes out her bottom lip.

  “What makes you think I want to hear anything you have to say?” Her eyes narrow in my direction as she takes a step forward.

  “I’m not the one sleeping with someone else while we’re still married.”

  Unable to help myself, a bout of laughter overtakes me. Hunching over, I clutch my stomach as my body convulses with each laugh.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Sabrina. First of all, we’re in the middle of a divorce, therefore, you have no say in who I sleep with. Second, you slept with half the fucking Army while I was stationed in Saudi Arabia and got knocked up by someone else while we were still married, I might add. So who the fuck do you think you are to march in here throwing around that you’re my wife? You and I both know what we had wasn’t much of a marriage, anyway.”

  Sabrina’s face turns red as she yells, “How dare you! What we had was magical.”

  A door down the hallway opens as an older Korean woman pokes her head out and frowns in our direction. “Fuck.” Running a hand through my hair, I walk to my apartment door a
nd open it. “Let’s finish this once and for all. I want to know what you said to her.” Tightness hits me in the center of my chest as I motion to Kylee’s closed door. “We can’t talk here in the hall so you can either come with me and talk or you can leave and never show your face again. I want those divorce papers signed and we’re done.”

  Some emotion I can’t put my finger on passes across Sabrina’s face for a moment before smoothing it over with a blank look. Pushing off the wall with a grunt, she waddles into my apartment, making her way to the sofa then plopping down with an audible sigh. Strutting into the room, I lean against the wall before leveling her with my gaze.

  “You wanted to talk so talk.”

  Sabrina wipes her hands on her dress before she blows out a breath and looks out the window. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was nervous. However, years of her manipulations have left me hardened against her many emotions. Meeting my eyes, I notice wetness shining in hers and have to bite back an angry remark. Finally, she sighs before biting her lip and saying, “I . . . I called this morning to speak with you, Alexander, because . . .” She pauses for a moment and looks to the floor, composing herself before continuing. “I wanted to see if we could work things out and be a family again.”

  Snorting, I shake my head in denial. She can’t really be serious. Letting my eyes roam over her features, I see the sincerity reflecting in her eyes. My fists clench at my sides and I take a few calming breaths to keep from snapping the fragile band of control I have remaining.

  “Are you off your meds?” Sabrina’s eyes grow wide at the spite in my tone. Giving a shake of her head, she looks to me with sorrow-filled eyes.

  “I’m sorry, Alexander, for everything that happened. If I could change it, I would, but I can’t. I really want us to be together and raise this child. One big happy family.”

  This woman is seriously delusional. One big happy family? I’ve finally found the woman that fits me, makes me a better man, and she has to come along and muck it all up. A guttural growl erupts from my throat as I glare in her direction.

  “No. Not happening.”

  “Please, Alexander. We’re good together and you know it.”

  “Ha! Good together? Who are you kidding? We were never good together, Sabrina. We fought all the damn time. You hated me and the feeling was mutual. Seriously, I tried to work it out in the beginning due to loyalty and honor of the commitment I made that day but not any longer. We can’t be a family, Sabrina. You need to try and be a family with the child’s father.”

  “You’re the father, Alexander,” Sabrina cries, tears flowing down her pink cheeks.

  “Oh, you can save that crock of shit for someone who doesn’t know you. I’ve seen the ultrasound. It doesn’t add up. You’re six months pregnant. I was stationed in Saudi. You were already pregnant when I got back. I don’t know why you chose now to come back but I’ve found someone else. She gets me, understands everything about me, and I’ll be damned if I let you ruin it.”

  Red fills Sabrina’s already pink cheeks as she pushes off the couch and waddles in my direction. Poking her finger into my chest, she hisses each word. “Do you really think after what I told her she’s going to want anything to do with you, Alexander James Grant? Hmm?”

  My skin prickles as goose bumps begin to break out at her admission. Kylee’s broken sobs fill my ears and the torn expression on her face flashes before me. Bile rises in my throat, forcing me to swallow. Gazing down at Sabrina, I wonder what I once saw in the spiteful woman. The skin I once found beautiful and unable to resist now makes me feel as if ants have taken possession of my body. My mind conjures up different ways of knocking off Sabrina so Kylee and I can live in peace. Sabrina is a spoiled, vindictive little brat that will stop at nothing to get her way.

  Lucky for me, I’m a dangerous son of a bitch that will stop at nothing to get what I want, and what I want is Kylee. Cracking my knuckles, I step toward her and watch as her eyes widen with fear. Good, let her be scared. I’m done playing around with her.

  I annunciate each word through gritted teeth. “For the last time. What. Did. You. Say?”

  Audibly swallowing, Sabrina goes to take a step back before stopping and holding her ground. Puffing out her chest, she looks me dead in the eye as she says, “I told her I was your wife and we’re having a baby.” A smug smile tilts the corner of her lips and I have to clench my fists to keep from shaking her to death.

  “Sabrina, don’t fuck with me. We both know that’s not all you told her so out with it.”

  Clapping, Sabrina’s hands form a steeple in front of her as she begins to boast. “Ha! I told that girl the truth, Alexander. She isn’t good enough for you. You and I both know she can never be what you need.” She stretches her arms out wide as she lets loose a deep, gratifying sigh. “We both know she will never satisfy your deeper needs, both sexually and otherwise.” My eyes tighten as I remain silent while she continues to brag.

  “She will never amount to anything. Besides, it’s not like she’ll be around long enough to keep your attention.”

  My mind races as I think back to Kylee being chased home from work. My instincts have been telling me someone was after her. Sabrina couldn’t possibly be hinting at something . . .could she?

  Reaching out, I grab Sabrina by the elbow and drag her to me. “What the fuck do you mean she won’t be around long enough?”

  “It means exactly what it sounds like. Now let go of me,” she hisses.

  “I’m not letting go of you until you tell me what I want to know.”

  “What exactly is it that you want to know, darling?.” Sabrina bats her eyelashes at me, making my stomach churn.

  “What the fuck makes you think she won’t be around?”

  “Ha! Alexander, you and I both know the only woman you’ve ever committed to is me. All of the others were just wasting their time.” A smug smile plays at the corner of her lips.

  “That’s because none of them were Kylee. Besides, you and I both know that our arrangement started as a convenience and nothing more.” Sabrina frowns.

  “Bullshit. You can claim it was convenience all you want but we both know it wasn’t bad. No one can treat you the way I do, and I’m willing to bet that I’m the only one that can satisfy your darker cravings.” Smirking, she places a hand on my chest.

  Gritting my teeth, I close my eyes and hiss, “Stop playing games, Sabrina, and tell me what in the hell you want.”

  “You, Alexander. I want you. Call off this silly divorce. We can be one big happy family, raise this child as our own, and act like none of this ever happened. I’ll forgive your transgressions with the little mutt and we can move on. So what do you say? Hmm?” The corner of her lips tilt up in a satisfied smile, making me sick to my stomach.

  Can I really stay with Sabrina? We did have some good times. Kylee’s smile flickers in my mind’s eye briefly. A clenching in my chest has me reaching just above my heart to massage the phantom pain away. Living without Kylee is unimaginable. It’s like ripping out my lungs and asking me to still breathe without them. I refuse to put Kylee through that pain, making her watch Sabrina come and go, both of us being miserable without the other, letting Sabrina win.

  The answer rings in my head just as quickly as the question is asked. No. I can’t stay with Sabrina. Sometimes our darkness can show us the light and Kylee is my light. Warmth floods my veins as some of the tension leaves my body. With my decision made, I stand taller, towering over Sabrina. Narrowing my eyes in her direction, my voice rings loud and clear.

  “No.”

  “What did you say?” Astonishment fills her voice.

  “You heard me. I said no.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Leaning back against the wall, I cross my arms over my chest as I deliver my final words. “We’re over, Sabrina. The divorce proceeds. It will be finalized next week as planned, regardless of your threats. If you really think I’d choose you over her, t
hen you don’t know me very well. But let me make myself very clear, if you ever come near her again, you’ll wish you’d never been born by the time I’m through with you.”

  “Alexander James Grant, are you threatening me?” she asks in a shrill voice.

  A loud guffaw echoes around us. “You bet your rotten little ass I am. When I’m finished with you, they won’t even be able to identify you by dental records.” Leaning down, I close the remaining distance, encroaching on her personal space. A deep, dark laugh escapes me as my lips turn up in a fierce grin.

  “Sweetheart, by the time I’m done with you . . . you’ll wish you were dead. Let’s just say I have a very specific set of skills that the Army likes to employ . . . and . . . I’m . . . very . . . good . . . at . . . my . . . job.” The last words are punctuated slowly and I watch with glee as her eyes broaden, the meaning behind my words sinking in.

  Schooling her features, Sabrina takes a step back. “You stupid fool. We could have been great together. Instead, you throw it away for some two bit whore? And for what? A five dollar hand job you can get at one of the parlors down the street?” Sabrina tosses her head back, laughing hysterically. “Mark my words, Alexander Grant, you will be sorry.”

  Pivoting, she marches to the door, slamming it as she leaves. Sighing, I let my body fall to the floor and rest my head on my knees. What in the hell just happened? Groaning, I throw my head back against the wall with a thud. Questions flit through my mind one after the other as I stare at the ceiling, one rising above them all. How on earth am I going to fix this mess with Kylee?

  CREAKING MY DOOR OPEN JUST a smidgen, I glance from side to side, ensuring the hallway is empty before making a mad dash to the elevator. Pressing the button several times, I wait impatiently for the car to arrive. The elevator door dings and I race inside just as I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. My fingers find the close button on the panel and I press it over and over, praying the doors close quickly. Heavy footsteps echo through the hall as my name sounds from his lips.