Alpha Varkon’s Human Antidote

9| RESULTS

ARTHUR

I limped toward the front door.

The doctors had given me a cane, but I’d refused to use it. Call it pride or plain stubbornness, I wasn’t ready to depend on a piece of wood just to get around.

I pulled the door open without knowing who I’d find on the other side.

Samantha stood there.

Her eyes were red and swollen, tears running freely down her cheeks as her lips trembled. I tightened my grip on the doorknob, forcing myself to stay in control.

“What are you doing here?” I asked through gritted teeth.

She sniffled. “You know the target wasn’t you. I would never have tried to kill you. I was mad at you, yes. I’m still mad at you for cheating, but I never would’ve shot you.”

She took a step closer.

I gave her one hard look, and she froze where she was.

She sniffled again, her bottom lip quivering. “I really love you, Arthur. You were my first love. I just wanted you to be my last. She never should’ve come back into our lives. When she was gone, we were okay…”

“There was nothing remotely okay about us,” I cut her off. “I’m meeting with my lawyer tomorrow. We’re getting this divorce over with.”

“No. Please.” She shook her head frantically. “I’m already dealing with so much. She’s pressing charges against me. She wants me in prison, and you’re the only person who can help me.”

I nodded once. Now I understood what this visit was really about.

Of course my wife didn’t give a damn about me.

She cared about herself.

She didn’t want to go to prison, and she thought I could save her.

Too f*****g bad.

“You’re going to prison, Samantha,” I said flatly. “You’re lucky I’m not the one deciding your fate. I don’t know what Evelyn has planned for you, but I promise you I would’ve been a hell of a lot more ruthless.”

She shook her head. “You don’t mean that.”

A humorless smile tugged at my lips.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night. I don’t ever want to see you again, Samantha. We’re done. And we’re never getting back together.”

Fresh tears filled her eyes.

Then, almost instantly, her entire expression changed. The vulnerability disappeared. Her face turned cold.

“You two are disgusting,” she hissed. “I’m going to ruin both of you. I swear to God I will.”

“There you are,” I said. “Drop the act. I’d actually like to see you try.”

I limped farther into the cottage, shutting the door behind me before taking a slow look around. This place wasn’t anything fancy, but it was decent enough.

There was a small living room with a black leather couch facing a television mounted on the wall. The kitchen sat just a few steps away, separated by a short island with two stools tucked underneath.

A narrow hallway led to what I guessed were the bedroom and bathroom. Everything looked clean, almost untouched. No one had stayed here in a while. My bags were still sitting by the entrance where the driver had left them.

Through the large windows, I could see nothing but trees stretching into the distance. This was exactly the kind of place someone picked when they wanted to disappear from the rest of the world. Maybe it would be right for me…

A few seconds later, I heard her arguing with my driver outside.

I let out a slow breath and grabbed my phone, plopping down on the couch. Scrolling through my contacts, I called Sam. He answered on the second ring.

“Hey, Sam. Can you come over? We need to figure out our next move?”

I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my temple.

Silence.

For several seconds, all I heard was his breathing. He was probably trying to figure out how to say whatever was on his mind. I suddenly wanted a cigarette…

“I’m sorry, sir.”

My forehead creased. Sorry?

“Sam?”

“I…” He hesitated. “She offered me a shitload of money. More than I’d make working for you in months. I have dreams too, sir, and…”

His voice faded into meaningless background noise.

I wasn’t really listening anymore.

She’d done it again.

The woman I was determined to chase down. The same woman who was methodically dismantling my life, one piece at a time.

Sam finally stopped talking. I opened my mouth twice before any words came out.

Finally, I grunted, “Cool. Good luck.”

Then I hung up.

If I’d thought I was angry before, it was nothing compared to what I felt now.

I pushed myself to my feet and staggered outside.

My driver looked up immediately. I motioned him over, and he hurried toward me.

“Get me a pack of cigarettes.”

I shoved a thick stack of cash into his hand. He looked down at it, then nodded and headed toward the gate.

I went back inside and picked up my phone again, dialing Evelyn.

Once. Twice. Three times. She didn’t answer.

After the third call, I hurled my phone across the room. It smashed against the wall before crashing onto the floor.

I dropped back into the chair and closed my eyes.

I’d made one stupid mistake. Fine. I’d been an i***t all those years ago. Fine. But did I really have to lose everything? Did I have to lose her too?

My phone started ringing again from where it lay broken on the floor.

I stared at it for several seconds without moving. It rang once, stopped, then started again. When it rang for the fourth time, I finally pushed myself up, picked it off the floor, and pressed it to my ear.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Mr. Hayes. The DNA test results are ready. Would you like to come pick up the paperwork, or would you prefer I tell you the results now and you can collect the report later?”

Every muscle in my body went rigid.

Damn.

I’d completely forgotten about the strand of hair I’d taken from Toby, when Evelyn and Toby visited me at the hospital. I’d handed it over for testing.

Taking a slow breath, I asked, “What are the results?”