The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 90

"Absolutely not."

Garrison grabbed her arm, forcing every word through his teeth. "You are not going in there alone. It's suicide!"

"Relax. I'll be fine."

Sloane knelt in front of him and calmly unclasped one of the sleek cufflinks from his dress shirt, slipping it smoothly into her pocket.

"With this, the police will have real-time audio. They won't let anything happen to me."

Garrison stared at her, dumbfounded as he finally realized it was a covert listening device. When the hell had she managed to plant a bug on his cufflink without him noticing?!

"Sorry. Guess I'm busted," Sloane said with a dry, self-deprecating smile.

"Archie is my son too. I couldn't just sit back. Plus, this guarantees the cops know exactly what's happening."

"Sloane, do you think this makes you some kind of genius?!"

Garrison fought to stand, but his traitorous legs buckled again. Sloane ignored his outburst, hauling him up and supporting his dead weight all the way back to the passenger seat.

"It's the only play we have." Sloane shoved him into the car. "Keep the engine running. Wait for me."

"Sloane!"

Garrison's voice cracked with raw panic, but the heavy thud of the car door slamming shut cut him off.

He could do nothing but watch helplessly through the glass as she scooped the nitrogen case off the dirt and marched straight toward those rusted iron doors.

*

Inside the plant, it was even darker. The air was thick with decay, rust, and the toxic burn of lingering chemicals.

Sloane narrowed her eyes, quickly adjusting to the gloom of the massive warehouse floor.

"Freeze!"

"It is exactly what you asked for. I swear."

"Hahaha! And what the hell is your guarantee worth? Who even are you to Garrison Foster, bitch?!"

Sloane's heart sank into her stomach. Clearly, they had zero intention of letting Archie walk out of here easily.

"I'm his wife."

"Why didn't Foster bring it himself?! You trying to pull a fast one?!"

"He's sick. He's waiting in the car outside. If you don't believe me, go look for yourselves," Sloane shot back.

"Shut your damn mouth! I don't need you telling me how to do my job!"

The guy with the gun marched over, pressing the muzzle hard into her spine as he shoved her against the wall. Sloane cooperated, putting her back to the concrete, but her eyes stayed fiercely locked on Archie, silently promising him that it was going to be okay.