"This seems like a really roundabout way." I try to keep my voice casual. “You do know where the care home is, right? Sunrise Manor?”
"You questioning my sense of direction?" He flashes a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "Typical woman, always thinking men need to ask for directions or they’ll get lost.”
I force a laugh, but it comes out strained. "Fair enough."
The truck picks up speed, and we merge onto the highway heading south—definitely not toward Sunrise Manor Care Facility. My pulse quickens. This isn't right.
"Fiend?" I keep my voice steady despite the panic clawing at my throat. "I think we're going the wrong way. Sunrise Manor is on the west side."
His laugh is hollow. "We're not going to Sunrise Manor."
The words drop like stones in the quiet cab.
"What do you mean? Where are we going?" I slide closer to the door, fingers wrapping around the handle.
"Don't try it." His voice has an edge to it now, sharp and cold, as his eyes flick to my hand on the door. "We're going seventy miles an hour. Jump out now, and you'll be road pizza."
Fear roils my stomach. I slowly move my hand away from the door, mind racing. "Fiend, what's going on? Did something happen to my grandmother?"
"Your grandmother is fine." His face changes, something dark and bitter settling across his features. "This isn't about her."
"Then what is it about?" I hate how my voice sounds shaky and small.
He doesn't answer immediately. The truck barrels down the highway, putting more distance between us and the city with each passing minute. Trees replace buildings on either side of the road, the darkness outside deepening.
"I fucked up, Rowan." His voice cracks slightly. "I fucked up so bad there's no coming back from it."
"What? W-what are you talking about?"
"It started with one bad night at the blackjack tables." He stares straight ahead, like he's talking to himself more than to me. "Fifteen grand down. I figured I'd win it back next time, so I borrowed a bit—just a bit. But next time I lost thirty more."
My mind whirls, trying to understand what this has to do with me, with where we're going. "Fiend?—"
"Before I knew it, I was fifty grand in the hole to people you don't want to owe money to." His knuckles turn white on the steering wheel. "I needed cash fast. Then this guy approaches me at a poker game. Says he knows who I am, knows I'm Renegade Kings. Says he'll give me seventy-five grand for some information about club operations."
The pieces click together with sickening clarity. "You sold information to the cartel?”
"Just small stuff at first. Nothing important.” His voice has a pleading quality now. "Shipment schedules, protection routes. Nothing that would get anyone hurt. Just enough to pay off my debts."
"But it didn't stop there."
"No." He swallows hard. "They kept coming back, offering more money. And I... I kept taking it."
We exit the highway onto a smaller road, trees crowding close on either side. My heart hammers against my ribs. "Why are you telling me this? Where are you taking me?"
"I never meant for anyone to get hurt." His eyes flash with what looks almost like genuine remorse. "Tank and Biggy—that wasn't supposed to happen. I didn’t know they was gonna do that."
"You got them killed." The words taste like ashes in my mouth.
"I didn't know they'd do that!" Fiend slams his hand against the steering wheel. “Los Cuervos…they have their fucking hooks in me. I can't shake ‘em.”
The truck turns onto a gravel road, trees giving way to scrubby brush. In the far distance, I can see the moon reflecting off the water. Lake Erie, I realize with growing dread.
"Fiend.” I try to keep my voice from shaking. "Whatever's happening, we can fix it. Just take me back to the compound. We'll talk to Chaos?—"
"Chaos." He spits the name. “Fucking Chaos."
"He'll listen. He's fair?—"
