“No, he won’t,” I tell him calmly.
Rasheed looks up with a hopeful expression.
I stab a finger at Ace and then at Rico. “He’ll killallof you. Because this text will include your names.”
“I didn’t donothing!”Rico protests.
“Robin won’t believe you,” Ace grunts.
I shrug. “Maybe. Maybe not. Do you want to take that chance?”
“What do you want?” Rasheed begs. “I’ll do it. Whatever you say.”
The knots in my chest loosen. “One person isn’t enough. The three of you have to agree. I’ll give you some time to think about it.”
I walk to the door and whisper an instruction to Zane. A few minutes later, my brother knocks on the door. I open it and receive the cellphones he thrusts into my hands.
“Well?” I ask the crew.
Rico nods. “We won’t tell anybody about tonight. And we won’t go after you or your girl. We swear.” When Ace remains silent, Rico slaps his arm. “Tell him.”
A vein protrudes in the center of Ace’s forehead. His face is reddening. “You think he did all that just for us to stay away from him?”
Ace is finally showing some sense.
I toss the phones at them.
Ace, Rico, and Rasheed rush to pick up the devices, although Ace takes a little more maneuvering since his hands are still tied.
Rico is the first to notice the burner phone. “There’s a fourth phone. It isn’t ours.”
“I want to know what Robin is planning. I want to know who he’s meeting and who his allies are.”
“Nice move,” J whispers in my ear.
Ace’s eyebrows fly to the top of his head. “Why would we do that?”
Rico shakes his head. “If Robin finds out we’re rats, we’re dead.”
“And if he finds out what your friend Rasheed’s been doing?” I tilt my head, letting them stew in the silence.
Rasheed hangs his head.
Rico darts forward and takes the phone. “Okay. Deal.”
“Same,” Rasheed whispers.
Ace looks away, his jaw tightening. “Fine.”
I approach Ace and untie his wrists. As the rope falls free, he watches me with a dark look as if he’s deciding whether it’s worth it to fight me.
I extend a hand to him. “We’ll be in touch?”
He snaps the phone from Rico and stuffs it into his pocket, glaring at me the entire time. “Get the hell out of my face.”
“He doesn’t sound happy,” J notes.
I wouldn’t be either if I was just threatened and then turned into a double spy.
