“Connor explained how things work.”
“He did?” he asks, surprised. “How which things work?”
“He said I needed to make amends for putting you and Anvil in a difficult position.”
Trick studies my face.
“He suggested something.” I push my hair back, exhaling, and look around. I feel my cheeks flush.
“I wouldn’t actually make popcorn, Zoe,” he says seriously.
“No, he suggested that you and Anvil should be the ones to... you know.”
“To punish a bad little blackbird?”
I roll my eyes and smile. “I guess.”
“Ishould be the one. What did ‘Vil do? Walk around? Drive a car? Screw him. He can watch, but that’s it.”
I chuckle. “You guys really don’t get along?”
“You sure you’re down for this?” he asks. “If you make C do the punishing, it’ll go easier for you.”
“Make C do it?” I scoff. “C likes doing it.”
“C likes playing with you, but he doesn’t like punishing you hard. As bad as you’ve been, you shouldn’t be able to sit there comfortably. And he said as much that first night, before he even made you his girl. He can’t be rough enough with you. He’s too in love.”
“He’s punished me plenty hard.”
He smiles and shakes his head. “C’s so worried about not clipping your wings, he let you talk him into letting you run wild in Boston. You almost got yourself trapped in a real cage. If Frank had gotten you into his compound, getting you out would’ve been a bloodbath.”
I purse my lips. “So you would’ve just kept me prisoner here instead?”
“Definitely.”
“You know, you’re not exactly making me want to trust you right now.”
He laughs. “You can trust me to give you what you deserve.”
“Trick, I don’t think we’re going to be friends.”
He grins. “I’m not looking to be your friend yet, Z. You’re a bad little Alice who doesn’t know her way around Wonderland and needs some hard lessons on navigating this world.”
“I know plenty. I’ve been friends with Rachel a long time.”
“And yet...”
I scowl. “I’ll let you do what you think you need to do. But next time don’t come to Boston or wherever. I can’t afford to owe you things.”
His teal eyes flash with amusement. “It’s cute how you think you can give me orders. Like I said, a lot to learn.”
I lean back, shaking my head furiously.
“Should we get this thing done? Or do you need to stew over it for a few days?” he asks.
I raise my middle finger.
He continues smiling. “When you go to get C so he can watch, stop by the kitchen and get a hand of ginger and a paring knife.”
