“It’s your name. Sasha Stroviak.”
“You don’t call C Connor. You don’t call Trick Scott.”
She tilts her head. “Trick’s name is Scott?”
She doesn’t even know that Trick’s name is Scott Patrick? That’s so fucking satisfying it almost makes me smile.
I make a hand gesture that says, ‘there you go.’
“I think Anvil’s a bad nickname.”
I make the hand gesture again.
The corners of her mouth curve up. “Do you think it’s a good nickname?”
“For me? Definitely.”
“You’re not some blockhead. You’re smart. You speak three languages that I know of.”
I smile. “C gave me the nickname because my fists land like anvils. It was before I got this big. I had his back in middle school and I used to have this move where I would jump up and bring my fist down with my whole body. I don’t know that it added much to a punch. I think it just knocked the wind out of kids when I body-slammed them to the ground. But it gave me an edge.”
“And then you grew and that was your edge. And C’s. He definitely knows how to capitalize on something.”
“He does.”
“I’m pissed at him. He took my best friend, and now I can’t see her.”
I can see her pain over not getting to talk to Zoe. It’s so strong I can feel it.
“Why don’t you answer her texts?” I demand. “She told us she texts you and you don’t respond.”
“I can’t. Frank took my phone. Punishment for my involvement in the show and for sneaking out to perform. I’m only allowed to talk to Alberto.”
“I’ll bring her to you,” I say before I’ve had time to think. There is no way C will be down with a plan that brings Zoe off grid while Frank’s searching for both of the girls.
“God, I would love that,” Rachel says wistfully, but then she sighs. “It’s a bad idea to bring her here though.”
The burner phone rings. I know without looking that it’s Trick. The clock’s ticking.
“It’s time to break your deal with Frank. Whatever it was, it needs to end. He doesn’t care about you. Not the way he should.”
“I can’t. I wish I could, but I can’t.”
“Why can’t you?”
“I made it to protect people. As long as I do what he wants, nothing happens to the people I love.”
“Except you. What about what happens to you?” I snap.
She shrugs. “I made the only deal I could.”
“Maybe it was the best you could do before. It’s not now.”
* * *
Rachel
Sasha’s gone at the moment, and I’m incredibly confused. Is he on my side? Or against me? Sometimes he seems brutal and ruthless. At others, he seems concerned and almost tender toward me. I don’t know what to expect or how to feel from one moment to the next.
