“You’re certain they won’t connect the dots?”
I wasn’t, but I could guarantee that if they suspected and went searching for Titus Blackoak, they sure as hell wouldn’t find me. “Positive.”
She eyed me skeptically. “You should take me home. You’re one of the good guys, and I don’t want you to get roped up in this.”
“If I take you home, Breaker will come for you. You still don’t have a plan. I’m not letting you go back to the Serpent clubhouse all half-cocked and beaten black and blue. You need to relax. Chill the fuck out. Rest. Get your strength up and come up with a way to rescue those girls without getting the whole lot of you killed.”
“You don’t really have the right toletme do anything, Tap. I know there’s wisdom in your words and I’m trying to focus on that so I don’t tell you to fuck off, but you don’t understand how dangerous these people are. What they’re capable of. You stuck your neck out for me when I needed help, and I don’t want them to find me here and punish you for it.”
She was worried about me. I wasn’t used to being the recipient of that sort of compassion. I held up her disassembled cell phone. “This isn’t my first rodeo. I know what I’m doing. Trust me, this is the safest place in the city you can be right now.”
She eyed me warily. “Do you promise to tell me the second that changes?”
It was an easy enough promise to make since I had no intention of endangering my sanctuary. “Yeah. I give you my word.” And I was done with this conversation. “Now, are you hungry? Thirsty?” I needed to stitch up the cut on her leg, but I was procrastinating.
“Yes and yes. Want me to order something?”
I quirked an eyebrow at her. “You’re just trying to get my address aren’t you?”
She grinned. “Damn, I thought I was being sneaky.”
“Subtle as an avalanche. I’ll go whip us up some peanut butter and jelly french toast and chocolate milk.”
“Hm. Warm peanut butter and jelly. I don’t know whether to be intrigued or disgusted.”
“I say walk on the wild side. You know, for a suicidal cop who’s ready to run into danger to rescue a bunch of girls, you’re not very adventurous.”
She laughed, and the sound was musical, beautiful, pure.
“You have a nice laugh,” I said.
Her eyebrows shot up and her face grew somber. “Uh… thanks.”
Confused, I asked, “Did I say something wrong?”
“No. I just… I can’t remember the last time someone made me laugh.”
I gave her knee a gentle squeeze and stood. “That makes two of us. I’ll be back with food in a few minutes.” On my way out, I dropped her disassembled cell phone in the drawer with various phones and locked it up.
Sasha watched me, seeming both curious and concerned. “I feel like we have an issue with trust.”
“There has to be trust to be an issue,” I replied. “I don’t know you. And what I do know about you suggests that you would do all manner of stupid shit to save those girls. I intend to keep that option out of your hands for as long as I can.” I wasn’t usually this honest with people, but the respect I felt for her made me want to give it to her straight. As far as I could tell, she’d been honest with me.
“Fair enough,” she replied, making herself comfortable on the sofa.
As I headed upstairs, I searched for YouTube videos on suturing wounds. By the time I reached the kitchen, I was positive I wanted nothing to do with stitching up anyone. And I never wanted to see another needle for as long as I lived.
We needed help.
My mind wandered back to two years ago when Elaine stood on my doorstep with the baby carrier at her feet, unknowingly about to sacrifice her life for her career. Elaine’s motives had never been as pure as Sasha’s. Elaine didn’t join the CIA to help people or to turn the tide of the department. She saw an environment she knew she could thrive and advance in, so she signed on. And then she made a career of manipulating others into doing the same. She lost her life chasing power and recognition.
Sasha didn’t care about her career or her life. She was willing to give both up to save a bunch of girls. I thought she was crazy, but I had to admire her for it. Regardless, she couldn’t do it alone. She needed other people who were crazy enough to risk their necks to help the innocent and take down the bad guys.
She needed the Dead Presidents.
I had to make the call.
Resigned, I tugged my phone out of my pocket and dialed Havoc’s number. It was close to midnight, and I was kind of hoping he wouldn’t pick up, but I had no such luck.
