They uncuff me reluctantly, all the while dressing me down and warning me there’d better not be a repeat performance.
When they move off, C holds out a hand. I take it and let him help me regain my feet. I look at the building.
“I’ll see if there’s a cop on her door,” Trick says, walking away.
C glances after him. “She protected you against Frank, in front of Frank. That’s a risky play.”
I already know that. I rub a hand over my buzzed head thoughtfully and turn to look over at the parking lot. Frank and his men are sitting in their cars, waiting.
I tip my chin down, speaking to the ground, the way we do when we’re going to say something we don’t want known. “Trick said he needed a word. That’s how we got here,” I say. “Otherwise she’d still be where I put her.”
I glance at C, whose brow lifts.
“He wanted in. Now he’s in.” Moments tick by. I draw in a breath and blow it out, letting my mind settle and get back to doing what it does best. “This location’s no good. The numbers are no good.”
C glances around and nods.
“Let’s work on it,” I say.
RACHEL
Zoe’sold apartment is vacant. I’d come to it looking for fresh—albeit not properly sized—clothes and such. But there’s nothing left in her place except a couple of pieces of furniture that I imagine are up for sale on Craigslist.
She doesn’t live here. She lives in C’s mansion.
And if I go back with Frank, there’s a chance I’ll never see her again.
I’m sitting on the floor, completely unclear about what I should do next. I was going to claim the torn and repaired dress was a costume, but no one will buy that now. And I’m worried that if Frank gets me back to his place, he’ll insist on a doctor examining me and then they’ll know I’m no longer a virgin. Would Alberto call the wedding off? And what will I say when they interrogate me about it?
I grimace. I don’t want to deal with any of that.
Originally, I was following Frank’s orders to protect Zoe, but Zoe has C to protect her now. I don’t need to factor that in.
In the past, I was able to keep up with Frank’s investigations while living at his place. But is it worth it anymore? Couldn’t I just take off and take a chance that Frank meant it when he said he really doesn’t care that much about getting revenge on my mom for leaving? It’s been five years. He’s moved on to other women and other pursuits.
A clicking in the door’s lock makes me sit up straight. Maybe I won’t have a choice about going with Frank.
The door opens, and Trick steps inside.
I’m pretty sure he’s the best-looking guy in Massachusetts, maybe on the East Coast, but I’ve never been attracted to him.
He walks over and squats down.
“What?” I ask.
“I’m here to retrieve you.”
My brows rise. “Sorry?”
“Come on,” he whispers. “Don’t be coy. You know the only way Frank gets you out of this place is over Anvil’s dead body.”
“No, I don’t know that,” I whisper back. “Tell him to stay out of it.”
Trick flashes a smile. “I would if I thought he’d listen. Why don’t you tell him? You’re the influencer.”
“Very funny.”
He sits next to me on the floor, folding his hands casually. “How’d you do it?”
