“So is he okay now that everyone is gone?”
Sayer’s head bobbed back and forth. “He didn’tnecessarily owe theVolkovmoney, Six. He had debtsall over town.”
“If he didn’t owe thepakhanmoney, why would they takehis hands?”
He looked away. “Shame? They’re embarrassed of him?He’d dragged their name through the dirt. I don’t know, Caroline. Why do theydo anything that they do? All I heard was that they wanted their pound of fleshand planned to get it. Then… I don’t know. There was a deal or something. Leonfigured out how to pay them some other way.”
“But now he doesn’t have protection. Is that whatyou’re saying? Thebratvais gone and my dad is on his own?”
“The bosses were pretty much done with him before theywent away. It’s possible that he hasn’t had protection for a long time.”
There was a moment of insanity where I thought aboutgoing back to save him. Again. Just a tiny pinch in my gut that felt sorry forhim because he was my family. I wondered how much he owed. Did I even haveenough to cover it? Some of it? Surely I could cover some of it. Just enough toget the whole city to stop breathing down his neck.
“Stop,” Sayer ordered.
I looked back to him. “What?”
“Stop trying to figure out how to rescue him. Youcan’t.”
“You don’t know—”
“Think it all the way through, Caro. You’d have toresurface. You’d have to step into the open. Thebratvais spread out, but they’renot dead. And thepakhanare locked away for now, but how long will that last? Think of theconsequences. You knew what you were doing when you left five years ago. He isnot worth stepping out of hiding to save. You know that.”
I couldn’t believe what he was saying. “He’s my dad.”
“Yeah? And I was the fucking love of your life and youdidn’t save me. Don’t you dare throw this away for that piece of shit. He’sused you your entire life. You’re not going to let him use you now. Not afteryou got out.”
He was right. And I hated him for it. “You should havetold me sooner.”
“Because we’re being so open and honest with eachother?”
His snide comment reminded me that I did want him tobe open and honest with me. The information about theVolkovwas easily searchable, so I doubted he was lying about that. But there was moreI wanted to know. Was he seriously out? Or was Colorado his attempt to lie low?What did he really want here? How did I get all my stuff back? When was hegoing to leave?
I decided to change tactics. Nagging him clearlywasn’t working. But there were other ways to kill a man. Like with kindness.Running a hand through my hair, I let out a puff of air. “Thanks for tellingme.” I let real emotion roughen my voice and tears fill my eyes. I was awide-eyed puppy begging for attention. “Thanks for being honest.”
His laser eyes moved over me, taking me in, noticingevery small detail. “Come here,” he demanded.
Why was on the tip of my tongue. But contrite girlsweren’t paranoid, they were compliant. I stepped toward him, slumping myshoulders and giving him the best poor me I could manage.
He hooked his finger in the pocket of my jeans andtugged me into the space between his legs. He pulled me closer, until I waspressed against him, his inner thighs, his abdomen, the space between those twoplaces.
Sayer captured my gaze in his, a prisoner held hostageby the enemy. I tried to take a step back, fear nipping at my resolve to stayin character. He tugged me back against him.
“Don’t stop now,” he murmured, his voice throaty withpromise and vengeance and a dare. “You want something. Now isn’t the time toback down.”
“I don’t,” I whispered, my voice choked with fear. “Ishouldn’t have—” I couldn’t finish my sentence. What shouldn’t I have done? Anyof this.
Any of it starting with when I was a little girlbefore Sayer even showed up.
Sayer’s nose brushed along my jaw causing a shiver towork its way through me. I needed to disentangle myself from this mess. Ineeded to get out of here and Google a few things.
“Don’t give up, Six. You’re so close to getting whatyou want.” He nipped at my ear, quickly soothing the bite with his tongue.
I bit back a weak whimper, refusing to let Sayer getthe better of this exchange. Yes, he was the boy I had fallen in love with and hadnever really fallen out of love with. Yes, his body felt amazing pressedagainst mine, all hot, hard man and dirty promises. Yes, I was finding it hardto step away from him and shake off his hands and the crazy power he had overme.
But. But I was good at this game too.
Sometimes.
