“I mentioned he’s trying to take my place. And I’ve mentioned he’s eager to make a name for himself. That’s not all of it. He’s brutal when he fulfills a contract.” He pauses, then repeats, “Brutal.”
I try to swallow the lump in my throat but it won’t go down.
“Mateo likes to mark his victims to ensure that he gets credit for the kill. He burns a cross onto their chest until the skin all but melts around it. It’s just a shame he does it while they’re still alive.” His left eyebrow arches slightly when he asks, “Would you like for me to tell you what he does just before he burns them?”
“No!” Teeny and I both yell at the same time.
“Does he know you have us?” I ask. I never thought I’d feel safe with Thomas, but he seems to be the better of two evils.
“I’m certain he knows by now.”
Teeny’s head pokes out of the sheet and she has tears in her eyes. “Why can’t Ethan be with us right now?” she asks.
Thomas’s expression doesn’t change a fraction. “You are easier to control separated.”
I want to ask how Noah fits in but I’m not ready to show all my cards right now.
“What’s your exact plan?” I ask.
He shakes his head, but doesn’t answer.
“You owe us that.” I wait a moment, debating what to say next, then decide to push him, bringing up the one thing he told me not to mention. “We’re only back in this because of those stupid flowers and my journal. And I don’t think you’re the one who sent them. Who was it? The least you can do is tell me that. Is it that guy Daniel Sanders who Agent Williams caught?”
His left cheek twitches and I know I’m on to something.
“If you want a shower, I’ll take you one at a time. I’ve no problem affording you the basic necessities. Who wants to go first?”
He’s not biting. But at least I’m cracking that shell.
Teeny shakes her head. It might be better for me to go first so I can at least tell her what to expect.
But how do I move away from the wall without him seeing the hole? I don’t want him to know that I know about Noah.
By the way Teeny’s looking between me and the wall, I can tell she’s worried about the same thing.
She hops away from me to the other side of the room. Thomas follows her with his eyes and I stand slowly, keeping my legs together to hide the damage.
“Do you promise she’ll be okay?” Teeny asks.
He stares at her. “If she doesn’t do anything stupid, she will be fine.”
I move to the door and turn to Teeny just before I step out of the room. “I won’t be gone long.”
We’re in a narrow hall with a row of closed doors on each side.
“Can I see Ethan just so I know he’s okay?” I ask.
“No.”
Following Thomas, it takes everything in me not to knock him in the head or kick him in the butt. I want to hurt him. But that would be stupid and Ethan told me to be smart. I can’t do anything until I have some sort of plan. And know where we are. Or exactly what we’re up against. I can’t forget he’s a cold-blooded killer.
We turn into the last door on the left. It’s another small room, very similar to ours, but this room is furnished: a real bed, nightstand, and a small desk cluttered with papers.
Thomas points to another door inside the room. “There is a full bath in there. Towels are under the sink. You have ten minutes.”
I sprint to the door, not wanting to waste a second. Sure enough, the bathroom looks just like the one in our room, but this one has a small shower stall. And a mirror.
I look like crap. My cheek is dark purple rimmed in a really gross brown. My blond hair looks brown from the amount of grease in it. And I’m pale. Too pale.
