“Let Ethan and Teeny leave with them and I will stay and do whatever I need to do,” I add.
Thomas studies me and I try not to squirm.
“I assumed you called someone,” Thomas says. “So let me guess, one of your little high school friends borrowed some money from dear old dad and headed south. Do you really believe some kid is capable of whisking you away from all of this? Have you forgotten about the man in the alley who wants you dead?”
I cross my arms across my chest and match his gaze. “No matter what you say, you need me and I have to believe you would prefer my willing cooperation. And if you don’t let them go, I will fight you the entire time. Ethan’s injured and you don’t need Teeny. Or maybe you never intended for us to survive this. If that’s the case, I won’t have anything to lose.”
Tyler’s head goes back and forth, like he’s watching a tennis match.
Thomas rubs his hand across his jaw. I try not to panic. I’m showing all my cards and taking a huge gamble right now. “While I may be able to do what I need to do with just you, if I let your little sister and boyfriend go, what guarantees do I have that you will behave?”
“You don’t have to keep them here for me to understand the threat against them. I’m well aware of your long reach.”
He’s quiet. I’m afraid I handled this completely wrong. I should have talked Tyler into sneaking us out.
Finally, he asks, “You’re not worried about Mateo finding them once they leave?”
“Are you telling me you’re not good enough to get them out of town safely?”
If there’s one thing I know about him, it’s that he’s an egomaniac. I am worried about them leaving, but I think it’s more dangerous if they stay.
He doesn’t answer me.
“Mateo’s in town. I know you plan to do something about him in the next few days. You plan on killing Vega, too. Let’s just say I’m betting on you to win this game and neither of them will be in danger before long. Ethan and Teeny don’t know much more than they did before you took us. They don’t know where this house is. They know we were held at Ursuline but I have no doubt you’ve already removed every trace of us.”
“Ahhh…but they know about Tyler now. His identity was to remain a secret.”
I can see Tyler tense but I don’t look at him.
“So do I. We won’t say anything. I swear to you. We want nothing else to do with you. You will either let us live—like you promised Tyler—or you won’t.”
Tyler steps forward, like he’s ready to jump into this conversation when Thomas puts a hand up, stopping him.
“I’m here. I will do whatever I need to do to make this end. Can you do what you want to do with just me?” I hate the pleading sound in my voice.
Another long, tense silence.
“The reason there is a contract on you and Ethan is because you both could identity me. If I’m arrested, Vega is afraid I will flip on him, and over the years I’ve seen enough that I could completely sink his ship. Vega is in New Orleans at my request. I’ve invited him here so we can kiss and make up. Or so I made him think. You are my peace offering—a sign of my good faith so that we can forgive and forget what has happened.”
My stomach drops. “So you’re giving me to him.”
“He does not believe I am so good intentioned, but he will go along with the charade. And Mateo will be there with him, waiting to finish us off. He’s agreed to come because he knows that they will never find me on their own. He thinks this will be the perfect time to kill me. I needed you both to get me through the door so I can get close enough to kill him first. It might work with just you.”
Oh. Shit.
“So I would have to go there. Face him…and Mateo?” I ask.
“Yes, Anna. And now you have promised to walk in without complaint.”
Tyler stands quickly and says, “I didn’t know she would have to go near him. That wasn’t part of the plan.”
Thomas glares at him and he sits back down quickly. “Yes, that’s always been part of the plan. Mateo is cocky but he won’t know what hit him. And Vega won’t have a chance once Mateo is dead.”
Tyler steps between Thomas and me and says to him, “You made me a promise. She is not to be hurt. In any way. You swore on our mother’s grave.”
Thomas’s eyes flash to me before settling back on Tyler. “I will not break my word to you. Anna will walk out of there, with me, and it will be over.” He looks at me as he continues, “The journal has been destroyed along with any evidence there. Tyler and I will disappear and I assure you, no one will find a trace of us. You will be free to go back to your life. I made Ty a promise and I don’t take that lightly. But if you, your sister, or your boyfriend mention him or his relationship to me to anyone, I will gladly kill you.”
My knees go weak and I drop to a crouch. Tyler jumps up and moves toward me, but I hold up my hand for him to stop. I don’t want him to touch me.
