“I know.” I glare at him. Another envelope appears, another name vanishes from the list. “I was there.”
He gives me a disappointed look. “No, I mean together. You came with me. Trust me on this.”
“On what?”
“When the time comes, you’ll know.”
He checks his watch. From here I can see one name left on the list:Ernie. The rest look likeSesame Streetcharacters, all neatly crossed off.
He sighs and pockets the phone. “Joe, I’ll be in my office. Send anyone looking for me back there.”
Then he takes my hand again and pulls me down the hall, past the bathrooms, to a door markedManager.
Inside is…not what I expected.
Armchair. Desk. A couple of chairs. A crate as a coffee table with a bottle on top. Shelves of books.
Homey. With a blood-soaked edge.
“Is this where you take your victims?” I ask. “And where’s my father?”
“I don’t know where he is,” Declan says, sweeping a hand through his hair. “I’m not sure your mam knows exactly either, but she knows something.”
“She can’t.”
“Oh, she can. And I’m working on it,” he cuts in. “Along with keeping you breathing. The very fact you’re supposedly married to me is part of that plan. There might be a target on your back and rumors about shit you’ve supposedly done, but no one will touch you unless they want to suffer a lot of Murphy pain.”
I hate myself a little for understanding his meaning. Daddy might not want to be found. Or someone doesn’t want him found. Or he’s?—
Dead.
My stomach twists as Declan opens a safe and pulls out a stack of envelopes, checking each one.
“Who’s Ernie?” I ask.
“Jay-sus, Molly.” He doesn’t look up. “A client. Someone who pays for our services. He missed his monthly payment.”
“Maybe he’s just late.”
He shuts the safe and walks over to me. He tilts my chin up. “Late has consequences. Late with no word is a message. I don’tignore messages.”
He doesn’t sound proud. Just… tired. Deadly. Responsible.
I almost get it. The weight of being him.
So naturally, I go for the soft spot.
“Is she one of your whores?” I ask.
His brows lift. “Who are you talking about, Molly?”
“The woman who had her hand on you earlier.”
He laughs. “Jealous?”
“No.”
“Yes, you are.” He starts guiding me backward, and my pulse jumps. “I didn’t bring you here for that.”
