“Good talk, sweetheart. I’ll be in touch. Don’t make me chase you next time,” he warns one last time before he’s gone, and I sink down slowly to the floor. Remi’s smiling face still lighting up my phone.
I bury my face in my hands. Crying for the first time in days.I miss her.I miss Lily. This is all such a mess. Such a fucking mess.
I throw the phone. Thankfully it misses the studio mirrors and lands with a crack on its side. I can see the splinter of glass across the screen, the damage I’ve done.
What am I going to do?
47
COLLATERAL
BRIAR
Now
My phone buzzes and I reach for it quickly, relieved when I see Lily’s name flashing on the Caller ID. We’ve been playing phone tag since the night after last, and I’m desperate to talk to her and hear Remi’s voice after Gio’s threats this afternoon.
I do a quick scan of the empty studio, even peering out into the darkened hallway before answering. Can’t be too careful with Koen and his guys lurking about.
“Briar?” Lily’s nervous voice comes through on the other end when I don’t immediately say anything after accepting the call.
“Yeah, it’s me,” I breathe out once I’m sure I’m alone, pacing slowly around the studio with the phone pressed up against my ear.
“You alive?” Her tone is teasing, but I can detect an edge of concern.
“I’m surviving,” I admit.
“I’ve been so worried. You didn’t text me back, and when I couldn’t reach you last night...”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“What’s going on?” she asks, picking up on my tense tone.
“Are you alone?” I ask, not wanting Remi to overhear Lily’s half of the conversation.
“For now…” Lily confirms. In a house with both of her parents, two brothers, and my daughter, that’s got to be the best case scenario.
“He found me again.”
“Who?” There’s a pause before she continues,”Oh Shit! Koen?” She whispers his name, as if he can hear her on the other end.
“Yeah. He showed up at Wonderland.”
“Holy shit.”
“I know. I—I’m kind of stuck with him for now.” I bite my lower lip.
“What does that mean?”
“I guess he and Gio had some sort of business arrangement,” I start, deciding how much information to give her for her own safety. “Gio reneged on his end of the deal, and Koen—” My lips press tightly together. “He sort of took me as collateral.”
A choking sound comes through the other side of the phone. “I’m sorry—Hewhat? Hekidnappedyou?” she hisses.
“No!” I defend, until having to admit, “Yes? Maybe a little bit? It’s a bit of a gray area…”
“Maybe a little bit?!” she squeaks. “Briar!”
“I’m fine.” I attempt damage control, not wanting her to worry. “Just keep Remi safe. I’ll—I’m handling it,” I say, hoping I sound braver than I feel, considering I just had a mini-meltdown on the studio floor not too long ago. “The plan is still the plan. He’s paying me,” I say slowly. “By the end of this, I’ll have the money I need for Remi’s medication, and my debt to Giovanni will be settled.”
