The woman pulls out a gun and aims it at me. “Let me do it.”
Her father tsks. “Call him. If he doesn’t agree to a trade, shoot her. But for now, the governess is still our asset. I have a report saying Alessio Angelini was seen running after her on the street. That man wouldn’t run after just anyone.”
“I delivered what you asked of me. Your people didn’t hold on to it. That’s not my fault. As for the man you’re looking for?” I swallow. “Miro. I’m sure you won’t need to look for him much longer. He was excited when he introduced himself to your three associates, who are now dead.”
“Those three people betrayed me. They planned to steal the weapon and use it against me. Miro did me a favor. Alessio will do me a favor too. He’s a businessman and will understand how this will benefit his wallet.”
“He’s on the line,” the woman says.
I hear nothing from the other end of her phone, but I gather that Alessio won’t speak with her because she hands over the phone and stomps off with a huff.
“She is unharmed,” Hades says. “And will remain so as long as you deliver Margaret.”
“Margaret?” I screech. “Oh no. Oh no, no.” I shake my head. “Not her. That isn’t the trade I want to make to save my life. Alessio!” I shout so he can hear me.
Hades walks away.
“Alessio!” I shout. “Forget it. You can’t.” It’s not really up to me to decide who gets to have weapons and who doesn’t, but I’m pretty sure these are the kinds of bad people who would misuse them, and I want no part of this. “Put him on speaker. I want to talk to him.”
The woman approaches the bars and presses the barrel of her gun to my head.
“Alessio chased me so he could shoot me himself,” I say. “He… He…” I lick my lips. “He found out I lied, and he wants to shoot me.”
“Daddy, come here and listen to her.”
“Go ahead,” I say desperately. I want no part of his deal. No part of these sick games. “Do it.”
Her dad joins her and lowers her arm. She backs off when he holds up the phone.
A voice comes from the phone. “Lake?”
“Alessio.” I start to sob, and since it’s probably the last time I’ll ever speak with him, I say, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry about all this. They threatened my little brother and my family. I had to lie to you in order to save them. I’m not who you think I am. Don’t trade for me. Don’t do it. I could never live with myself if you gave them Margaret.”
“Are you hurt?” he asks.
The way this man’s R rolls is different from Alessio’s speech. I heard a rasp in his voice. Didn’t I?
“I’m sorry, what?” I ask.
“Are you hurt?”
I recognize the rasp. It’s the same man Alessio called in the kitchen the day Val left. It makes me think he’s the man who looks for people for Alessio. Maybe they’re looking for me.
Think, Lake. Think.I school my face and lie the way I lied my way into Alessio’s life, the way I lied to Landon whenever he asked me if I was okay.
“I have a message for my family,” I say. “Please tell my family that I love them. Tell my baby brother to kiss my dog, Susan, and tell him I forgive him for throwing the rock right across the corner window.”
I’m no expert. I have no idea if the man will understand a word I said, but it was worth a try. Susan replaced Margaret as a code name, so I said it to get his attention. There’s only one window that’s cracked. It’s the corner one, and I’m right across from it.
Maybe I’m not that big of a coward after all.
FORTY-FIVE
WHEN HE UNRAVELS
Lake
The bowl of grain the guard hands me for the fifth night in a row isn’t oatmeal, even though he insists on calling it that. Not that I’m picky since I’m hungry as hell, and they’re not feeding me enough. I’ve lost at least five pounds, haven’t bathed, and I’m getting stir-crazy from being held in the dark for so long.
