He steps back but keeps the gun in my mouth so I can’t answer.
I open my shirt, but he shakes his head. “Stand up. Slowly. No sudden movements.”
As if I’d dare. I stand and open my shirt so he can read what’s written under my bra.
Miro cocks his head, then looks up at me. “Does it saymine?”
I nod.
“Who do you belong to?”
He removes the gun, and I swallow.
“Tick-tock,” he says.
“Alessio.”
“He wrote that?”
I nod.
He puts his weapon away and then strolls around the room, as if he needs some space to think. “This is a clusterfuck. Sit down. Don’t move. Don’t speak.” He walks away to get on the phone, and I start to button my shit, my gaze on the piece of plastic I handed to the sadist. I need to take it back. I have no idea what it is, but it’s important, and it might save my life when Alessio gives the order for this man to end me.
While Miro’s on the phone, he parts the curtain ever so slightly. I move a little more toward the desk.
He pins those granite-cold eyes on me, then approaches. I freeze.
“Sit down, Lake Wilder.”
When I do, he crouches in front of me and speaks to me as if I’m a toddler. “If you move from this position, I’ll shoot you and tell Alessio it was one of them who did it. He will believe me. Your life is at my disposal, and since I hesitated to shoot you in the first place, I would like to think I was right all along. You are welcome to prove me wrong.”
“Thank you.”
He blinks. “You’re welcome.”
“What happens to me now?”
“Up to Alessio.”
“What happens to my family. They threatened them.”
“The assassin sent after your family is dead. That’s how I knew something was wrong. I checked you out, but your family had an assassin watching them in the hospital room. I had to dig deeper and found out you were looking for me. I figured I’d show up and save you the trip.”
“My family isn’t in danger anymore?”
Miro shakes his head. “No.”
Relieved, I cup my face and cry. “Do you think they only sent one man?”
“Yes. It’s not that hard to kill civilians. You all are like pigeons on the square. Pop, pop, pop. Dead. The whole flock.”
Alessio used a similar analogy. He said Leo was going to be an eagle. “What happens now?”
“Up to Alessio,” he repeats.
“That’s who I’m most afraid of.” I didn’t mean to say that out loud.
Miro nods. “That makes two of us.”
