She raises an eyebrow, her mouth curving into a mockingly sweet smile.
“Or,” she says, “how about an iPad?”
A laugh almost slips out. Almost.
“Nice try,” I say. “You think I’m handing you a screen? Be serious.”
She leans into it, full pout this time. Wide eyes. Bottom lip pushed out just enough to make it a performance.
I watch it without reacting.
“Listen,” I say, keeping my voice even. “I’m offering you a way to pass the time. You can take it, or you can sit in here with nothing. Your call.”
She huffs, plants a hand on her hip. The pout fades when she realizes it isn’t working.
Silence stretches.
“Fine,” she mutters. “I’ll take the cards.”
I nod once. “Good. Stay put. I’ll get them.”
I close the door behind me and listen for the click of the lock. When I return, cards in hand, she’s still sitting exactly where I left her, perched on the edge of the bed, but now she has her hands in her lap.
She glances up as I step inside. Her eyes are wary but steady. At least she’s keeping herself in check now. Maybe the fight in her isn’t as endless as it seemed.
I toss her the deck, watching as it lands perfectly in her lap. Her fingers close around the red and white box, and she studies it as if it were a lifeline. I file it away. Cooperation can be temporary.
I hear the three deliberate taps at the front door. It’s the signal I’d told Gabe to use when he arrived. He’s as punctual as ever.
Gabe’s not the kind of guy who wastes time. His greatest strength is finding a needle in a haystack, a skill hehoned in the SEALs. But he’s also built like a tank, even with his prosthetic leg, which makes people think twice.
I lock the bedroom door behind me, leaving Coco secured inside, and head to the entryway.
Gabe Sellman stands there, tall and solid, a figure you don’t ignore. Years in special ops gave him a presence that speaks before he does.
He’s Reeves’s best friend and practically family. He’s the only person I’d trust for this kind of job. Gabe’s loyalty is fierce. If anyone can handle this, it’s him. If anyone can manage her, it’s him.
“Sellman,” I greet him, extending my left fist for a bump since my right is out of commission.
“Ridge.” He taps my fist then rests his hand on my shoulder, just long enough to meet my eyes. “I’m sorry about your dad. Reeves wanted me to be here.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate you coming to do this,” I nod. That’s all that needs to be said.
He walks in, and his limp is almost imperceptible. If I didn’t know he had a prosthetic leg, I wouldn’t notice. Lost it in a roadside bomb in Kuwait.
“What do you want me to do?” He asks. “You know I'm here for you in any way.”
I glance toward the hallway that leads to Coco’s room. “I need you to keep an eye on her while I’m out. Check in on her every so often. She stays in the room and gets water, food, and whatever she needs to stay moderately comfortable. But she does not leave.”
Gabe nods, focused. “How cooperative is she?”
I let out a short breath. “She’s smart, and she’s a firecracker. She’ll look for any crack you give her, so don’t underestimate her.”
“Got it.”
“She isn’t restrained right now, but I keep the roomlocked,” I add. “If she tries something, that changes. You secure the situation if you have to.”
Gabe’s eyes flicker with understanding. He’s done this before. “Comfortable but controlled.”
