I consider his words, the weight of them settling. Rhodes is young, but he has an instinct for this world. He can be cold and calculating, which can either be an asset or, could be a liability. We want to make sure he learns how to apply pressure without breaking systems.
“Alright,” I say quietly. “I’ll keep him dangling. Let’s see how long his story holds.”
The room’s dim lighting makes his features look even harder than usual. Beau doesn’t say anything, which is his MO. His stance, however, is all the warning anyone needs.
I walk in closer, letting the clink of my heels on the cement floor announce my approach. Words aren't always necessary.
Tripp’s head jerks up, and his eyes meet mine. The annoying bravado he usually wears is fading fast. I don’t say anything yet. I just take in the sight of him.
He’s been here almost a full twenty-four hours now, with the noise burned off him. Now we can get somewhere.
“Beau,” I say, nodding. He steps back without comment, clearing space.
I turn to Tripp and crouch in front of him until we’re eye level. The shackles clink softly as he shifts, the sound sharper in the quiet.
“So,” I say, keeping my voice low and even, “you’ve been busy.”
“Ridge, I was just—” He swallows hard. “I was trying to help the family. You gotta believe me. I was only looking out for our interests.”
I straighten and fold my arms. “From where I’m standing, it looks like you were looking out for yourself.”
His eyes flick to Rhodes, then back to me. “No. No. I got word there were opportunities to work closer with your father. If I passed the tests, I could be trusted. All I had to do was make contact with the Duvalls and keep it. I never told them anything.”
The name registers, but I don’t react.
“And you decided to handle that on your own,” I say. “Without clearing it, without running it by anyone?”
His shoulders hunch. “I was told not to tell anyone what I was doing. Those were the explicit orders.”
“Orders from who?”
He blinks, scrambling. “I—I don’t know exactly. It was written, said it was a test.” He shakes his head, breath hitching. “I found a report, something in the files that pointed out weaknesses in Duvall’s operation. I thought it was there for a reason. I thought it was a test.”
“A test,” I repeat.
Beside me, Rhodes shifts, watching closely.
“The timing’s interesting,” I say. “Considering my father was murdered.”
Tripp jerks. “No. God, no. He was like a father to me. I’d never?—”
“Then why were you going behind his back to the enemy?”
He falters. “I thought?—”
“You thought,” I cut in. “That’s the problem. Stop dancing around it.”
His breathing accelerates. “I didn’t know it would turn into this. I swear. I thought I was doing what I was supposed to do.”
I lean closer. “Did you consider the risk to the family if you were being misled? Who follows orders but doesn’t know who they are from?”
He opens his mouth. I don’t let him say whatever bullshit he’s planning to hand out.
I stand and backhand him once. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s a complete idiot or brilliantly diverting us. Either way, my father’s dead and I’m pissed.
His head snaps to the side. Blood splits his lip, bright and immediate.
I pace away, then back, Rhodes’s earlier wordsthreading through my head. Keep him uncertain. Let him think there’s a way out.
