My pulse hammered too loud.My mouth opened, stalled, then found the only path forward: truth.
Spade’s voice cut in, clipped.“Start at the part where Roth decided your life belonged to him.”
The name sent a shiver down my spine.My shoulders tightened.I forced air into my lungs and began.“My brother.I guess it really started with my brother.”
Spade’s gaze flicked up.“Name.”
“Jason Fairmont.”
Keys clicked.Spade’s fingers danced across the keyboard.Goose bumps rose on my arms.I wrapped my arms around my middle and pressed on.“Jason always chased easy money.Fast schemes.Shortcuts.Hard work never interested him.Last year he started flashing cash -- new clothes, new phone, drinks for people he barely liked.I asked where the money came from, and he told me not to worry.Said he’d finally caught a break.”
General leaned forward.“He worked for someone.”
My nod came sharp.“Yes.He claimed he helped move packages.No big deal, according to him.Driving from one side of town to the other.He bragged those guys treated him as family.”Bitterness scraped up my throat.“He called them family while he sprawled on my couch and devoured my groceries.”
The corner of Ace’s mouth twitched faintly.His gaze remained hard.
Words tumbled out.“I warned him it sounded wrong.He refused to listen.Soon he came home wired.Paranoid.His gaze darted to every doorway, every shadow, as if assassins lurked behind each corner.Then he vanished altogether.”
Atilla’s voice remained steady.“When did the cops grab him?”
“Six months ago.”The number knocked the air from my lungs.“Arrested him on trafficking charges.Drugs and something else.The details confused me.A jail guard called.Jason pleaded with me to find a lawyer.”
My arms constricted around my torso.“The money didn’t exist.My diner job barely covered rent.”
Spade slammed the laptop shut.The sound cracked across the room.
General studied me with weary recognition.“You believed the danger disappeared when he went inside.”
“I did.”Shame burned hot.“I thought his mess stayed his.”
Silence answered.
I swallowed hard.“Jason sent letters from jail.In some, he begged forgiveness.Others read as though nothing had happened at all.The last envelope arrived with something extra -- the location of a key and the number of a lockbox at the bus station.I went there and inside I found a flash drive with instructions to hide it where nobody would find it.”
Spade’s head lifted fast.“You have it.”
Heat rushed to my face.“Yes.”
General’s gaze pinned me.“Where?”
“In my apartment.”The words came out rough.“Or what’s left of it.”
Spade leaned forward a fraction.“You looked at it.”
“No.”I shook my head.“I shoved it in a drawer and pretended it didn’t exist.”
Air tightened around the table.Not relief.Not approval.A collective awareness, sharp as a blade.Spade’s tone cut hard.“You didn’t want to know what he put in your hands.”
“I didn’t want to be dragged deeper.”My fingers trembled.I pressed them into my sleeves until they stilled.“I thought ignorance could protect me.”
Atilla’s stare held mine.“And then they came anyway.”
I nodded once.My stomach turned.“About four or five days after I received the letter, two men appeared at my door.The first one knocked with false politeness.Through the peephole I saw strangers.Still, I opened the door.”My voice roughened.“These men knew my name.Knew Jason’s too.They walked inside as though my apartment belonged to them.Jason owed money, they claimed.Interest.Fees.The standard excuses men invent when their desires extend beyond cash.”
Kane shifted beside me, boots scraping faintly.His breathing deepened, slow and controlled.I forced myself to continue.“They talked sweet.Smiled too much.One of them patted my cheek and said there were other ways to pay.”
Silence dropped heavier.No jokes.No smirks.Their quiet didn’t comfort me, but it kept me upright.They heard what I meant.They didn’t need graphic detail to understand.“They spared me physical pain during their first visit.”My mouth tasted sour.“Fear became their weapon.They wanted me anticipating their return.Mission accomplished.After their departure, I stood trembling in my living room, fumbling with the lock multiple times.”
