“I don’t like this,” His voice is soft through the tension in the air.
I freeze mid-stride and turn towards him. “Neither do I.”
Does he understand how much anxiety I have running through my body? My other fucking half is literally walking into the slaughterhouse alone, trying to protect me. I'm a twenty-six-year-old man! I can fucking defend myself.
"She shouldn't be anywhere near this," he continues. "I have spent ten years trying to keep you out of this mess, and now this..."
"She's already in it," I cut him off. "Because of who her father is, this has nothing to do with us. And as for me, you don't have to protect me. I can handle MY stuff."
I see him wince at my words. Then he blew out a long breath, calming his nerves. “He wants to marry her off. Like she’s fucking currency. Like she is expendable.”
My molars grind as I forcefully hold in all my rage. "That's how he's always treated people. What's new?"
"Yeah," Mikey breathes out. "But not her, we can’t let him do this to her."
The silence settles through the room again, then the burner phone buzzes on the coffee table.
My eyes snap to the phone as Mikey slowly reaches for it. I walk over to the couch and read the message over his shoulder.
De Luca: Tomorrow. Midnight. Don't test my patience.
I stare at the screen, the words burning through my soul.
I can’t let him do this alone. How the fuck do I convince him to let me go with? I understand, Julia needs someone here, but still…
"I'm texting him," he says.
My spine straightens. "Now?"
"Yeah. Before he starts wondering and questioning me."
His fingers start to fly over the keys, barely shaking.
ME: I'll bring her. I'm trying not to scare her. Don't push this.
I watch every word, wondering and hoping that it will be enough. He should believe it. He has to believe it. "He'll believe that. He always had a fetish for fear."
"Yeah, he has." Mikey sets the phone back down. Now that the trap is set, we have to wait and make sure it sticks so that we can get away with this very unpredictable plan.
I got to get Julia to the old unit; it’s the safest spot.
Mikey dragged his hand down his face. "You scared about the spot?"
"There's only one place he never knew about," I say. "And it's still off-grid."
"The old unit?"
I nod. We hid there for weeks with our mom when things got bad.
"Ifthis goes sideways—" I start to say.
"It won't," He interrupts sharply.
I raise a brow. "You don't know that."
"I know one thing," Mikey says. "He doesn't get her, or you."
I watch him, then nod once.
