“I can take care of myself,” I snap back in defense.
His eyes turn pitying, and he shakes his head. “My poor little Wren. You were always a little delusional about the real world. Tell me, how well did you fare out there before finding someone else to take care of you?”
I suck in a sharp breath of surprise, remembering what happened with the bikers before my guys saved me. There’s no way he could have known about that,is there?
“I was just fine on my own,” I tell him, despite knowing the opposite.
He shakes his head, looking disappointed. “We both know that isn’t true. What life do you think those criminals could have given you? They’re wanted fugitives, and it’s only a matter of time before they’re caught. Then what will become of you?” I open my mouth to respond, but he keeps speaking. “With Ivan, you would never have had to worry about that.”
“He’s a worse criminal than any of them.”
He nods. “Perhaps. The difference is, he’s never been caught. He knows how to protect himself from the authorities. And he was willing to give that same level of safety to you.”
Realizing he’s speaking in the past tense, I’m unsure what that means. Does Ivan not want me anymore? If that’s the case, what does Robert want with me? I cross my armsand lean back against the sofa, deciding to keep my mouth shut to see what else he reveals to me.
“I know you’ve been away for a while, but are you going to be good and start listening to me again?”
“Not likely,” I say, my eyes screamingare you crazy?
“I thought you might say that.” He gestures toward the door, and a few seconds later, two guards enter, pulling Elias along with them.
“Elias!” I yell in surprise, jumping to my feet.
“Wren! Are you okay? Have they hurt you?” We both look each other over, and I’m surprised and pleased to see he looks unharmed.
“I’m okay, what about you?”
“I’m okay,” he says, his eyes bouncing to Robert, who’s now standing beside me with a hand on my shoulder, preventing me from going to him.
Elias is made to stand behind the chair at the table, in front of the laptop, as he tries to take in everything around him: the guards, Robert, the laptop, the food, and me.
“Wren, sit down,” Robert commands. My lips tighten, but I obey; there’s no reason not to right now. “Now there’s something the two of you need to understand,” he says, his eyes moving between Elias and me. “Do what I say, and nobody has to get hurt.”
He turns to me as he tells me, “If you obey me, then Elias won’t be harmed. But disobey…” he turns to the guard beside Elias and nods.
The guard suddenly punches Elias in the stomach, making him grunt as he bends over in pain.
“Elias!” I yell as I try to run to him, but Robert grabs me and yanks me back down to the sofa.
“Try to go to him again, and the next hit will be to his face.”
I clench my fists and sit back, my heart hammering in fear and anger.
“Take a seat, Elias,” Robert says as one of the guards pulls out the chair and forcefully pushes Elias into it. He glances at the laptop before turning his angry eyes on Robert.
“Your job is simple. I want to know everything you can find on the John Montgomery Airport. Schematics, arrival and departure schedules for the next three days, security protocols, access points, camera feeds, and every blind spot that place has.”
“You want me to hack into the airport's systems?” Elias asks him as if he’s crazy.
“Yes, I know you’re more than capable.”
“They have excellent security, they’ll track us instantly,” Elias says. I don’t think that’s true because Elias is great at hacking, but it’s a good bluff.
Or at least I think it is until Robert shakes his head. “Lie to me again, and Wren will pay.”
His hand shoots out, grabbing me by my hair and yanking me toward him, making me hiss in pain.
“Okay!” Elias yells, before continuing a little calmer. “Okay, I’ll do it, just don’t hurt her.” Robert releases me before trying to soothe the side of my head where he wrenched my hair. I bat his hand away and do it myself, fixing my hair as I glare at him.
