“I don’t know,” she says finally. “I wasn’t involved in his business. I just did what he asked.”
Dante clicks his tongue, disappointed. “Blind obedience.”
He rises from the chair, the wood scraping softly against the concrete as he pushes it back with his leg. The sound seems to make her flinch. He closes the distance between them without touching her, crouching instead so they are at eye level.
From where I stand, I can see the way her bound hands tremble in her lap. The way she tries to curl her fingers into fists to hide it and fails.
“Here’s how this works,” he says as hepulls two zip-ties from his back pocket. “You tell us the truth, and we take it easy on you.” His head then tilts to the side as he forces her ankles together to re-bind them. “You lie, and we escalate.”
Her lips part and then close, followed by them opening again.
“I swear,” she whispers. “I didn’t know where the money really came from.”
Dante exhales through his nose. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”
Then, without warning, he slams the knife down into the mattress beside her thigh.
She screams and barely leans out of the way to avoid being cut.
The blade sinks deep, stopping inches from her leg. Dante leans on the handle, and gets close enough that his breath brushes her ear.
“That,” he says quietly, “was a warning. The next one won’t miss.”
I watch her emotionally crumble. “Please.” she begs.
Not toward Dante.
But to me.
My jaw locks, but I keep my facial expression devoid of all emotion.
As Dante turns to glance back at me, her eyes follow his line of sight.
“You see him?” Dante says, nodding toward me. “He’s the last kindness you’re going to get in this room. Unlikeme, he thinks you’ll eventually give in and all of this will be over. I, however, think you’re full of shit and covering up for your father.”
He pulls the knife free, the fabric tearing and ripping at threads as it comes loose.
“Now,” he says, returning to the chair and sitting like this is a casual interview. “Let’s try this again.”
“There are offshore accounts,” she admits quickly. “Three that I know of. He uses the charities to move the money.” She glances down toward the floor before speaking again, “Children’s programs.” Her mouth twists. “It looks clean considering what it’s being moved through.”
Dante smiles, seeming satisfied.
“Good girl,” he says. “See how much easier honesty is?”
Her eyes flick to the knife. Then to me again.
And for the first time since I was assigned to guard her, I understand something I hadn’t wanted to name before.
She isn’t just afraid of Dante.
She’s afraid of whatImight let happen next.
Chapter Sixteen
Everleigh
Danteand Finnic step away to the corner of the room, whispering about the situation.
