"Yeah, dude, Silver's right," Alec agrees. "From what I've heard, Ricardo is not someone to mess with. I mean, isn't that the reason he isn't dead already?" He glances between us.
"His position does make him rather difficult to exterminate," Silver answers him. "If I knew his strongest allies, if I could turn them against him, it would make it easier."
"You guys are failing to grasp the part where he said he'd kill me, my parents, and anyone I told." Cora gawks at all of us, settling on London. "Tell them what he did to you."
London's lips part and for the first time since she's been here, she looks vulnerable. "I don't know, it's not a big deal."
"Are you serious?" Cora points at London's side. "Don't tell them then, show them."
London sighs and lifts up the corner of her shirt to reveal a thick ass scar on her torso.
"Holy shit," Alec says without a filter. "Did he do that to you?"
She nods and covers herself up. "Yeah. The only reason he agreed to keep me alive is to sell me off."
I swallow down the reality that Ricardo has offered his virginal daughter to me on numerous occasions. I had no idea the situation was as dire as it is, otherwise, I would have taken him up on the offer just to free her of his madness. Even if I could come to terms with the idea of handing him over a small fortune, there's no way he'd be willing to accept my money to pardon his daughter now that I barged into his house and shot him in the leg.
"I'm sorry," I tell her. "I didn't know."
London keeps her chin level and her shoulders set into a straight line, her exterior solid like if she maintains her composure maybe she won't fall apart.
She reminds me a great deal of Cora, in how she pretends things are fine when they really aren't. It makes sense that they would immediately be drawn to one another.
"In light of what happened to me," London continues. "I can vouch that Daddy is not someone to cross. He loves a good challenge, and the only thing you've done is give him a reason to pursue whatever methods he deems fit to make you pay. If I were you, I'd leave town."
"I'm not leaving town." There's nothing that could make me leave Cora in her time of need, not now, not ever.
"I can tell him I'm not interested," Cora proposes. "I can be rather convincing. I'll say that you pursued me, and I wasn't into you and beg him to forgive the situation."
"I wouldn't beg," London tells her. "Begging insinuates that he has the upper hand. You have to be strong, but not too strong. Know what I mean?"
Cora nods like she knows exactly.
Silver speaks up. "I'll continue to do some digging and see what I can uncover. But in the meantime, we have two weeks to figure this out. Not a day more. Cora, I suggest you stay here where I can protect you."
I glare at him. "And you think I can't?"
Silver pinches the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "He's going to come after you, Miller. Do you want her to be with you when that happens?"
"No," I practically whisper.
"She can stay with me, too." Alec stands tall at the counter, ready to be of assistance in whatever way he can. "We can alternate, take turns you know, so he has a harder time finding her."
"You're not safe at home." I focus on Cora and try to get her to understand without telling her that it was very easy to break into her parent's home.
"Can I at least get some things?" Cora motions to her body. "I'm wearing Friday's outfit."
"I'll get them. Make me a list."
Cora scowls at me but it makes no difference. I refuse to allow her to go home where she's most vulnerable. I don't care if he wants me dead, he's going to have to come do it himself and if he's that bold, I fucking dare him. I'm not afraid of some decrepit old man.
"You'll spend tonight here," Silver declares. "We'll figure out the rest of your schedule on a whim so he can't figure it out." He centers on London. "And the less you know, the better."
"I shouldn't be hearing any of this." London licks her lips and raises her brows. "You guys are all going to die."
"Thanks for the support." Alec chuckles and checks his phone, which only reminds me of the one that's been buzzing on and off in my pocket for the last three hours.
There's been another situation with shipments and if I don't get ahead of it soon, there's no telling how much damage it will do to the West Coast sector.
