“I think you’ll find I can.”
“But the police want to interview him and—”
Eli shoves a wad of bills at the doctor. “Mr. Mills is going to a different hospital, and he won’t be filling out your forms. Is that understood?”
The doctor looks down at the bundle of cash. “I still think—”
“Either take the money or give the speech,” Eli says. “You don’t get to do both.”
The doctor scurries away.
“Are we heading for the chopper?” I ask.
“We are.” Eli looks me in the eyes. “Did you fuck her?”
I tilt my head back. Harvey and Sal’s faces are blank but I can tell they’re listening.
“I’m waiting, Rossi.”
I shake my head.
Eli’s gaze bores into mine. “Thenwhy?”
I think of the way January looked as she danced in her cage. Terror and control and magnificence. It’s humiliating. She’s a beautiful young girl and I’m… what I am. But I can’t deny it. Not now she’s been taken from all of us. I let Eli read the answer on my face.
He lets out a long sigh. “You of all people?”
“Yes.”
“So, you didn’t want to kill her?”
“I did and I didn’t. I do… I don’t know.”
“It would have been easier if you’d just killed her,” he says wearily, but I know he doesn’t mean it. There is no life without January Whitehall now. Not for me or Eli, or Bobby or Doc. But I don’t say that. We can deal with who loves who and what to do about it once we have her back. Because if we don’t get her back…
A red haze washes over my brain. I’m going to pass out again. “Are Doc and Bobby…? Where are Doc and Bobby?”
“On the road. Getting closer to her every second.”
Fear drills at my inner ear. “If we don’t find her…?”
“We will.” A cool hand rests briefly on mine. “Sleep, old friend, and pray we don’t kill you when you wake up.”
I try to smile, but my face won’t move. Then I’m gone.
Chapter Two
January Whitehall
One hour earlier
Iwould ratherbe at Velvet House than here.The thought echoes through my mind as I sit in Mr. Parker’s limo for what seems like eternity. I keep sneaking glances out of the tinted windows as we drive, but it’s pointless. I don’t recognize where we are. In my darkest moments at Velvet House, when I was caged in the basement, or being tormented by Doc or Adriano, I wondered if I would rather be Mr. Parker’s wife. But now I’m in the same space as my ex-fiancé, I want to dissolve like sugar in hot coffee.
The thread holding my body and soul together feels thin. Thinner than it ever felt at Velvet House. Eli, Doc, Bobby and Adriano are dangerous men whocoulddo anything to hurt me. Mr. Parker is a dangerous man whowilldo anything to hurt me. He just needs a reason and I’ve given him plenty.
Mr. Parker sits across from me, on his phone. He’s watching YouTube, his big puckery lips rubbing together. They look like two pink slugs. I rub the stinging cut on my own lower lip. I thought after Mr. Parker hit me he’d keep yelling and screaming, but he’s ignoring me. Biding his time.
In fact, the only person who seems vaguely interested in me is one of Mr. Parker’s bodyguards, a huge blond guy with a split eyebrow. The other bodyguards stare ahead, blank faced, but he keeps glancing over. I wish I was wearing more than a tiny dress, a ruby necklace and heels.I wish I was wearing a bra.
