I answer the call, pressing her handset to my ear. An automated message begins to play.
“I have a call from, there's a pause and then a man’s voice says, ‘Michael Rowe’ before the automation kicks in again. “Press one to accept the call, or two to decline.”
I press one.
“Leoni, thank fuck you picked up. I tried to call earlier. Listen, I don’t have long, but I’m putting you down to visit for tomorrow. I have to see you. That guy you said you were seeing, Warren Baxter, you have to stay away from him. He’s dangerous, baby. He’s going to get you hurt.”
I wait for him to take a breath before speaking. “This is Warren.” I hear his sharp intake of breath.
“Stay the hell away from her,” he yells.
“Calm down,” I hiss. “I’m trying to protect Leoni, not hurt her.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I don’t care, because I’m out here with her, and you’re in there unable to protect shit. Send me the visiting slip. Let’s talk.”
“I can’t trust you,” he says.
“You have no choice.”
I disconnect then delete the call history, before replacing her phone, and ordering some food.
Chapter Twenty
WARREN
I tap my fingers impatiently on the table, my eyes fixed on the gate where the prisoners are currently lining up.
I’d left the office in a hurry, so Leoni couldn’t question me, seeing as she’s in charge of my diary. I don’t want to lie to her, but the more I think about explaining everything, the more I realise I can’t. If she knew it all, she’d run a mile.
The gate slides open, a buzzer sounding as prisoners start filling the room, each rushing to a different table.
A large man sits before me, his dark eyes burning into me with such hate that I almost smile. This is a man who’s seen too much and knows what my family is capable of.
“He knows,” is the only thing he says. A statement, not a question.
I give a slight nod.
“And that’s why you’re screwing her?”
“He wants you to suffer,” I say. “To watch while he rips your family apart.”
“And then he’ll kill me?”
I shrug. “I don’t know the ending. He’s playing his cards close to his chest.”
He shakes his head, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. “Of course that’s the ending. I know him better than anyone.”
“You were fucking his wife,” I say, my tone laced with disgust. “My mother.”
His eyes flash with anger. “He treated her like shit. She deserved better.”
I laugh. “And that was you? A run around. A low life scumbag. A nark.”
This time, he grins. “Looks like you have me all figured out.”
“Look,” I say firmly, leaning closer. “I don’t give a shit about you. Or what happens in the end. All I care about is her. And right now, because of you, she’s in danger.”
