“Quin!” Damon growls. “Another person? You want yet another person to be involved? Let alone someone who doesn’t know or care about us? About Emery? No. We can’t risk it. We can’t blindly trust that this person will help us.”
“What choice do we have, Damon?!” I snap back. “I know you don’t believe me, but I swear that paying this ransomwill notget Emery home. Not safe. Not alive.”
Vivienne raises a finger in the air. “If I might?—”
“What?” Damon barks.
“While my contact’s morals are somewhat questionable,” she hums. “I will say that Red has never failed to follow through in the many years I’ve utilized her services.” She shrugs. “It is up to you, however, if you wish to trust the keeper of the dark web.”
“Jesus Christ,” Damon grunts, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “The dark web? What are we even doing going down this route? We need cash, Quinton! That’s our priority.”
“And as I said, it’ll cost you,” Vivienne adds. “I believe the base rate starts at one hundred thousand euros for your particular type of request.”
“A hundred grand?! No, that’s it. Get up,” Damon demands, “We’re leaving. We’re not throwing money away on this bullshit.” He stares down at me. “I reviewed our accounts, Q. After liquidatingeverythingwe have, we’re still five hundred million dollars short. We literally cannot afford it. Let’s go.”
“Viv.” I ignore Damon and force Vivienne to look at me. To see how hopeless I feel. To see how hollow I am. “We need this person’s help. I-I’ll doanythingto get their help.”
A ghost of a smirk graces her face. “What are you implying, my dear Quinton?”
“Do this for me, Vivienne,” I say, swallowing. “And I will doanythingfor you.”
She lifts a brow. “Tell me if I’m wrong, but I do believe you’re propositioning me.” She tilts her head to the side, her robe slowly falling off her shoulder. “Quinton, friends don’t use friends like that.”
“Then for tonight,” I say, glancing toward her bedroom. I knew what I was getting into before we got here. I’m okay with this. It’s an acceptable trade. “Let’s not be friends. Let’s be…something else.”
“Quin…” Damon mutters beside me, frowning. “Don’t?—”
Vivienne clicks her tongue. “I can tell that this is difficult for you, Quin, and if I were a more empathetic and caring woman, I would just offer to lend you the money but…” She stands up, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “But I know when to jump on an opportunity when it presents itself.” She glances at Damon, expression hardening as she tells him, “Wipe that judgment off your face, my dear. We both know we’re a different side of the same coin. I’ve heard of the Cavanaugh techniques before. You are in no position to judge me.”
“So, you’ll call them?” I ask, standing up. “You’ll make the call?”
Vivienne smiles. “Of course, Quinton.” She nods toward her bedroom. “Go ahead and look around while you wait. I’m sure you’ll find yourself at home in there.” She grabs her phone and dials a number. While it rings, she looks at Damon and adds, “If you’d like, you may also stay.” She grins. “From what I’ve heard, you’ve both always been quite fond of theEiffel Tower.” With a wink, she turns away from us, speaking into the receiver. “Oui. C’est Vivienne.”
When Vivienne is out of earshot, Damon bulldozes toward me, fuming. “This is your solution? To sell yourself to Vivienne Delareux? Jesus, Quinton! What were you thinking?!”
“I’m thinking this is our only chance to get Emery back!” I bark, standing up. “Judge me all you want, Damon, but I’m doing this.”
Damon’s fists curl up into balls, his body damn near fucking vibrating. “Fuck! Damn it, Quinton!”
He paces around in front of me, muttering under his breath as I find solace in my decision. My head snaps to the entryway as Vivienne returns, a wide grin spreading on her dolled up face.
“Red will meet us at noon tomorrow,” she says, anticipation brimming. “That means we have twenty-four hours together.”She hitches both shoulders. “How exciting.” She nods down the corridor. “Shall we start?”
“After you,” I say, and Vivienne leads the way. As I follow her to her bedroom, heavy footsteps sound behind me, and I turn around. “What are you doing?”
Damon scoffs, unbuttoning his cufflinks as he shakes his head. “You don’t get to be the only martyr. Go.” He nods down the halls. “Let’s show this bitch just howdemandingwe can be.”
And in that moment, for the first time in years, I look at Damon and see the man I once called a friend.
THE BAIT
EMERY
Toni’s been ignoringme all day. Not a glance. Not a word. She’s barely come within a few feet of me. I should feel discouraged by her distance, but I think my plan is working. She’s purposely trying to stay away.
I’ve heard them fight. Simone isn’t pleased that Toni gave me a blanket. I don’t think she was supposed to find out, but she came downstairs too early. Toni didn’t have time to hide the evidence. They fought. Even through the walls, I could hear them.
This bodes well for me.
