I don’t miss Koby’s purposeful eyeroll behind Carter’s back. Despite his initial overstep, I have a feeling we’d get along fine given the chance.
“If Noretto, Grey, or even Vaughn threatens your safety, if they take you away again, Hailey will rain hellfire on me. I’ll have no choice but to comply with their demands to ensure your security and keep my girl happy, so... Work. With. Me. Either you’re staying in Columbus, or you’re going home with two bodyguards and a heap of security systems for both your apartment and your flower shop.”
“How do you know about—?”
“I told you there’s not a thing I don’t know about you.” He looks over at Ryder who’s still gripping the back of the couch. “How long will it take you to wire both places?”
“Normally, a day, two tops, but I have a few additional things in mind, so I’d say about three.”
“Alright,” Carter nods, moving his attention back to me. “Do we have a deal?”
“You don’t give me much choice, do you? It’s like telling a child to eat fruit, and when they refuse, you let them choose between apples and oranges.”
He smirks, adjusting his wristwatch. “What will it be, Bianca? Apples or oranges?”
“Oranges, if that’s the option that gets me home.”
“Oranges it is. Now, I’ve kept my girl waiting long enough. It’s time you two meet.”
10
Ryder
The VIP lounge is quieter now, most of Carter’s soldiers either gone or passed out. The elected bouncers secure the perimeter, watching the remaining guests enjoy the last hours of their night.
Hailey’s in Carter’s office with Bianca, and Violet’s at a table nearby with Arthur and Apollo, a half-empty glass of lemonade in hand. She looks tired, which means Broadway will do all he can to have a plan arranged within half an hour.
Carter’s at the head of the low-slung table in our booth, fingers tapping against his tumbler of whiskey. His dark eyes are unreadable, but the tension radiating off him betrays he’s deep in thought, probably analyzing everything Bianca said.
“You don’t trust her, do you?” Broadway leans back on the couch, his attention swinging between his boss and his girl.
“She’s a problem,” Carter admits, swirling the whiskey in his glass, then downing it in one smooth motion.
“Not unless we let her be one,” Koby muses, his ever-present smile taming the cloudy atmosphere. “She hasn’t told us why she’s here. I don’t like that, so I say send her back to Vaughn. Let him deal with her.”
Carter shoots him a glare sharp enough to silence further remarks. “Don’t forget she’s Hailey’s sister. She’s here now. That makes herourproblem. If Vaughn sent her—”
“She didn’t strike me as someone running on orders,” I cut in, pushing away from the glass wall. “If Vaughn was playing that angle, she wouldn’t be so... rattled. You didn’t see her outside. She was scared. If she were a plant there’d be less fear, more finesse. This wasn’t orchestrated. At least, not on her part.”
Broadway tilts his head. “You can’t possibly trust her. I know you spent weeks looking for her, but come on. She hasn’t told us how the old man drove her away.”
“No, but...” I look Carter dead in the eye. “She couldn’t even look at you when you pressed her. That wasn’t an act. Maybe it’s like she said—Vaughn pushed her too far and she ran. We all know he’s a master at fucking up.”
Broadway hums, shaking his head. “Maybe. But she’s keeping secrets for no reason. If you’re right then... what’s her game? Why did she comehereof all places?”
“I don’t know,” Carter admits. “We’ll find out soon enough if she’s a plant or another of Vaughn’s messes.”
“She could be bait,” Koby adds.
“Whatever’s happening, we’re better off keeping her close.” Carter exhales sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “If she’s lying, I’ll find out. If not...” He trails off, a rare flash of uncertainty crossing his face. “If she’s not lying, keeping her close means keeping her safe. She’s a liability either way.”
“So, what’s the plan?” I ask, crossing my arms. “Keep her under surveillance until you’re sure she’s not a Trojan horse?”
“We don’t have many other options. I can’t dismiss her without earning Hailey’s wrath, so we’re keeping Bianca close. You’ll wire her apartment and flower shop. Apollo and Arthur will stay with her twenty-four-seven.”
Fuck.
Not the team I had in mind.
