“Fuck that. No. He needs to pay for what he did. I don’t have any power over Matrons, but she’s not gonna have another reason to slap you ever, Jasina. Because tonight, you and I are gonna figure out that room. And then we’re gonna tell her everything we know.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Iblink at Finn, surprised. “What? Why? Why would you do that?”
“I thought that’s what you wanted? For the Rebellion to succeed?”
“Well, in the beginning, I did.”
“The beginning of what? We’ve known each other three days. Thisisthe beginning.”
“The beginning of three days ago, then. I’m mad at my auntie. She’s not the person I thought she was. In fact, I’m not sure this whole Rebellion is what I thought it was.” My shoulders drop and I sigh, feeling a bit defeated. “I left one part out.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “Of your bad day?”
“Yeah. My friends turned against me too. For as long as I can remember it’s been me, Ceela, Harlow, Britley, and Lucindy. We’ve been a team in the Rebellion. But now, all of a sudden, they’re… jealous, or something. I don’t know. They’re suspicious.”
“Of what?”
“Of me. They think I’m keeping secrets. And you should’ve seen the looks I got from them when I left for my spa day this morning. I think my auntie turned them against me.”
He sighs a little, then shrugs up one shoulder. “OK. Fine. We don’t tell them shit. But you want to know what that roomis, right?”
“Why do you even care what I want?”
“Because… well… you’re like this teeny, tiny ray of red-haired hope leaking into a pitch-black room from underneath a door, Jasina. I’ve lost the only three people I ever considered family. First, my father died, then I found out my mother’s part of the Matron cult, and then I sent the woman I love through the tower doors. The only people I have left are Jeyk and Mitch.”
I make a face at the mention of Mitchell Davies, which Finn does not miss.
“What? What’s that look for?”
“Nothing. It’s none of my business.”
“No, tell me.”
“I just don’t understand why you’re friends with that guy.”
“Which one?”
“Mitchell Davies.”
“Mitch is my number one. He’s been my best friend since we were like six.”
I scoff. “Have you ever been down-city with him?”
“Couple times. For drinking.” But Finn holds up a hand. “But not for the whores. I never cheated on Clara. Until you, she was the only woman I was ever with.”
“Well, if you left before the whores then you missed the big show. Because Mitchell Davies has a reputation down-city as a man who likes to hurt people.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Specifically, young girls. He pays them. To be quiet. But if you agree to spend a night with Mitchell, then you ask for thecoin to make up for not being able to work for a week because he’s gonna blacken your eyes and split your lip.”
“That’s bullshit, Jasina.”
“Sometimes he breaks their ribs.”
“Stop it. He does not. I’d have heard about it.”
