“It would seem so,” I agree. “He would have had to know about Edward’s death and maybe even knew him well enough to know the drug overdose was a bunch of bullshit.”
“You think he was the one who hired someone to kill you?” Winger questions, catching onto my thoughts quickly.
“I followed Edward to the city and trailed him to a garage where he parked his car in a spot owned by someone in that building.” I point at the computer. “I think it’s too big of a coincidence to think anything else.”
“Looks like meeting Rex might have to wait if both of you are out of town.” Iron smirks, acting as if this somehow was his plan all along, but I can’t give his motives much thought because I’m too interested in the possibility of his words.
“I want to come.”
“That’s what she said!” Iron barks out a laugh and strolls to the door without a backward glance.
CHAPTER23
WINGER
I’m going to kill him.Maxine looks at me with pleading eyes, and it’s all his fault. If I don’t take her with me now, I might never get her to forgive me.
Iron cackles as he heads for the door, leaving anarchy in his wake. I swear to God he is a chaos demon sent here to fuck with everyone and everything. He was probably lying about the meeting with Rex just to stir the damned pot and see my reaction. The next time I see Iron, I’m going to punch him in the face.
“Winger,” she urges softly.
“You’d be better off waiting here.”Where it’s safe and I know no one can touch you.
“Why?” she challenges, folding her arms over her chest. If I give her my explanation, it will piss her off. It’s not as if she’s some innocent little thing. She’s been fighting her own battles for a lot longer than she should have been.
As if she knows I’m struggling with how to answer her, she continues, “I need to be there, Winger, so don’t you dare take this away from me.” The last sentence is spoken softly, but with enough conviction to tell me exactly how important this is to her. I clench my molars, knowing I’m not going to be able to deny her, but maybe I can convince her that there’s a better option.
“What if I gave you this apartment and you could come and go as you please?”
“What’s the catch?” Her eyes narrow with suspicion.
“You let me deal with the rest of them.”
“No, I can’t. Not now. Seven years ago, I would have sold my soul for that offer, for any offer, if it meant I would never have to worry about them again, but it’s too late for me, and it’s not fair to you or anyone else.”
Can you mourn something that never was? The possibility of something? If only I had found her all those years ago. “You’d never have to see me or any of my people again. You can go back to your life,” I promise, even though I know it’s a one-sided pledge because I would watch her, even if she didn’t know it.
“I have no life to go back to, Winger. You know that as well as I do.”
I want to tell her she could have a life, any one she chooses, but I’m too selfish for that. I give her a few more seconds to change her mind, but she holds her ground, as confident as ever.
She probably has no idea she just gave up her one chance to escape me. I would have let her walk and been satisfied with knowing she was safe, but she refused, and I doubt I will ever have the will to do it again.
I reach up and grab the back of her neck. My grip is firm, but not designed to hurt her at all. I just need to know she understands what I’m about to say.
I expect her to flinch or cringe at my touch, but she accepts it and continues to meet my gaze. “You will follow my every instruction, no questions.”
She nods, but her lips part. “Why are you doing this for me?” I should have known she would plow through any boundary I put down. Judging by the quizzical look on her face, she doesn’t even realize she just broke the rules right after agreeing to them.
“Because I can, but more importantly, because I want to.”
She blinks and her mouth opens, but she snaps it closed as if she feared hearing the answer to her next question if she voiced it.
“Go get ready.” I release her, knowing I said more than I should have. I expect her to flee quickly, but she watches me for several seconds before finally slipping away to her room. When her door closes softly, I make the phone call I’ve been dreading.
Rex picks up on the second ring. “What’s up?”
“I’m in trouble.”
