I let out a sigh. “The wallet I wanted so I could negotiate Raven going free,” I tell him. “It’s the only thing that guarantees her safety. So tell me, Renner: if I give it to you instead, can you make the same promises?”
“Amnesty? Yeah, I’ve already got that covered for the crew.”
Of course he has. Smart fucker.“Then I’ll give you the wallet. I can do that with a clean conscience now.” The CIA have the PIN. It’s useless to Renner, except as a payday.
“And the diamonds?”
“Those too, I guess. They belong to the crew.”
“What will your FBI paymasters say to that?”
“Not much, I imagine,” I tell him. “They don’t know I have the walletorthe diamonds, and the next call I make will be a resignation.”
“Sacrificing everything for her, huh?”
“That’s about it, yeah.” And hoping against hope it’s not too little, too late.
“Thank you, Declan.” He pauses. “You’re a good man.”
“Persuading Raven of that will be the challenge.”
“Yeah, well.” He makes a noise of sympathy. “Good luck. You’re going to need it.”
“Thanks,” I say dryly.
He’s not wrong.
Thirty-Seven
Raven
With no money and no phone, I have no choice but to stop when I’m running low on gas, sitting on a park bench opposite a bank, waiting for it to open.
It’s not an ideal way to spend the small hours of the morning, but at least I’m out by myself, free from being drugged, away from my suffocating mother, not being chased by Chinese enforcers or a pissed-off Declan.
My life has become surreal of late.
And there’s nothing to do but sit and think.
DeclanfuckingHale. That has to be his real middle name.
He told me he loved me. I’m certain I didn’t imagine it.
Who kidnaps someone theylove? Then subjects them to torture and interrogation and more orgasms than I can count? How does hedothat? What thehellam I supposed to think?
Four of the most intense weeks of my life.
Yet another man that proves my total inability to make good judgments.
I thought he was different, I genuinely did. I’ve never been more wrong aboutanyone.
Shit, I almost fell in love with him. ThankGodI didn’t.
Yeah, because that’s true.
I have to close my eyes against the pain. The ache in my chest, like something’s been ripped out.
What is that feeling? It’s never been like this before.
