“And you know that Cash works for me. That sometimes he might need to do things that aren’t inside the law. I know that Cash hasn’t known you long, but obviously cares for you a lot.”
She nodded. Where was he going with this?
“I do too,” Bonnie said loyally.
“I know. You’ve made that clear,” he said dryly. “The thing is that I don’t know you, Addie. I haven’t had time to look into you. Now, if you were just a fling I wouldn’t bother. Cash wouldn’t tell you about me or what I am or who he is. But you are more than a fling. And you now know things that I don’t wish other people to know. How do I know you can be trusted? That you won’t talk?”
Addie opened her mouth. Shoot. Nothing came out. And she really wished she had Snaggles. Her gaze shot to the door where Cash had gone. But she kept herself here. She had one chance to convince Dante.
“Not only that,” Dante continued. “How do I know that you can cope with this life? As much as Cash will try to shield you from the worst of it, he can’t completely protect you from it. What’s to say you won’t run when things get . . . messy.”
Right. Okay.
She reached into her backpack and drew out her phone along with Snaggles. Holding Snaggles for comfort, she typed into her phone.
Funny, she never would have brought Snaggles out in front of other people before all of this, before meeting Cash. But now . . . she didn’t care. Dante was sitting in LittleLand. He knew that Bonnie was a Little. He likely knew that Addie was too.
So she just didn’t care.
She typed into the phone, hoping that she was doing the right thing.
“Last night, I sprayed hair spray into a man’s eyes and when he was down, I stomped on his balls. Because he tried to strangle my sister and then stab me. Then I insisted on going with Cash while he questioned him. I didn’t watch, but I came in after he was . . . he was worked over. So we could question him. And I know that afterward he was killed. And I’m still here. I’m not running. I love Cash. I’d never do anything to put him in jeopardy. Like talk. I don’t want to run. I also really like Bonnie and I hope we’re going to be friends so I’d never do anything to hurt her either.”
Bonnie hugged her tight. “We’re going to be the best friends.”
Dante stared at her for a long time and she stared back, determined not to back down.
To her surprise, he smiled and it lightened his whole face. “That’s acceptable. Bonnie, I need one of your pink drinks before I head home.”
Dante got up and moved to the kitchen.
Was that it?
Bonnie leaned into her. “Well done. You passed.”
Well. Thank God for that.
Monroe was going to Mexico.
Addie was still reeling at that news as Cash drove them to Callahan Security so that Ralen could get her and then meet Dante at a private airport.
“You’re sure you’re all right, little Stowaway?” Cash asked. He had one hand on her thigh, the other on the steering wheel.
She nodded. “Dante just asked me a few questions. I’m fine. I just . . . you’re really leaving?” She turned to Ralen. “With Monroe?”
“I’ll take good care of her,” Ralen told her. “Everything will be fine.”
She swallowed heavily, nodding.
“You’re in trouble, though,” Cash told her.
“What?” she asked. “What did I do?”
Ralen snorted “Just wait till he gets you home.”
“You got between me and Dante,” Cash told her. “You put yourself in danger.”
“I thought you said I wasn’t in any danger!”
