Without thinking, Baz squeezed himself into the corner between the door and wall, peered through the gap in the door hinges just as Sami backed away from Ian’s looming presence.
“No, I swear—”
“You work forme!”
“I know!I-I was just trying to get intel—”
“Like what, huh?What has he told you?”
Sami’s lips disappeared between his teeth.Not giving Baz up when he had seen his weaknesses firsthand.
Ian stepped closer.Sami withered.
This was wrong.Baz ached to leap out of hiding, hit Ian over the head with something heavy, grab Sami and run away.His body refused to move.Sami had sent him away.There had to be a reason.
“Exactly!”Ian thundered.“You’ve always been a terrible liar, Sammy.What did you think would happen?I’d let you ride into the sunset together?”
Lethim?
“No!”
“Does your Mr.Stick-Up-His-Ass even know about half the stuff you’ve done?You think he’d still want you if he did?”
Baz frowned.Stuff?What stuff?What did Ian have on Sami to make him this scared?
“You mean the stuffyou’vedone.”
Ian’s laugh was dark.“Oh, Sammy, I got so much shit on you, I could hide your body in it, and no one would find it until it’s fucking decomposed.Remember your goddamn place.”
How dare he speak to Sami like that?Baz’s legs grew hot with the urge to march in—
“Yes, sir.”Sami’s trembling chin lowered to his chest.
“Pull yourself together.And if I find out you told him anything, I swear to god, you’re done for.”
Footsteps bellowed on the floor.Baz sucked his breath in, squeezed himself into the corner.The door rushed toward him—the dampers kicked in an inch before his face.
Ian stormed around the corner.Monster.
Before Baz had time to consider all the reasons why this was a mistake, he caught the door and slipped inside.Sami was bracing himself on the sink, his cheeks wet.
“I told you to leave,” he rasped.
“He threatened you.”
“I saidgo!”Sami spun around.His whole body quivered.
“No!I’m not gonna leave you, Sami!Not again.”
Sami shook his head and darted for the door.Baz caught him by the elbow.“Wait, please!Let me help—”
“Can’t you see you’re making it worse?!”
The force of his words made Baz’s hand drop away.“What?”he muttered.
“You were right not to trust me.Go win your case and forget about me.”
But… No!Sami wasn’t okay, and it was all Baz’s fault for confronting him here.
