Rip sizes him up, snarling. “Who the bloody hell is he?”
“Is that one Rip?” Mateo asks. I think he already knows the answer.
“Is it that obvious?”
“He’s staring at me like he wishes he could slit my throat with his mind, so yeah. You would like the unhinged ones.”
“I’m not unhinged, you twat,” he spits. Even tied up and barely functioning, he’s eager to start a fight. “Who are you?”
Mateo doesn’t bother responding to his hostility. We head toward them, carefully avoiding the dried blood on the ground. As we near, Rip and Thomas straighten up, ready to fight us with clenched fists, though it’s obvious they wouldn’t stand a chance.
I move to loosen the chains on Rip’s wrists, which are digging into his skin, turning it red and likely swollen. Great, another thing to add to my list of shit to do: figure out what dumbass put this on Rip so tight and demote them for it.
Rip relaxes in my grasp while I reach for the key in my back pocket. He still trusts me.
He looks between me and the lock. “You aren’t letting us go, are you?”
I lick my dry lips with a sharp nod.
“Are you sure this is the right decision, King?” Rip whispers, low enough for only us to hear.
I fumble with the rusty key lock. “It is.”
“I hope you’re right. You’ve already sacrificed so much for me.”
And I’ll sacrifice everything if it means you’ll be safe.
With a sharp clank, the chain comes undone, and Rip winces as he rubs his sore wrists. The chain on his ankles breaks super easily, and Mateo already got Thomas out by the time I finish.
Mateo checks his watch for the fiftieth time. “Two minutes before shift change.”
“You guys have to go. You’ll have two minutes to get over the fence before the guards come back. We’ll give it fifteen minutes before we tell everyone you escaped, and you need to be long gone by then. Don’t be fucking stupid and get caught, alright?”
Thomas looks at me as if I have two heads. “You’re telling us to flee with no backup, Kingsley.”
“Would you rather stay and get killed? Because that’s what everyone wants me to do.” A frustrated sigh escapes me as I take out one of the emergency, untraceable flip phones my parents keep. I shove it at Rip’s chest, and he takes it. “No time to go back and get your clothes from your place. Just leave. I swear to God, if you get caught, I’ll kill you myself.”
The brothers share a look, but nod. They aren’t idiots—they’re way too smart to screw up this opportunity, but the anticipation makes me want to hurl.
My cousin taps his wrist. “One minute.”
We rush them upstairs and in front of the only way out—the way in. I lean against the door and hear the low hum of the guard on the other side. Fucking perfect. It’s Jeff, a rookie, on duty. That only makes this easier for us.
“I’ll tell you when to run,” I whisper.
Thomas, even with the screaming guilt in his brown eyes, manages a thankful grin, but Rip’s mouth remains in a straight line, not even a hint of a smile. He looks anything but grateful forwhat I’m doing for him. I’m putting my ass on the line for him again, and he can’t even give a simple thankful smile?
But when I look at him again, and I meanreallylook at him, my offense fades away. His lips are parted slightly, breathing labored, eyes fixated on mine so intensely, like he fears if he looks away for a second, I’ll disappear.
It’s true.When he looks away, I will disappear.
This is the moment we’ve been dreading. It’s where it all ends.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this…” He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Fuck, Prince. I don’t want to leave you.”
Then don’t.I nearly say it, the words hovering beyond my lips, but I bite them back. There is no universe where Rip can stay.
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be. You have to go.”
