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Vincent releases a low chuckle as he extends his hand out to me. “Come, my little protégé. Walk with me.”
I have to rip myself out of Logan’s death grip. He said no funny business, but this can help buy us some time. The longer I stall Vincent, the more time it will allow for his backup to get here and save us all. Logan grabs my bicep, thrusting me back toward him. He pulls me in for a kiss, then turns his back to Vincent. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he murmurs into my mouth, fisting my hair.
I throw my arms around him, deepening our kiss. “The containers are already here. Valouro.” That’s all I get out before Vincent clears his throat in annoyance. I pull away. “Relax, babe.”
I slap a quick kiss to his frowning lips and turn away, accepting Vincent’s arm. “So, what is this place? What are all these containers for?”
“Curious little thing, aren’t you? You really do live up to your namesake.”
“What do you mean?” I ask as he escorts us farther into the rail yard, Logan and Emilio trailing behind.
“You’d make a great lawyer. So many questions. Your intelligence. Exemplary behavior.”
As we start walking away from Logan, my cool begins to crack. “I didn’t realize you were familiar with the book.”
Vincent laughs again. “Do you think I don’t know how to read? I was a child once myself—”
“Oh my god, no! I was just—”
“Relax, you haven’t offended me. I could relate to the story as well. To Atticus, a man who wanted equality in this world.” I highly doubt fighting for civil rights and selling girls is the same thing. “You look as if you don’t believe me.”
I sure as heck don’t. “No. It’s just…I don’t completely see what’s so equally justifiable about what you do.”
“‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view. Until you climb into their skin and walk around in it.’ Do you remember that line? Very influential speech Atticus made. It always stuck with me. It taught me to view matters from the perspective of the indigent. To know how it feels to want something so bad and have the power to provide it.”
My stomach knots at his twisted analogy. I may hate my name, but I know why my parents gave it to me. They wanted me to always remember to stand up for what I believe in. To be honest and accept others. Follow the moral guidelines. That’s power. “So, you’re admitting you’re the evil destroying innocence? Because that’s what the book is truly about—the evil in this world overtaking humanity.”
Vincent stops walking, and I regret ever opening my mouth. “Atticus, innocence is only a state of being. Something we’re born with. Over time, it’s destroyed, and two things are left: cunning or naïveté. Which describes you?”
Neither. I’m strong and brave. I’m honorable and compassionate. I’m nothing like you.
“Cat got your tongue?”
“No—I…” I’m done playing this game. “My stomach is bothering me again. I should get home.” I look over my shoulder to steal a glance at Logan, but Vincent grabs my arm, his rough grip threatening. His phone buzzes, and without releasing me, he takes the call.
“Interesting. Yes. As we discussed.” There’s a shift in the air. He hangs up and slides his phone into the breast pocket of his suitcoat. “Change of plans. There’s an important matter I need to attend to.” He turns to Logan. “Justice, I want you and Emilio to check the entire perimeter. We have some guests arriving shortly, and I don’t want any issues. When they get here, send me a text, and I’ll give you further instruction.”
“You got it. Addy, let’s—”
“I’ll take her home.”
My eyes shift to Logan, waiting for him to give me a sign of what I should do.
He waves Vincent off. “I wouldn’t want you to deal with her. She gets really fucking whiny when she doesn’t feel—”
“You’ll be here for hours. End of discussion. Report back when it’s been handled.” He turns to me, his casual smile in place. “Shall we get you home?”
I peer over at Logan and hate that his calm composure is slipping. “It’s fine,” I say, forcing an easy-going smile to take shape. “Just hurry home, okay?”
He’s going to fight this. Confliction shines in his eyes, and Vincent is starting to catch on. “Seriously, stop being so clingy. I’ll be fine.” I inhale a slow breath and turn to Vincent. “Ready?”
The satisfaction shimmering in his smug gaze unnerves me. He wraps his arm around my waist, and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from wrestling out of his disgusting hold.
We walk past Logan, and the look in his eyes guts me. Anger, stress, helplessness. I want to turn around so bad and tell him I’m sorry. I just want to help and to do what’s best. And right now, maybe being compliant is that? It’s not like this is some suicide mission. It’s just a ride home. Right? Hello? Inner voice? Awesome. Just when I need support the most. Maybe I shouldn’t have turned all Starsky and Hutch and taken the reins on this. Yep. Stupid Addy.
