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Before we got home last night, I drilled it into Julius’s head to keep his mouth shut. It isn’t like it’s a hard request considering he barely talks anyway, but I had to voice it. I want to figure things out and try to gather more information. With what we’re doing now, the only ones at stake are us. When we try and take down Emil, there are more people involved. Completely innocent people. I don’t want to get them hurt in the crossfire, so a more solid plan is needed.
I push around the food on my plate. Sleep didn’t come last night. My mind kept racing with every scenario possible for what we are planning, and then the faces of all of the woman and girls in the pictures wouldn’t go away either. It crushes me to think they’re having to experience what I went through but so much worse.
“You full?” Julius asks.
All day we’ve all done nothing but hang around the house. I needed to try and recoup after last night. I didn’t want to go to Andrew’s place right away. “No, but I’m done.”
He glances to the door to make sure no one is approaching, then leans over the counter. “It’s going to be okay, Flower. We’ll figure it out. But I feel we should tell Teddy. He knows Emil better than us and could probably help.”
“What if he already knows about it and hasn’t done anything this whole time?” I ask, finally voicing the first concern that popped into my mind last night after seeing the file.
“I don’t think he would stay quiet about something like that.”
I level my eyes with his. “You said it yourself, sometimes people lie and aren’t who we think.” I throw his words back at him.
He stands back to his full height. “You’re right, but there is only one way to find out. Ask him and watch his reaction. When he lies, his hands twitch by his side. He stares too intently into whoever’s eyes he’s talking to. I don’t like him much more than you at this point, but this is bigger than just us.”
“You really do just watch people, huh?”
“Someone’s body language can say a lot, and it’s a language that never changes.” He winks. “Now, stop avoiding what I said. Ask him. I’ll be right here with you.”
I bite my lip. “I’m scared, Julius. I don’t want to hate him anymore.”
His eyes take on an understanding glint. “Queens can’t be scared, Flower.”
I want to let out a sarcastic laugh, but I don’t. “Fine. Go get him.”
He nods and walks out of the kitchen. I follow but break away at my room. I close the door behind me and lean against it, letting out a shaky breath. If Teddy is capable to do what he did to me, who’s to say he would speak up for strangers?
I shake my head and push off the door. Stopping by my bed, I reach for my bag. First, I dig out my gun and tuck it into the back of my pants, then I grab the file and stuff it under my arm. When I make it back to the kitchen, Julius is already perched on a barstool next to Teddy waiting and Carl and Lucas are standing across the counter.
All of their eyes fall on me as I walk in. “We found something last night. Our smoking gun, but before we use it, I want to know if you knew.”
Teddy tilts his head as Carl and Lucas step closer. “Knew what?”
I throw the file onto the counter and jut my head in its direction, telling him to open it without speaking. He picks it up with a skeptical look. He thumbs through the first couple of pages before throwing it back to the counter. Lucas picks it up and looks at the page it’s opened on, then shows Carl.
“That can’t be,” Teddy says, standing up, raking his hands through his hair.
I glance to Julius and see him watching Teddy intently. “You know just as well as me that it’s real. Did you know?”
His eyes find mine. “Of course I didn’t.”
I want to believe him. I don’t notice any of the things Julius said he does when he’s lying, but it’s still hard. When someone breaks the trust you have for them, you question everything.
“I know this place though,” he adds.
“What?”
“The wallpaper. I recognize it.”
I look to Julius again, and he’s just as surprised as me. “Well, where is it, then?”
“The basement of the casino. There are numerous rooms down there for activities. I remember seeing it when he bought the place and gave me a tour.”
“He wouldn’t be stupid enough to do this kind of shit there,” Lucas says.
“Yeah? Well, you would think he wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave something like this to be found either, huh? I’m telling you, it’s the fucking casino,” Teddy says with conviction.
