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“Here’s the deal, Walt. Cask caught one of my people sneaking onto their boat. They’re keeping her as a sort of hostage. Malcolm wants to negotiate how we’ll split up the island. I want you to tell Malcolm to release my friend, or I’m going to tell everyone what you did. This is how blackmail works, you stupid little man. You do what I say, and I don’t ruin you. If you start pushing back against me, I will make sure you suffer. Do you understand?”
He shrugs and leans back. “Tell everyone. I don’t care. Who will believe you over me?” He grins, showing teeth.
I sigh and shake my head. “God, you’re fucking stupider than I thought. I recorded our conversation that night. The one we had down by the rocks. You remember that conversation, don’t you? I’ll admit, it’s a bit hard to hear over the waves, but the main parts are there. Your teary, pathetic confession, and the part where you beg me not to tell anyone. Did you really think I’d blackmail you without solid proof? It’s all backed up to the cloud. So I’d reconsider your position if I were you.”
His face slowly falls. The confidence leeches away, leaving the weak little squirrelly man behind. I hate his stupid face and his weakness. His shoulders slump. “I’m tired of covering for you, Emilio. I’m done, okay? I’m throwing in with Cask. Now please, get out.”
“Malcolm is willing to kidnap my people to keep hold of his power. You think he’ll roll over when you try to ruin him? You’re only making your life harder.”
“Get out.”
“Tell them to let Lesley go or I will fuck you so hard you feel my dick in your mouth every time you to go brush your teeth. Have a nice day.”
I turn and leave the way I came. I have no clue if he’s going to do what I want, but at least he understands his choices better. If he fucks this up and Lesley isn’t returned to me, I will release that recording and watch him burn with a gleeful smile. I don’tneedhim—he only makes my life easier. The second he stops doing that is the second I watch him go up in flames.
Once in the back yard, I start down toward the palms and bushes, but stop midway there.
Kaye’s standing next to a tree, staring at me with wide, confused eyes.
What the hell is she doing here? I was careful when I left, but I’m distracted. I must not have noticed her sneaking along in my wake, watching my every move.
“You followed me,” I say, standing very still.
She chews her lip and looks past me. “Those are the administrative houses. Who were you talking to?”
“You don’t need to know.” I walk past her into the underbrush and skirt along toward the paths. She hurries to catch up.
“Why are you being shady?”
“Because this isn’t your business.”
“I thought I’m Calico now. I thought we weren’t keeping secrets.”
I glare back at her. “You thought wrong then.”
She looks hurt. It breaks my goddamn heart, but Lesley’s in trouble and I don’t have time for this right now. I keep walking, mind racing, trying to figure out a way to get leverage over Malcolm so that I can get Lesley back safely in case my conversation with Dean Wotherspoon doesn’t work out. Kaye shadows me and walks at my elbow once we’re on campus.
“I know how much she means to you,” she says softly and touches my arm. “But, Emilio, you can’t—”
I stop walking and face her, seething. “I can’t, what? Tell me what I can’t do, pet. There’s nothing in this world I can’t fucking do. There’s nothing in this world I won’t do for my friends, you included, but right now it’s Lesley that’s in trouble. I can’t tell you who I was talking to back there. I can’t tell you why. All you need to know is it might help.”
She looks down at the ground. I can tell she’s struggling. She wants to push, to beg me to tell her what I was doing, but I can’t go there.
She can’t know. Her, in particular.
Kaye can’t ever know who I was talking to and why he listens to me.
My expression softens. I reach out and gently touch her chin, lifting her eyes up to meet mine. She’s hurt and angry, but most of all, she’s scared. She likes Lesley—somehow they’ve gotten close through all this mess.
Leave it to Lesley to find the best in another Drake sister.
“You need to trust me. I’m doing what’s best right now.”
“You’re hiding from me again. It just makes me worried.”
“I know, but I’m asking you to trust me anyway.”
She hesitates, but nods once. “Okay, I’ll trust you.”
