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I step back, holding Benjamin over my shoulder and patting his back. His wailing has stopped. Silence descends in the room.
The shock is plain on Piper’s face. I have to bite back my own smug smile. “And thank God I was,” I say solemnly. “Who knows what would have happened otherwise?”
“Stop doing that!”
“Doing what?”
“That!” She circles her finger in my face, her full lips squished into a frustrated slash. “Acting like you’re the victim here. That police officer and I both know who you really are. Stop pretending.”
I cross the distance between us in one step. Piper jerks back with a gasp, and I tower over her, eyes narrowed.
“Fine. I’ll stop pretending,” I snarl. “You refuse to accept your role in this little drama. Your job is to do what I say. That is it. You may think I’m the villain, Piper, and you might even be right. But that does not make you the hero.”
That little jab might wound her more than anything else I’ve ever said to her. Angry red splotches color her cheeks.
But I’m not done yet. “You are nothing but a background character, momentarily pulled into the melee. You will make yourself useful to me or I’ll rid myself of you. This trip downtown will be a taste of what I’m capable of.”
Her eyes widen. “You’re serious.”
It’s not a question, so I don’t bother with an answer. I just turn around and gesture for Rooney to go ahead.
He sags with exhaustion, even though the day is young, and unhooks his cuffs from his hip.
“You’re serious,” she repeats, hysteria edging into her voice. “Timofey, no. You can’t do this. I didn’t—I didn’t do anything wrong!”
When she sees I’m not going to offer her any mercy, she turns to Rooney.
“Please, Officer,” she begs, folding in on herself. “I don’t know why you’re working for him, but I’m sure you’re a good person. You don’t want to do this.”
I can’t hold back a laugh. “James is the one who came to me to set up this arrangement. Didn’t you, James?”
His jaw clenches, but he nods.
James Rooney is an unfortunate criminal—the kind with a half-formed conscience. The kind who wishes he was a better man, but knows he isn’t and never will be.
I don’t envy him. This world is much easier when you know who you are.
I offer Piper a cruel grin. “He and I were a match made in hell.”
I can physically see the hope drain out of her. Rooney crosses the room, cuffs held out in front of him.
“Come on, sweetheart,” he says gruffly. “Don’t make this harder than it oughta be.”
She jerks her arms away and tucks them behind her back. “No! No. You’re not doing this. I’m not going with you.”
“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice, ma’am.”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m the crazy one here!” she cries out. “You’re fucking deranged, both of you. You can’t get away with this. I’ll tell someone. I’ll report you.”
I shake my head. “No, you won’t.”
“Yes, I—”
“Does Ashley know where you are right now?” I cut in. “Have you told her I’m the one who broke into her apartment last night? Does she know to watch out for me?Does she even know who I am?”
Her full lips part in disbelief at my casual cruelty. They’re good lips: full and pink. It’s a waste, really. If she’s going to be as stubborn as a mule, she should look like one, too.
A flash of determination sparkles in her green eyes. “Don’t you dare touch her. Leave her alone.”
