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I eye the chair he’s gesturing to with suspicion, but still take steps toward it and sit, setting myself on the edge. This guy looks similar to Nico, too, but more similar to the guy behind me, effectively guarding the door. “You know, I do see what my son sees in you. Such beauty.”
I’m distracted from the grossness of what he’s saying by the fact thatthisis Nico’s dad, not the guy behind me. So it wasn’t his dad who drugged me. So who is the guy behind me who did? Either way, I’m not comfortable in the slightest being here with either of them.
“Is there something I can help you with?” I ask politely, determined not to show any of the anxiety or fear currently lighting up my veins.
“Well, since you ask, there is. And in return, I’d love to help you, too.” I narrow my eyes, sure I won’t like whatever his idea of “help” means.
“How could you help me?”
“I could relieve you of your duties.” My obligation to be a part of the Seconds?
“Just like that?”
“I made it happen; I can make it end just as easily.”
That’s what I want, right? I want to be out of this whole situation, and to take Sawyer and Ezra with me. Except I also want to take Nico with me, and somehow, I don’t think that’s going to be within this deal.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I can. Because you’re not here to be our star participant. You’re here for leverage. But you might be better served elsewhere.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning my son doesn’t listen to what I have to say. He has a giant chip on his shoulder and only cares for himself. And you, apparently. He doesn’t realize that these Games are necessary—that he’s playing for the greater good of the Sentinels—not just to protectyou.”
“I don’t see how I can help with that.” Seeing as I am firmly on Nico’s side offuck The Games.
“He’ll listen if it’s coming from you.”
“You want me to tell him this whole thing is a good idea? That having you in power would be a good thing? The thugs that already terrorize this city?” I scoff at the end, as if my tone hadn’t adequately conveyed my disbelief, but he doesn’t rise to the derision in my voice.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I want, in exchange for your participation. Nico is entering anyway. Why go down with him?”
He’s right. I should get out; run far, far away. But that’s not the deal—to disappear from the Seconds. It’s to deceive Nico and make him a willing conspirator of the gang. But he’s already in it, isn’t he? Now, I know he doesn’t want to be, but he is. Why should I get to be away from the risk if he isn’t? He thinks it’s his fault, but it’s not—it’s theirs. I’d rather be by his side than watching it happen. I was going to do this for Callen, to get justice where the courts failed, but Nico is also well worth it. It’s a long moment with my thoughts running through my head before I lick my dry lips, my heart thundering in my chest with a mix of fear, anger, and frustration, but I force my words out.
“No, thank you,” I say as politely as I can manage. Especially when what I really mean is “fuck you.”
“No?!” He’s shocked. Whether that’s because someone is denying him or because he’s not used to anyone having any semblance of morals, I’m not sure.
“That’s what I said. I won’t be used to hurt Nico any further.” His brows crash down, but as he opens his mouth, the door behind me slams open, hitting the wall with a crash before I’ve even managed to turn. Not that I need to, because in the next moment, Nico is in front of me, leaning on the desk with one hand, the other pointing in his father’s face.
“Nico—” There’s a quiver to his father’s voice, and I’m not surprised. Nico looks absolutely livid, even from behind. His shoulders are tense, and he’s practically vibrating as if he’d love nothing more than to jump over the desk and put his hands on his father.
“No!” Nico bellows. “You’re supposed to stay the fuck away from her. I fucking warned you.” He stays where he is, though, on this side of the desk, and that seems to make his father a bit braver, as he straightens his shoulders, sitting straight in his chair.
“You don’t warn me. Need I remind you that I’m the one in charge here?”
“What the fuck is she doing in here?”
“We were just getting to know each other,” he says with a smirk.
Finally, Nico turns to look at me with wild eyes, checking me over from head to feet and back again. I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but he doesn’t seem to be calming down, no matter what he finds.
“It’s fine,” I say gently, standing in front of him. “I’m fine. Let’s go.” I desperately want to get out of here before it goes any further south. I know that Nico and I would be the ones to come out worse from that.
I’m willing him not to touch me, because I don’t want his father or the man standing silently behind us to see any kind of tenderness between us, and thankfully, he must feel the same, because he nods for me to go first. No one says another word as we leave, the door closing behind us. A huge exhale of relief leaves me once we’re alone, and Nico pulls me into his arms, where I go more than willingly.
“What happened?” he murmurs against my hair, and I sigh again.
