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“Take it,” he ordered, crossing the last few steps that separated us.
I was already in front of the bed and had nowhere to go when he cornered me. With a scowl, I snatched the paper from his hand. He waited there, clearly not going to move until I looked at it. Keeping his gaze, I slowly unfolded the thick paper. Once it was open, I glanced down, and my heart seized.
It was an old picture. One of Shawn and me the day we moved into the apartment. Shawn’s arm was wrapped around my shoulders, and my smile was big. I’d been so happy that day. It was the first time in my life I was somewhere I belonged. No more foster families. Or adults who acted like they cared but were only in it for the paycheck. Shawn might not have had much, but I had three hot meals every day, and I felt loved. Tears threatened to fall, and I sucked in a deep breath, steadying my erratic heart.
“I have more,” Hayes stated. His voice was soft, almost parental, as if he was trying to make it seem like he cared. “You can have them all.”
“Because you took them all out of Shawn’s apartment,” I accused, lifting my head to glare at him. “You took everything after your men beat and kidnapped him.”
“And after you killed one of my men, then fled.” He paused, shaking his head. “But that’s all in the past. We’re moving on. And you’re going to help with that.”
My laugh was callous. “The fuck I am. And if you don’t let me walk out of this house, then the little hold you have on Little Haven will cease to exist. The Riot Crew will get involved.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not changing my mind about this.”
A chill ran down my spine at his answer, and I stayed silent, rethinking my plan. If the Riot Crew wasn’t enough, then I’d have to bring up Ellie’s organization. I didn’t want to do that unless I absolutely had to. But as I stared at Hayes, I could tell it was what I needed to do to get out of here. The determination in his eyes had apprehension rolling through me, and I straightened up, cocking my head to the side.
“If the Riot Crew isn’t a large enough threat to you,” I drawled, letting venom seep into my voice as I finally spilled my secret, “then how about the Underground?”
My words were met with silence, and the tension in the room was suddenly stifling. Nick’s eyes widened in disbelief before he cut his gaze to Hayes, who was still looking at me intently. His expression didn’t change when I spoke, but his body stiffened. Kian was openly gaping at me as he stayed near the doorway.
“Lies,” Nick spat out. “There’s no way you’re part of them.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And why not?”
“They’re selective.” Nick’s eyes trailed down me as his lips tilted into a sneer. “You’re nothing.”
“Really? Didn’t you ever wonder why you could never find me? I know your gang was looking for a long time. How could a fourteen-year-old just disappear into thin air in your city?” I swung my gaze to Hayes, letting out a cold chuckle. “Oh, I know. By having friends who are larger than Grimrose.”
“You don’t have their ink,” Kian interjected gruffly. The guilt filling his eyes had dread slithering around my heart and squeezing. He knew something I didn’t.
“I do,” I replied coolly. My stomach was knotting from revealing my last card. Everything was going to change now. But I wasn’t going to be stuck here. “It’s a black light tattoo. On the back of my neck. Feel free to check. But I’m warning you, the longer you keep me here, the worse their retaliation will be.”
Worry flickered across Nick’s face as he glanced at Hayes. “This changes things—”
“It changes nothing,” Hayes snapped. He took the last couple of steps separating us, and my calves pressed against the bedframe as he stopped inches from me. I shifted slightly to keep balance, making the chain scrape the floor, and his eyes dropped to it before he met my gaze again. I stood stock still when he reached for my face, forcing myself not to shove him away.
Instead of grabbing me like I expected, he only brought his fingers under my chin, tilting my face up. I bit my tongue, wanting nothing more than to rip his hand off me. But I was in Hayes’s house. And his city. I couldn’t lose control before I had a sure way out of here.
“How well do you know my son?” he asked quietly.
I frowned, wondering where he was going with this. “I know enough.”
“But do you have feelings for him?”
“No.” The lie fell from my lips easily, even as my heart pounded faster.
“Really?” Hayes chuckled. “He cares for you.”
I tried to move my head to look at Kian, but Hayes grabbed my jaw, keeping my attention on him. My hands curled into fists, anger sweeping over me when he tightened his hold.
“You’re going to regret this,” I snarled. “I’m not someone you can just take without consequences.”
“Would you care if something happened to Kian?” he asked.
“Something like what?” I forced out through clenched teeth.
“Let’s say you are part of the Underground,” he mused. “And they do come after Grimrose. Would you stop them from killing him?”
