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“Just listen,” Rhett says before hitting play.
“You have exactly sixty seconds to explain yourself,” Ludo says through the speaker. “How do you know these men? Why were you working with them? I’ve been nothing but generous toward you. I took you and your brother in, gave you a place to stay, and gave you a way to gain custody.Thisis how you repay me? With betrayal? Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
Andrew’s voice comes through next, unsure and terrified. “What do you mean, betrayal? I got a text from you telling me what to do! I was just following orders.”
“Following orders?” Ludo bellows. “What texts? What the hell are you talking about?”
“I—here, I’ll show you.”
There’s momentary silence, and I assume it’s Andrew showing Ludo his phone. Then Andrew says, “I did everything you asked. I waited until I saw Aubrey show up with her bodyguards, and then I textedyou.See? It’s right here. I told you they were going to the penthouse instead of the condo, so I stole a key card from an employeelike you told me to,and then you sent your men up.”
“I didn’t send these texts,” Ludo snaps. “Those men don’t work for me, and I didn’t receive that text from you. If you’re lying to me—”
“I’m not,” Andrew insists.
Something shatters, and I can only imagine it’s from Ludo throwing something. “Don’t youdareinterrupt me,” he seethes.
“I—I’m sorry, sir.”
“Sit there,” Ludo says curtly. “Don’t move. And give me your phone. I’ll have one of my men look into this and see what happened.”
“Yes, sir,” Andrew says quietly.
“If I find out you’re lying,” Ludo says, “and that you somehow faked these texts, you’re done for.Done for.You hear me? Youandyour brother.”
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry, and I’m not lying. I promise.”
“We’ll see about that,” Ludo grumbles.
The conversation changes to Ludo barking out orders to his men. Rhett pauses it and shuts his laptop, so I assume that’s the only important part.
The breakfast in my stomach sours. If Andrew is already on thin ice over this, one more naive mistake and . . .
Fuck.Fuck.
“Andrew wouldn’t do something as stupid as going behind Ludo’s back,” Oliver croaks out, “right?”
I take a moment to think it over. “When we talked to him the other day, he seemed like he practically worshiped Ludo. Based on that, I don’t think we have to worry. Hopefully the truth will come out.”
Whatever the truth actually is.It sounds like someone hacked into Andrew’s phone and made it look like Ludo was sending him instructions. Clever, I suppose. Except now Rhett’s brothers are in even more danger.
“And if the truth doesn’t come out?” Rhett’s voice is so even, so . . . flat.Emotionless.He’s staring across the library at nothing, his eyes blank. Not a good sign.
“What do you think Ludo will do?” Wren’s eyes dart between the three of us. “What’ll he do to Benny and Andrew?”
“He’ll kill them,” Rhett says quietly. “Probably torture Andrew, too. As for Benny, I’d love to say Ludo is above torturing children, but . . .” He trails off and presses his lips together.
Wren shudders.
“We need to end this now.” Rhett’s voice is heavy with regret. “Forget our plans. I’m not risking their lives—not like this. Even if Ludo finds out the rat isn’t Andrew, the kid is bound to make a mistake that Ludo won’t tolerate. We need to kill Ludo, and we need to get the boys out of there.”
Rhett is met with silence. We all stare at him, too stunned, or maybe too worried, to reply. Ultimately, the decision is up to him. If he wants to abandon everything and go straight to taking out Ludo . . .
Fuck. I don’t know if I can do that.
Wren looks between the three of us and squares her shoulders. “No.”
“No?” the three of us ask in unison.
