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Andrew’s partner backs toward the door. “We should go.”
The look in Andrew’s eyes turns menacing. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Come on, man. You know Ludo doesn’t want you alone with him.”
“What Ludo doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” Andrew says with a shrug. “I just want to give him a piece of my mind.”
With an eye roll, his partner turns to leave. “Make it quick. I’m not getting in trouble over fucking family drama.”
The second we’re alone, Andrew’s whole demeanor changes. He steps closer, and his voice is pleading as he whispers, “Rhett, I’m so sorry. I never wanted this to happen.”
“Fuck you,” I seethe. “Save your bullshit. It won’t work on me.”
“I mean it. I was supposed to stay with Benny in his room, but he fell asleep, and it was boring as hell. I was just doing a little exploring.”
Even as I have to fight off the urge to punch Andrew, worry curls through me. He disobeyed direct ordersagain?
“I was across the hall from the billiard room when I heard a noise,” Andrew says. “I opened the door a crack, and when I saw Wren going inside, I didn’t know what else to do. I had to tell Ludo. But I didn’t think he’d—”
“Is it really that hard to keep your damn mouth shut?” I growl.
“Rhett,please.I was doing what I thought was best. Knowing his plan now, I was obviously wrong, butI didn’t know.You have to believe me.”
“What you thought wasbest?”I spit out. “What did you think Ludo would do, give us a lecture like we’re teenagers? He’s a cold-hearted murderer, Andrew. You knew. You fucking knew, and you didn’t care.”
“I swear, I had no idea,” he insists. “There’s been talk of a rat, and you didn’t seem to like that I’m working for him. So when I saw Wren, I thought maybe it was you four. I didn’t know who to trust—Ludo or you guys. And Ludo is the one who’s helping me get custody of Benny—or so I thought—so at the time, he seemed like the right option.”
“You almost got Wren killed.” My chest squeezes painfully at the reminder that she still might die.
“I waited until you guys had already left,” he says, his voice pleading. “I did everything I could.”
“If she dies because of you,” I say lowly, “there won’t be a single force on this planet strong enough to stop me from coming for you. If anything happens to Elliot or Oliver, I’ll tear you apart and feed you to the first pack of wild dogs I find. You understand?”
“I promise I didn’t mean for any of you to get hurt,” he whispers.
“Save it for someone who cares.”
“Just tell me what to do. I have to get Benny out of here. I didn’t know Ludo was planning on using him like this. If he dies because of me—fuck, Rhett, I can’t let that happen.”
“Andrew,” his partner calls through the door. “Let’s go.”
“Fuck,” Andrew hisses. He grabs his hair and pulls as he makes one last attempt. “Rhett, I promise I’ll do whatever I can to help you get out. I’m not sure how, but—”
“Don’t bother.”
“I can’t leave you here!”
“Just punch me.”
“W-what?”
“Punch me, Andrew. You told your partner that you were giving me a piece of your mind. So make it fucking look like it.”
“But you don’t believe me. You just threatened me. What the fuck, Rhett, you’re—”
“Just do it.”
The helpless look in Andrew’s eyes reminds me of another boy. One who lost almost everything. One who almost gave up. One who maybeshould’vegiven up.
