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“I dangled bait,” he says, holding his hands up like he’s got no part in this. Like it isn’t his fault. “I didn’t force her into anything. I didn’t coerce or trick her. All I did was have Marina mention the shopping trip, and I made it so that Hellie’s exit path was clear and easy. I let her do all the hard work.”
I shake my head, not understanding. “She wanted to go to the store?”
“No, Erick,” Ren says. His voice is soft now, which pisses me off. Like I’m some child. “She was hiding in the trunk. She wanted to escape.”
“I don’t believe this.” I look to Marina as she stands off to the side of the room, avoiding eye contact. “Tell me the truth. Did this happen the way Ren’s describing it?”
“Everything he says is true.” She doesn’t look happy about it. “Don’t be too hard on the girl. This isn’t easy on her.”
“Stop,” I say, digging my fingers into my palms. “She really tried to escape?”
“Yes,” Ren says. “She had her chance and she took it. I’m sorry, Erick, I really am. I know you like the girl, but she’s lying to you. Whatever you think you two have, it isn’t real.”
“He doesn’t know shit,” Marina cuts in. “Just because she tried to run—”
I hold my hands up. “Shut up, both of you.” I take deep breaths, pacing back and forth. “Where is she right now?”
“Up in her room,” Ren says. “I have her locked in for now.”
“She has food and tea,” Marina adds, as if that helps.
I turn away. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Wait.” Ren doesn’t move, but I hesitate and let him talk. “I get it, man. Shit’s complicated with her. But do you really trust her? I mean, really, after all this? We drugged her. We kidnapped her. Do you really think she wants to be here after all that?”
“We saved her life,” I say, even though the words sound pathetic now.
“We did, but does it matter? We still kidnapped her, and now you’re forcing her to make art forgeries, even though she doesn’t want to.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Isn’t it? Yeah, she’s good at the painting shit, and maybe she even enjoys it, but we still drugged her and forced her to work for us. How the fuck can you trust her? How are you even remotely surprised that she tried to run? Brother, you gotta open your eyes and understand. She’s our prisoner.”
“Why are you doing this?” I can’t look at him. I’m too angry, and I’m worried I’ll do something stupid, like beat that sympathetic fucking look off his face.
“I need you to see clearly. You’ve been compromised since the second she walked into our lives, and I’m worried that you’re going to make bad decisions because of her. This shit with Gallo and Frost is serious. You barely avoided an all-out war once already. You think Gallo’s done? You think Frost isn’t going to try something again? I need you, Erick. I need you on your game, not lusting after your prisoner.”
I slowly turn and stare at him. “Fuck you.”
“Yeah, fine, you’re pissed, but I’m still right.”
I walk away. If I stay a second longer, I might strangle him.
But part of me knows he has a point, or at least he has good reasons for concern. I hate those reasons, despise them with every fiber of my being, but I understand them at least.
We drugged Hellie. We kidnapped her. That doesn’t change.
He’s right about Frost and Gallo too—they’re going to be a problem no matter what we do to keep them in check. I need to be actively involved, not chasing after Hellie.
That doesn’t excuse what he did. Ren never should’ve tested her without my consent. He stepped over a line and he will be punished for that shit.
I reach Hellie’s room. The bolt’s closed on the outside and it breaks my heart, seeing her locked down like that. I can’t open it yet—I take a second to compose myself, trying to come to grips with what’s happening.
Hellie tried to run away.
After everything, after yesterday, she tried to escape.
I opened up to her, gave her a glimpse of the man beneath the gangster, and she bolted the first chance she got.
