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55
ALYSSA
ALYSSA:I’m so sorry. Please don’t hate me.
LIAM:Of course I won’t hate you. Just please tell me what’s going on?
Lev took his headphones upstairs, so I’m back to text conversations with Elle. Which I honestly don’t mind. If we were talking, she might hear the turmoil in my voice and that would only make her panic.
ALYSSA:I’m fine. I swear. I’m safe.
LIAM:You say that a lot. Which is why I don’t believe you.
I sigh. It would be so easy to tell her exactly where I am. She’d get the cops involved and I’d be out of this basement in no time. Except for one thing—
If that happens, Uri and I would be done.
You’d think that’d be a good thing, right? But as it turns out, no part of me is actually onboard to believe that. Everything in me is screaming that it would be a catastrophic mistake. If there’s even a slim sliver of a chance for the two of us, I don’t want to destroy it by calling in reinforcements.
Which means I’m forced to wait this out. I’m forced to trust that Uri will let me go one day.
I wonder how long it’ll be until I regret this.
ALYSSA:Things are just a little… complicated, Elle.
LIAM:Does this have anything to do with the series of murders and freak accidents that have been happening all over the city?
ALYSSA:What do you mean?
LIAM:There was this warehouse in WeHo that burned down last week. The cops ID’d eleven bodies, all of whom were linked to this mafia guy named Sobakin. And then two days ago, this young guy who was murdered in a local bar in broad daylight.
ALYSSA:He was connected to Sobakin, too?
LIAM:That’s what the news is saying.
ALYSSA:Yeah, I think it’s all connected. Which is why I have to stay put for now. That also means I won’t be able to come to your wedding. I’m so sorry, Elle. You have no idea how much I hate myself right now.
LIAM:Hey now, don’t hate yourself. As far as excuses go, being targeted by a scary mafia dude is a pretty good one.
ALYSSA:You’re the best, you know that?
LIAM:You’re not completely off the hook. I expect you to make it up to me when you’re out of… wherever the hell you are right now.
ALYSSA:Definitely. One hundred percent. Whatever you want, I’ll do.
LIAM:Great. But that is contingent on you getting out in the first place.
ALYSSA:Don’t worry. It’ll happen. I promise.
LIAM:Is he treating you right?
I have no idea how to answer that. I mean, the easy answer is “no.” But I have a feeling that Uri is just as scared as I am about this whole situation between us.
ALYSSA:He’s a good man, Elle.
LIAM:He better be. Otherwise, I’m gonna kick his ass. I don’t give a shit who he is.
I snort with laughter.
