Page 48 of KAI Tortured

I frown. “Um, I don’t think it is.”

Orion looks enraged. “Your-sister-kidnapped-you,” he hisses through gritted teeth. “She paid a million dollars for you and kept you in isolation, waiting on you to get your period so they could all rape you. You got away in the nick of time. What makes you think she’s telling the truth? And Christopher, for that matter?”

“Because, well, he knows that all I wanted to do back then was to help my sister. Why should this be any different?”

“Because he works with your sister, maybe? Goddamn, Maisy, if I didn’t know you any better, I’d think you were the most gullible person in the world.”

“I see this could be a trap, but what if it isn’t?” I counter. “This is my chance to meet my nephews and niece. My family. I thought for a long time I had no one in this world except for Rosey, but not anymore. And as much as I hate her and everything she’s done to me, I don’t want to miss out on this one chance. Even at the cost of my own freedom.”

“She will kidnap you, again!” he yells. “And this time, maybe we won’t come to save you. I’ve had enough of being shot at because of you! If that happens, do not count on me!”

“Oh yeah? Last I checked, you didn’t save me from the Slavs!” I shout back at him. “I saved myself!”

“And the other times? For fuck’s sake, Maisy, your reckless decisions would kill me one day. My body needs to recover and regain strength before you try something stupid again!” he bellows, his lips curling into a snarl.

Kai shows up on the roof deck, holding a cup of coffee. “We can hear you perfectly fine, Orion. No need to yell.” He too is wearing nothing but boxer shorts. He settles under the shade. “What’s going on?”

“The head of the Slavs, as she calls herself, is offering her children up as bait to try to get Maisy out of here!” Orion rages. He turns to Kai and shows him my cell. “Read for yourself.”

Kai reads it, then looks at me. “The fuck? Come on, baby girl. You’re smart enough to see it for yourself. Right?” He takes the phone from Orion and as he starts to type, recites, “Hi, Christopher, that’s not a good idea. Maisy.” He looks pointedly at me. “And, send.”

“Kai! I wanted to respond! I mean, what if… What if I get her to come here?”

“No!” both of them reply in unison.

“Give me my cell!” I hold out my hand. Kai looks at Orion, who nods.

I take it and start typing, but then delete what I write, and again, I try to type. I’m not sure what to say, but I want to say something. They’re not gonna take my voice away.

“What are you gonna say?” Kai asks.

I read out loud as I type. “However, I’d like to meet up for lunch if the offer still stands. Today. Maisy.” I look at Orion. Under the sun, he looks like a black hole that swallows everything in its path. “Send,” I add, and smile inwardly. I dare not show on the outside how satisfying that was.

Orion is not letting up. “Why? Why do you want to expose yourself to danger? They want to draw you out of here, and now, they’ve succeeded.”

“You think everyone’s bad, don’t you?” I retort. “Christopher’s on our side. And this will give me a chance to ask him about Rosey, and her children.”

“Really? Does he know you’re staying at the Vitali penthouse? Riding on a Delgado bike, fucking a Carte?” he barks at me. “Because if he did, you’d be the first to be interrogated!”

He storms away from the roof deck like a hurricane.

Kai’s shaking his head at me. “He’s right. You’re putting not only yourself in danger, but us too.” He too turns to leave, then stops and regards me with poignant intensity. “You know, one of these days, something’s gonna happen and we’ll be gone. We are going to die for you, literally.”

“Live for me instead, Kai. That’s all I want.”

Kai hangs his head sadly and leaves me, too. The win I had a moment ago now tastes bitter in my mouth. But another ping of my cell draws my attention away from my dejection.

“Of course. Meet me at one o’clock at Avra Madison. It’s on the corner of 60th and Madison. Christopher.”

“See you then,” I text in reply, then settle in my chair, soaking up the sun. I cannot wait to get out of this place.

Logan’s voice startles me. “What was all that commotion, so early in the day?”

I only glance at him. There’s nothing to say.

They don’t understand the connection twins can have.

CHAPTER 13

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