Page 113 of Root

“And then you ruined it by turning it into something else.”

I can feel him smile against me. “I had to, I like the soft moments. And I don’t think there have been enough of them in your life.”

“Maybe I don’t want them.”

“You need them.”

I both love and hate him holding me and in that moment. I pull free, pushing up to my feet. I can’t get that comfortable with him. It’s dangerous.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.”

He gets up. “You’re on your own the next few days,” he says. “I got a lot of work to do.” Rush hands me my jacket and helmet, and it’s clear he’s taking us back. He puts on his helmet and waits for me to get on behind him.

“Think about trusting me with the truth,” he says.

“I’m telling the truth.”

He just turns the key in the ignition and revs the engine.

And I know he doesn’t believe me.

Rush really is busy, and I’m alone, the most pampered maybe prisoner in the world. But there’s something in the air as extra people come in to clean under Mia’s watchful eye, and I’m aware I’m being watched, so I don’t search.

After all, Nikolai Wilder’s not leaving incriminating evidence around.

But the Ten64 are sick of waiting.

It’s been long enough, bitch. I glare at the text on the second day after the ride.

And I lie. Info’s in a safe. It’s locked.

Do something.

The big man, I type, is dangerous. But I can crack the nephew, given time.

2 days or Jack’s no more.

I start to shake.

A weakness with them. And the Smiths. 2 days, bitch.

Shit. I don’t know what to do. I’m cold, deep down. The texts are shorter, meaner in an indefinable way and the Ten64 are stupid enough to start something if they think it’s the only way.

Wilder is armed, but is he able to take on the chaos of this gang? They don’t play by the rules, and they’re fine if things are lawless, as long as they reap power and money.

And the Smith—

I stop.

Lucy Smith likes Rush. She texts him. And he’s the kind of guy women everywhere go soft for. Maybe if I can sell her on the idea he’s in trouble, the Smith’s will step in and then… Then in the melee I can get my brother and Rush will—will be okay. Smith and Wilder against the Ten64 and it doesn’t look like I’m to blame?

I’m clutching at straws but they’re all I have…

I head up to Rush’s room and go through receipts that lie in a pile on his dresser.

“Yes…” The receipts from a few days ago, a bar in the business district, and the amount’s so small it’s got to mean something. Like a cover for a meeting.

I grab the keys in his room for his bike, and head down to the garage. There, I whistle at the red corvette and the Stingray.

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