Page 96 of Wicked Truths

Should I trust being this close to him?

Will he try to hurt me or let me help him?

His gaze lingers on mine for a few moments before moving to the padlocks on the chains. “You don’t happen to have the key, do you?”

“No, unfortunately.”

But I have lock picking skills, thanks to Uncle Tony and AJ.

Reaching into my hair, I pull out the pin and get to work.

“That’s not really going to work. Is it?”

“Do you think I’d be wasting precious time on something that’s not going to work? Of course it works. I’ve picked so many padlocks, I could do it blindfolded in my sleep.”

I open the hairpin and get to work on his ankle lock, just like I was taught years ago.

He sits up, pulling the padlock out of my hand. “Cocky, aren’t you?”

“I’m not cocky. I’m confident.”

Picking up the lock, I try again. This time, the lock tumbles open with a soft click.

“Hell yeah!” Jax exclaims as I grab the padlock at his wrist.

It feels strange being this close to him and helping him escape from my house. The last time I was this close to him, he was threatening to kill me and my entire family.

“I shouldn’t be doing this.” I mumble.

“Then why are you?” He whispers.

I pause and glance at him. His dark orbs dance in the dim light. “Let’s call it goodwill.”

He rolls his eyes. “What would I call it?”

“Quid pro quo.” I say after a few moments.

“Ah, so you help me out, and I help you out?”

I nod as I get back to the padlock. “Something like that. I want answers and to squash whatever vendetta you have against me and my family.”

“That’s a huge quid pro quo. I don’t know if I can just move on from everything.”

“You do realize that I’m going against my family to get you out of here, right? I’m helping you escape and bringing you back home before I get anything. I’d say that a lot of quid before I get my quo.”

“Hey, I’m not going to look the gift horse in its mouth, but you want me to forget everything and move on.”

“I’m not saying forget everything. Just don’t kill me and my family. We can talk things out and try to figure everything out together. You lived with my mother. You have probably heard and seen things that can help me.”

“And what about me?”

“Well, for starters, you get to live. And second, I’ll try to help you find out the truth about whatever you are harboring a vendetta for. It doesn’t seem too far-fetched to believe we’ve been lied to most of our lives. At least I was.”

“So, you’re proposing that we work together?”

I turn the hairpin and feel the lock click open. As I undo the padlock and free him, I say, “Temporarily. Then, you can go back to New York and live peacefully. Well, as peacefully as a mafia heir can be.”

He stretches his muscles and jumps off the bed. The move catches me off guard and I drop the padlock on the concrete floor.

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