Page 26 of Playing For Keeps
“I’m not in control here, and if you can’t be honest with me, you’re out of luck with any help I can be to you.” He veers off to the side and pushes a door.
It swings open to a bathroom with a toilet and an open shower. Mold and grime cover the room.
I visibly shudder. “What do you expect me to do in here?”
“Take a piss if you need, but while you’re at it, you need to tell me more about your FBI brother.”
I’ve been trained not to discuss Aiden’s position, so I deflect. “I can’t pee with you in here.”
“You best get over that.” Xander growls and steps toward me. “I can’t help you if you don’t talk.”
“And I can’t talk if you don’t help me.”
His face bunches up, and he shakes his head in confusion. “What the fuck does that mean?”
My heart rate speeds up. “It means I need my bracelet back.”
CHAPTER 7
HUNTER
My pulse skyrockets.
And I thought my family was bad.
What’s worse than Aiden and Dorothy’s dad and uncle being tied to this somehow is now they have my evil mother involved in whatever misdeeds they’re dealing in. This situation is a ticking time bomb, and Dorothy’s life is tied to said bomb.
I stare hard at Aiden. “You haven’t told us what my mother has on you.”
Aiden’s gaze shoots over Melanie’s shoulder and lands on me. “She says if I don’t accept her offer, she’ll hand Dori over.”
Jamison steps forward. “Hand her over to who?”
“This is all your fault.” Aiden jabs his finger in Jamison’s direction. “Don’t you get it? By dating her, my dad will see how out of control I’ve been this entire time. She’s in danger being with you.”
Jamison flinches. “Why does dating me put her in danger?”
“By going against him, he’ll make his threats a reality.” Aiden stiffens. “He’ll hurt her. He’ll take everything awayfrom me and ruin any chance of happiness you two think you can have. Who knows what he’s capable of? He’s warned me Dori will pay if she ends up with you.”
Jamison bears down on his teeth and glowers at Aiden. “I’m not understanding any of this, Aiden. You’re talking about Hunter’s mom one minute and flip to your dad and uncle the next.
“Get to the fucking point before Dori ends up in the hands of whoever. In case you’ve forgotten, she’s in danger, and we can’t help her until we know everything.”
“Fuck!” Aiden squeezes his hands into fists and takes a moment to think. He shakes his head and faces Melanie. “If I don’t go to work for that bitch, she’ll sell Dori to them.”
“What?” Melanie’s face pales. “Who are these people you’re talking about?”
Aiden’s head falls forward. “The men who use my uncle and my dad’s containers.”
“What containers?” Mel asks with an even breath.
“Any containers they use in their shipments. It can be cargo sometimes, or it can be overseas shipping. It depends on who’s asking.” Aiden raises his head and stares at Mel with a hollow gaze. “It all depends on where they’re sending the goods.”
“Aiden, for the sake of time, can you please tell me what you’re trying to tell me?” Mel takes his hand and squeezes it.
He flicks her hand away. “My dad never told me who they were helping or what they were using the bins for. He just had me direct any inquiries or tips that came into the FBI away from them. I hated doing it, so I looked into it further.”
“What did you find out?” Mel’s visibly shaking now.
