Page 105 of Tell Me Why
“I can get to Sin,” I say.
“No,” is Markus’ immediate response. “I know what you’re thinking, and you’re not going back in there. It’s not happening.”
“The Sacred Sons aren’t going to hurt me,” I lie. “If they wanted to, they’d have done it by now.” Another lie. “Maybe I can talk to Cash.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” someone from the table says. Lucy. She’s a more senior member, and if I’m honest, one of the smartest people at any table. “She has access to Rush House that none of us have.”
Markus shakes his head. “We have no idea what we’re up against yet.”
“I know exactly what we’re up against,” I say. “I’ve been living at Rush House for weeks, and now they have Cash on their side.”
“Which is exactly why you’re not going back,” Markus says, finality in his voice. “Cash is a fucking lunatic, who’s unhinged on agoodday. What if he uses you to get information out of Sin?” He shakes his head again and turns to face the table. “We’ll send someone else.”
I step in front of him, forcing my face into his line of sight. “Cash and I have history. The Sacred Sons and I now have a history,” I say, my thoughts drifting to Christian. “Which is why it has to be me. I can exploit that.”
“You want to reason with the Sacred Sons?” Markus laughs, the sound flat, humorless. “The same assholes who killed Tyler simply because he pissed them off? No way. I won’t risk them doing the same thing to you.”
“She’s right,” a deep voice breaks in. I turn to see Logan leaning back in his chair. “They already let her go once. Maybe she can talk to them, and we can avoid more bloodshed.”
“This is the fucking Burning Crown we’re talking about,” Markus counters. “All they know is bloodshed.”
A heated debate erupts, people talking over each other—Lucy arguing in favor of my plan, Logan backing her up, while others side with Markus.
But my mind is already made up. It was made up the second Geo told me my brother had been captured.
“I don’t need anyone’s permission,” I speak up, interrupting. “Sin ismybrother, and I’m going back.”
If it’s not too late already, my mind supplies.
As everyone continues to argue, Markus pulls me aside, genuine concern carved into the lines of his handsome face. “I promised your brother, if anything happened to him, I’d protect you. He’d never forgive me if I let you walk back into Rush House.”
“You’re notlettingme do anything,” I say. “It’s my decision.”
Then, before he can argue, I turn and head for the stairs. Behind me, I hear Markus slam his fist against the table, but I don’t look back. I keep walking, keep moving, because I have to. Any hesitation, and I might lose my nerve.
Outside, the morning sun is bright, too bright, after the darkness of The Caves, as we call them. As I step out onto the walkway, I spot Geo leaning against the wall, apron pulled down, a cigarette hanging limply from his mouth.
“Hey, where’s your car?” I ask.
He points to a black SUV in the parking lot.
“Can I borrow it?”
With a shrug, he fishes the keys out of his pocket and tosses them to me. “Where are you going?” he asks.
“Thanks,” I say, deliberately ignoring his question. “I’ll get it back to you.”
In less than fifteen minutes, I’m standing in the bedroom at Exeter House. I had to break a few traffic laws to get here so quickly, but it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters right now is getting my brother back in one piece.
First, I need information.
Christian is asleep on his back, arm slung over his face, his tanned body stretched diagonally across the huge mattress. On my way in, I stopped by the kitchen and grabbed a paring knife. I’m holding it at my side, squeezing the handle as I climb onto the bed and straddle his hips.
With a sleep-drenched moan, he shifts slightly, arm falling to his side as he gradually begins to stir. I hold the sharp blade lengthwise against his throat, right next to the bandage, pushing into the skin a little. Enough for the pressure to wake him up.
“Eve,” he says, blinking, not realizing there’s a knife to his throat. “Damn. I must have fallen asleep.”
“Why didn’t you tell me my brother was captured?” I ask, my voice deliberately ice-cold.
