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Her eyes traveled down to his belt, where the gun sat. “If you wanna shoot me, then do it.”
“Oh, how I would love to,” he spat. “Our lives would be easier.”
“So would mine,” she countered. She stood up to his antics, just like she did mine. Without fear and with minimal regard forher life. “You know what else would make everything easier?” She turned around. “Telling me what the fuck I don’t know.”
Carson opened her mouth to speak, but Liam shot her a look to shut her up.
“No takers?” she yelled. “Fine, then at least answer me this. Who Samuel Webb is.”
Nausea invaded as his name echoed against the walls. “Samuel Webb?” I muttered.
It didn’t matter what I said, Liam’s heavy voice cast over mine. “Where did you hear that name?”
“Didn’t just hear that name, oh no. I had a whole ass conversation with him. That—mind you—felt like a fishing expedition and an interrogation all at once.” Frustration clouded her eyes.
She looked so different from normal. Her makeup was laid on heavier, a red dress that clung to her curves in perfect ways with those long, tanned legs underneath. This was AudrySantora,not just Audry.
“Also, my parents seem to be a bit terrified. Terrified enough to send me and my brother away on the biggest night of the year. An event that I’veneverbeen excused from in my life!” She paused, making eye contact with everyone but me. “Will somebody speak?”
I stepped forward, but Liam pressed a hand to my chest.
Liam sighed, glancing at me. “No.”
“No, it isn’t up to you, Liam. Also, it’s not up to Kai either. He is a fucking coward, after all. So fucking scared of the smallest amount of commitment,” Audry yelled, stepping between Liam and I. “I’m a grownup. Treat me as such.”
I jutted my chin, nodding at Liam. The words didn’t need to be spoken aloud. It was time Audry knew. He shook his head again, rolling his lips into his mouth. Irritation grew along hisexpression as he curled his hands into fists. The last thing he wanted was some girl demanding things from him.
“That’s Liam’s father,” I muttered.
Liam shot me a glare that screamed ‘shut up or I will make you shut up.’
“And our employer,” Carson said, crossing her arms.
“And I’m about ninety-eight percent certain he is the antichrist,” Logan joked.
I sank into the couch, ready for my life to crash down around me again.
“Shut up all of you,” Liam yelled, moving past Audry.
“No, she should know!” Carson said, her voice filled with urgency. Determination and disobedience wrapped along her tight frown. The room hushed, the air growing thick as the word hung in the silence.
Liam looked at me and shook his head. “Fine, but it’s her death warrant.”
I listened as Liam laid out who the Red Widows were, how each of us fit into the situation. And how we had been ex-communicated for Laila’s mistakes with the caveat of paying the man. Audry’s expression didn’t falter, and she never looked my way.
No matter how much I mentally pleaded she would, those dark eyes never drank me in. It was as if I didn’t exist to her anymore. The longer it went on…the heavier my heart became.
“What does this have to do with me and my parents?” she asked.
“You’re a Santora,” I said, the first time I spoke.
“So?” She shrugged, finally meeting my gaze. There was an angry fire in there, one that screamed I broke her heart.
I bit at my lip, tapping my bruised knuckles against them. “Your family is neutral. The hotel is neutral.”
Audry laughed. “My parents aren’t criminals.”
“No, they aren’t.” I muttered. “They just keep them in line. Your grandfather started the treaty as a way to stop all the constant wars and innocents getting hurt. He was friends with all the crew leaders, greased the right palms, and somehow convinced a bunch of criminal families to mind his orders.”
