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I risked a smile, fixing her with my eyes. “I know. You don’t trust anyone.”
“Exactly.”
“But what are your alternatives? You run for the rest of your life, or you use me and deal with the threat.”
“You could try to kill me the minute I cut you loose.”
“I could. But you could also be shot the moment you walk from your front door.”
“I don’t care about my own life. All I wanted was to be able to testify against my father, and to keep my sister safe.”
“If you set me free, you’ll be able to do both.”
She laced her hands into her thick, silky hair, and squeezed her fists tight. The action must have hurt, but she didn’t relent, almost as though she was punishing herself.
“I can’t deal with this—with any of it! I just need Nickie to come home.” She started pacing, back and forth across the small space. “Where the fuck is she? She should be here by now.”
“I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” I replied, staying calm. “And when she gets here, what are you going to tell her about me, and the two dead men over there?”
She released her hair and turned to face me. “The truth. At least then she’ll take me seriously.”
“Why isn’t she taking you seriously?”
“Because she’s a teenager and thinks she knows everything.”
A high flush had appeared in her cheeks, and I imagined she’d look similar to this after sex, though hopefully a little less tense. She must have seen the expression on my face.
“Is something amusing to you?” she snapped.
“Not at all. I was just thinking you look sexy when you’re angry.”
Her eyes flashed with fury. “You seriously think that’s an appropriate comment? I’m worried for the lives of me and my sister, and you’re telling me I look sexy? Do you think some pathetic compliment is going to make me release you? In fact, you saying that has made me want to leave you tied up forever.”
Ah, so she had been considering letting me go. I took a tiny amount of satisfaction in that, even if my stupid mouth had gotten me in trouble. But for some reason I wanted her to know what I thought of her. We hadn’t gotten off to the best start, admittedly, and maybe I was insane for even thinking it, but I thought she might be starting to warm to me.
She let out a growl and turned away. “Where the fuck is Nickie?”
“Maybe she changed her mind and isn’t coming.”
“If she does that, whoever the hell is after us won’t need a hit man. I’ll kill her myself.”
I had to hide another smile.
She noticed and stopped to glare at me. “What’s so damn amusing?”
“Sorry. I’ll try to look more contrite.”
“So you should. You’re the one strapped to a chair with two stab wounds.”
“Yes, but I don’t have half of New York wanting me dead.”
Okay, that wasn’t completely the truth, but I didn’t think we needed to get into details just yet.
“Hey,” I said. “I know you have more pressing concerns, but can I get a drink of water? My mouth is like a desert, and if you’re going to run off and leave me like this, I’d at least like some chance of not dying of thirst within the next twenty-four hours.”
The lack of water had left me thirsty, but it had also meant I’d not needed to take a piss since she’d tied me up. I knew that relief had come to an end, though, as my bladder grew heavy and uncomfortable. The water would add to that pressure, but I figured I’d still rather piss myself than endure the excruciating discomfort of going any length of time without a drink.
She turned to me with a closed-lipped smile. “You really think you deserve any comfort? You came into my home to kill me, remember?”
