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Renata’s face pales, and her eyes widen in surprise. “That’s not true! Those messages weren’t from me! Someone framed me, Bella.”
Isabella and Lev share a look. “We saw the footage,” Lev says in a low voice that rings with authority. “We know you escaped and want to know why.”
“You have to believe me,” she says, shaking her head. Isabella raises her hand as if to slap her. I feel a surge of anger but force it down. Now is not the time to intervene. I can’t let a pretty face, and a plaintive plea sway me from the truth.
“Hold her tighter, Ollie,” Isabella commands, her voice ice-cold.
“I’ll tell you everything I know,” Renata says, her voice cracking. “I didn’t escape The Cove. I was taken… against my will. I don’t know what you saw or heard, but I’m telling you the truth. I promise I am.”
“Who took you?”
“Your enemies, obviously,” Renata snaps. I apply more pressure to her side, and she cries out. Jesus, I feel like a dick, but I want this over with.
“That’s all you’re going to tell us? What did you tell them about us?”
“Nothing!”
I press her abdomen now, and she hisses in a breath as a tear rolls down her cheek. I’d rather beat a man to death than make a woman cry. I’m well aware it’s a weakness of mine, but that doesn’t change the facts.
Isabella leans in, her voice dangerously low. “You expect me to believe that? After all the shit we’ve been through, Renata. After everything I’ve done for you. You think you can turn your back on me, and I’ll just take your word for it?”
Renata shakes her head and doesn’t reply. If she’s lying, she’s fucking good at it. I look at Lev. He holds my gaze and nods.
“Please,” she finally says. “I came toyouin The Cove. I helped you bring down Javier. You couldn’t have done it without me.”
Isabella doesn’t respond. This is the truth. “They tried to get me to talk. Why do you think I have these bruises? I said nothing, I swear.”
Now it’s Isabella’s turn to look at Lev. He crooks a finger at her, and Isabella walks over to him.
Jesus. I’m gladsomeone’sgot a grip on her. They have a hushed conversation, half in English and half in Spanish, but I don’t catch what they say.
Renata’s gaze flicks to mine. “I don’t know why you all believe that you can be victims, that you were manipulated and lied to, but I’m the traitor here.” Her gaze pleads with me. “You have to believe me.”
I lean in, my voice softer than I intend. “There’s too much at stake, Renata.”
I can’t fucking help it. She’s breaking my heart.
The safety of everyone I care for and everything Isabella and Lev built hinges on whether or not Renata betrayed us. I look to Isabella.
“Do we have any evidence that we’ve been compromised?”
“I’ll look,” Isabella says, taking out her phone.
“Compromised?” Renata says. “What could I have possibly told them that they couldn’t find out themselves? Your location? Well known. Your part in the death of Javier? No one’s hidden that. What else would they have asked me?”
Isabella crosses her arms, her eyes narrowing. “It’s not just about what they could find out on their own, Renata. It’s the details, our plans, the timing. Did they ask about our operations?”
“No! They don’t care about that.”
“Then why are you here? Why didn’t we find your body in a ditch somewhere? They let you go.”
She cries out loud now, tears streaming down her face. I can’t help it. I’m not immune to her tears, not even close. I look away, but her pleas…
“I escaped. My brotherwasalive, I saw him. But his own men turned on him, they killed him. I had my chance. I ran, and I hid. And I knew where you had a watch set up.”
I turn and study Renata’s face, searching for any sign of deceit, but deciphering the truth isn’t my strong suit. Ironically, it’s hers.
She could be telling the truth. She could be lying.
