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“Yes.”

Mathias studies me, his eyes missing nothing—the way I hold Rabbit, the nervous tremor in my knee, the too-quick breath. “You’re certain?”

I don’t like what hides behind the question. “Yes.” My voice comes out harder this time, defensive.

Quillan watches us both without turning his head.

Mathias’s expression remains an unreadable mask. “How did you meet?”

My stomach twists into a cold knot. “I… um…” The words stick. “He t-took me.”

“That must have frightened you.” It isn’t a question.

A dry swallow. “Yeah.”

“And now?”

I look down at Rabbit’s worn face.

I think about Daddy washing my hair, cutting my pancakes, painting my nails, holding me to his chest when all I want is to be quiet and listen to the sound of his heart.

“I understand why he did it, and I’m not scared anymore.”

Mathias leans back slowly, fingers tapping against the armrest. “Do you understand who he works for?”

I look at him. “No.”

Mathias maintains eye contact with me and says, “He works for me.”

Every muscle in my body locks. Oh, no, no, no, no—these are the men who wanted me killed.

“Do you understand what that means?”

My fingernails dig into my palms. “You’re going to kill me,” I whisper.

I’m a witness.

Not Kammie.

Not Daddy’s boy.

A liability.

A problem to be solved.

21

Kamden

Quillan’s mouth opens before Mathias can say anything. “Whoa, whoa, hey—no one’s killing anyone.”

Mathias says nothing. His eyes stay hard on me.

Quillan sighs and runs a hand through his hair, making the loose tie fall apart. “We’re not here to hurt you, okay? Pinky promise.” He holds up his smallest finger, waggling it like I’m supposed to link mine with his.

I don’t.

I want to curl up smaller, disappear into the couch, but I’m too scared to look weak in front of them. “I’m not going to tell anybody what I saw,” I say as loud as I can—which is still not all that loud.