No one says a word. Malik and Kynan stare pointedly back at Penn.
“Oh, fuck no,” Penn snarls, slapping his hands on the glass. “She is not bait.”
I’m glad Penn said that because I, for one, don’t want that either.
“It’s an option,” Kynan says.
“No, it’s not,” Penn retorts. “End of story.”
“Let’s table that for now. We need to make contact with Jace and see where his head is at. He might not even be serious, but it starts with Peter talking to him.”
“When would he do that?” I ask.
“Right now,” Peter says, and I can tell by his confidence that this was also part of a plan that Kynan, Malik and Peter already hatched. “Anyone got a phone I can borrow?”
Penn and I watch quietly as Malik hands Peter a cell phone. He then pulls out his wallet, extracts a piece of paper withpresumably Jace’s phone number and dials. He sets the phone on the table and taps the speakerphone button. I hold my breath, afraid to make a sound.
On the third ring, a man answers and I can tell it’s Jace. He sounds older, but it’s him. “Hello.”
“Jace… it’s Peter.”
There’s a long moment of silence, then he says, “You out?”
“Last week.”
Jace is silent a moment, then asks, “What have you been up to?”
“Went home to visit the parents but my mom’s already suffocating me. Took a trip to Pittsburgh.”
“What’s in Pittsburgh?” Jace asks, sounding bored.
“Mila.”
More silence, this time extended so long I think he’s hung up. But when he speaks again, I can feel his hatred. “Oh yeah… what’s your bitch sister doing in Pittsburgh?”
Peter glances at me. “Visiting Penn apparently. You see that interview he gave? I think that was Mila’s doing.”
“Yeah, that fucker’s blowing a lot of hot air is what he’s doing. Have you seen your sister?”
Peter laughs cruelly. “Yeah… approached her with a phony apology. Told her I wanted to make amends. She fell for it.”
Penn and I exchange a glance. Peter is playing this perfect and no matter how complicated my feelings are, in this moment I’m grateful for what he’s doing.
“Why are you telling me this?” Jace asks, sounding suspicious. I cast a worried look back at Peter.
Malik mimes something to my brother but he holds out his palm, a plea to let him handle it. “Because I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said. I thought getting out of prison would make things easier, but all it’s done is make me realize how much I’ve lost because of Mila’s big fucking mouth.”
I wince. He sounds so authentic that I might believe Peter wants to harm me as well. I take Penn’s hand and hold tight.
“Now you’re finally understanding where I’m coming from,” Jace says with a bitter laugh. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking you ought to come to Pittsburgh and let’s have a sit-down with my little sister.”
“I want more than a sit-down,” Jace snarls like a rabid dog. “I want her to suffer. Tell me you want that to.”
“I want that too, brother.” Peter’s eyes find mine again, and they’re filled with apology. “Let’s make it happen.”
“Then we’ll deal with that fucker Navarro,” Jace replies with glee. “I can be there by tomorrow.”
