“You did this? You betrayed Vico to Yakuza?” Gabby’s scorn is clear for me to hear as she’s walked out with Emily and Andreas’ men. “You're the fucking leak?” Her eyes narrow accusingly at me, and I have to fight the urge not to defend myself.
Everyone slips through, swallowed up in the throng of people all looking to have a good night. Andreas creeps towards me, dismissing the men who have me in their clutches.
“Looks like things haven’t worked out for you,” he brags, snatching my arm into his hand.
“Don’t count on it.” My positivity is false. This situation couldn’t be more dire, and I have zero control over any of it. “Where are you taking Gabby and Emily?” The least I can do is try to get an insight to what their plan might be.
“Somewhere we can ensure the Yakuza get back what Cane stole from them.”
“See, this is all to do with Cane. Don’t drag us into it.” My automatic reaction to hearing Cane as the catalyst for all of this is still one of hatred.
“Oh, no. You’ve made this far too easy. Bringing Cane and Vico down will secure my next step on the ladder, plus a reward. You’ve done me the biggest favour, following me that day.” His thumb rubs across my cheek. Revulsion breaks out over my skin as his touch lingers and he allows his eyes to crawl over my body.
“You’re sick, Andreas. Benjamin and Quinn will never let you get away with this.” I heave myself from his grasp, part of me looking for escape and not caring what happens to Emily or Gabby. It’s all Cane. All of this. If they hadn't come here…
“I’m willing to take my chances. I’ll even let you reconsider which side you play for. It’s not too late to ensure you get out of this alive.” He licks his lips, and I’m transported back to the streets of New York, having to look past the individuals who wanted to spend time with me and focus on what the next few hundred dollars would mean instead.
Not now.
“You’re delusional if you think I’ll sleep with you.” I turn my nose up at Andreas and hide the fear that’s beginning to fester in my stomach. He’s isolated me from everyone, kept me alone, although we’re still in the stadium full of people. His next move isn’t clear, although something tells me he won’t kill me. I hope.
“Shame. We’ll see how forgiving my sister is when she learns just what you did to set up her husband.” He snatches my hand back to him and pulls me through the building, a pace in his stride that I struggle to keep up with.
We don’t leave the way we came in. Instead, Andreas marches us through a maze of rooms and corridors in the depths of the building before we burst through a fire escape door into a dark, underground car park.
He tugs on my arm, despite my protests, until I finally use all my strength to pull back. Screw this. I'm suddenly fifteen again, using my skills to get out of trouble on the streets. I slip my feet from my sky-high heels and plant them on the cold concrete, ready to run to… somewhere, anywhere, but no sooner have I taken a step than another man steps from behind one of the pillars. I run right into him, bouncing off his wide, intimidating torso to the ground.
“Hope, you disappoint me.” I look back at Andreas from the floor and see him nod. “You could have been useful to me.”
Pain explodes across my eye, sending me into darkness.
Voices. I hear hushed voices.
“No, I want to know what the bitch has said.”
I recognise Gabby's voice, and I’m aware that we’re moving. As my mind begins to wake up, I can feel the gentle movement of a vehicle. I’m on my side, an ache along the side of my body I’m resting on.
“Wake up, Hope.”
Gabby’s infuriated tone makes me re-think opening my eyes, but I pull myself up to sitting reluctantly. We’re in a van. Emily and Gabby are sitting on a small bench running along the side. I right myself and look at them. Expectancy is leveled at me from both women.
“I’m sorry,” I start.
“For turning us over to the Yakuza? What the hell, Hope? You’re lucky I’m focusing on how to get out of this mess, and not what you’ve done.” I look and notice the venom in her eyes, as if she might well attack me at any minute. “I can only speak for Quinn and Nate, but if they don’t kill you for what you’ve done, I can’t imagine Vico is going to be too pleased with his mistress selling him out.” I scowl at her, frustrated at this whole situation.
“I didn’t sell out Benjamin. I’d never do that.”
“Only Cane? You stupid bitch. There isn’t much of a line separating them at this point.”
“Well, I guess I fucked that part up,” I snap at her. Gabby’s snide comments don’t do anything to keep me calm or help me think of a way out of all this.
“So, you admit to setting up Quinn and Nate?”
“Yes.” My voice echoes inside the tin can. Screw her and her mouth.
“Wow. Youarea vindictive bitch.”
“Shut your mouth. You have no idea why I’ve done what I have. Until you do, you don’t get to judge me.”
