“An accident. Of course. Tiny rooms in that hideout are just perfect for knife play or practice, and you had all the time in the world for that,” I said with all the sarcasm I could muster. Maybe I didn’t know what had really happened, but I wanted him to confirm that he hadn’t beenon board with killing an innocent woman and her unborn child for no good reason. If he had, then maybe I’d finally be able to free myself from this spell he seemed to have put on me.
“Believe whatever the fuck you want. Ingrid was ambitious, and yes, that sometimes blinded her and she lashed out when things weren’t going like she wanted them to. But you handled the situation well, like I knewyou would.”
I had a feeling he’d always find an excuse for whatever she’d done. “So you would’ve done the same if she’d sent you to do the job?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He started for the door, not looking at me, and I wondered if he’d messed up some of Ingrid’s operations without her ever finding out about it, or maybe there hadn’t been a need for that.
Chapter 5
THEO HAD GONE TO MY room, and I’d stayed in the kitchen to clean up. When I was done, I headed to my room, certain he would no longer be there. My jaw almost hit the floor when I pushed the door open and found him lying on my bed with my old tablet in his hands. Somewhere deep inside me, I was glad he hadn’t left, but Ihad no idea what he was up to now. I supposed he was waiting for the night to fall.
“What are you doing?” I asked, but he flipped over the tablet before I could see anything.
“I borrowed your tablet and your neighbor’s Wi-Fi.” He sat up, and my phone vibrated. I pulled it out of my pocket and realized I had a text from the Cobras. They said they agreed on the security upgrades I’d requestedand that more men would be posted right where I wanted them to be. Except, I hadn’t asked for any of that.
I squinted at Theo. “What else did you do?”
“You really shouldn’t leave this thing lying around.” He lifted the tablet. “Anyone could get their hands on it.”
I snatched the tablet from him, but he’d managed to turn it off already. “It wasn’t lying around. It was behind the dressingtable.” How on earth he’d found it was beyond me. “Did you up my security?”
“And why would I do that?” A smile tilted his lips.
“That’s what I’m asking you, and don’t lie to me that you have no idea what I’m talking about.” I turned my phone toward him for a moment, then slipped it into my pocket. “I didn’t request any changes or more guards, and the Cobras seem to think I did. The onlyperson who could do that from this apartment is you.”
“Are you sure you didn’t misplace one of your devices?”
“Theo.” I ground my teeth. “Just tell me.”
“Maybe I was messing with your protection so I can get out of here, or maybe I want your men to realize just how easy it is to get past them. I told you, I like a challenge.”
“And then you have the nerve to accuse me of lying.”I rolled my eyes and opened one of the drawers, tossing the tablet inside. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on? I was right, wasn’t I? Someone’s after me.”
“Do you know why I stayed here? It’s because I’m really enjoying your wild imagination. I’m just waiting for you to come up with something even crazier than what you’ve already told me.” He gave me such a big grin that I knewit was fake.
“If you’re going to keep pretending, then just get the fuck out of here. I’m going to call the Cobras and I’m going to tell them to call off their guards and undo any changes you made.”
His smile faded, and a tic started in his jaw. “You were right,” he finally said. “There’s someone after you.”
“Who?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll handle it.”
Was that the real reasonwhy he’d come here and why he’d let me see him? Because he knew there was someone who wanted to harm me and he didn’t want something to happen to me? The Cobras would definitely be more careful and watch over me closely if they knew he was around and that I was in danger. “I believe the last time you tried that, you got shot and nearly died.”
“I was distracted. It won’t happen again. Thatguy got in my way and he’s going to pay for that.” Theo’s nostrils flared.
“Then tell me the guy’s name or anything about him. Why is he after me? Is he a Rosa Nera too? If you want to keep the exclusive rights to killing me yourself, then you’ll have to tell me more so I can protect myself.” I flashed him a wide smile.
“He won’t get to you. That’s all you need to know. Stay here andinstall surveillance cameras and more alarms around this building. I’ll let you know when it’s done.”
“You know, maybe the whole get-it-done-and-don’t-tell-me-anything-about-it thing worked with Ingrid, but it’s not good enough for me,” I said. “That guy almost killed you, which means he’s dangerous, and there’s no way I’m letting you go after him alone.”
“You can’t change my mind aboutthis. I’m going after him whether you want it or not, and you can’t make me tell you who he is.” He got to his feet and started toward me, but I didn’t back away.
“And if something happens to you, then what? See you in the afterlife? You’ll be glad the guy got to kill me for you? How about you stop for a second and consider a different idea.”
He cocked his head at me. “What idea?”
