“Thanks.”
“I’ll call you later.” I can hear voices from the other end of the line, but I can’t understand what they’re saying.
I slip the phone back into my pocket. “It looks like Caleb didn’t go after Raphael to stop him from escaping. Raphael used the others as his shield and forced Caleb to come with him. Why would he do that?”
“Maybe he wanted to use him as a shield in case the cops were in the tunnels,” Katherine says.
“But he could’ve taken anyone else! From what Lloyd told me, Caleb wasn’t the closest one. Raphael specifically risked a guard and sent him to fetch Caleb. Why him?” I’m chewing on my fingernails as we all try to come up with a plausible explanation.
“Raphael’s always liked Caleb more than anyone else,” Isaac says. “Maybe he didn’t want to lose him.”
I let out a nervous laugh. “So you’re saying Raphael took him because he cares?”
Isaac’s lips twist into a grimace. “Yeah, he cares about himself.”
“You think he’s going to try to restart his business using Caleb?” Katherine asks.
“What?” I say. “No! That would mean he’ll go into hiding and get as far as possible from here.”And we’ll never find them.The thought resonates through my mind, and this time I have to sit down.
“I doubt he was thinking that far ahead when he was running for his life,” Isaac says, rubbing his face. “He had something else in mind. I just don’t know what.”
“We don’t know what he’s up to, so let’s not drive ourselves insane with assumptions, okay?” Katherine says. “It’s not going to help.”
“You’re right,” I say. “But we at least know Caleb’s alive, right? Raphael needs him alive.”
“Yeah,” Isaac says. “Otherwise why take him? It doesn’t make sense.”
I nod. With all my heart, I have to believe that Caleb is fine, and wherever he is, I’m going to find him.
The days pass in a haze. When my burner phone rings, I immediately answer, expecting it to be Lloyd.
“Hello, Lilith,” the voice on the other end of the line says, and a frown line creases my brow.
“Who is this?” I ask, but I already know the answer. My hand gripping the phone, I hold my breath. How did he get this number?
“Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you don’t recognize me?” Raphael laughs.
“What do you want?” No matter how much I want to ask about Caleb, I’m not sure if Raphael knows about my involvement in his downfall. Maybe he’s just calling me for help or something.
“Fifty million dollars would be a good start,” he says.
“What?” I make my way across the room, hoping to find my other phone and contact Lloyd, although I don’t know if Raphael will be talking long enough to trace the call.
“I want fifty million dollars and you’ll give it to me.” There’s an edge to his voice.
“You can’t ask for that much for that stupid video!” I hiss.
“Oh, it’s not for the video. It’s for Caleb.”
I stop breathing. “What do you mean?”
“Stop pretending. I know you want him. Get your daddy’s fifty million and bring it to the old Wrinston factory in three hours. If you contact the cops or anyone else, I’m going to kill your favorite boy toy, understood? Come alone.”
The call ends before I can say anything. Oh God. I run my hand through my hair. Does this mean Raphael knows what I did? But then some of his henchmen are still out there, right under everyone’s noses and still contacting him. Shit. But even if he’s just guessing about Caleb and me, I still can’t just wait to see what will happen. How do I even get fifty million? I could try to speak to Lloyd, but I don’t want to risk Caleb’s life. Raphael’s spies could be everywhere.
The only people I might be able to tell are my parents. I can’t get so much money unless I talk to Dad. Raphael has to know that or he wouldn’t ask me for such a sum. Rushing to grab my coat and purse, I pray Caleb will be fine.
“Wait, what? Fifty million?” My father gapes at me. “No way. You’re not going alone to meet some psychopath who won’t hesitate to kill you.”
