“I don’t need names. I need to know if they are feds,” I reply, narrowing my eyes at him.
He avoids eye contact as he thinks over my question. He’s trying to decide which way will make me want to help him. If he says yes, he thinks I’ll run. If he says no, he thinks I’ll kill him.
“No, there are no feds involved, but plenty of others who are always watching. Don’t fucking forget that,” he hisses.
Now it makes sense why he needs Gillian so badly. He has no inside contacts. That’s why he went after her, and I played right into his hand. Fucking prick.
“Okay, I need a little more time. Her computer has a virus, so she has someone coming to fix it today. After that you'll gain access,” I explain.
He steps closer to me and I stand up straighter. Come on mother fucker, hit me.
“You better not be fucking lying because that will make things so much worse for you both,” he hisses.
I push him back and straighten my cut. “Relax asshole. I know what I’m doing.”
He grabs a phone out of his pocket and hands it to me. “Burner phone. If you don’t answer my text, I’ll assume you went back on your word and Gillian will be the first to die a slow, painful, death.
I growl as I grab onto his shirt. “I’m doing everything you ask. If you touch her I will fucking kill you.”
“Answer that phone when I text,” he says, looking down at my hand.
I push him back and he nearly falls. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Time is not on your side,” he yells.
I flip him off as I pull away and head back to Souls. I don’t know how much time I’ve just gotten, but it’s better than nothing.
Chapter 9
Gillian
* * *
I wake up, sitting up quickly as I hold the blanket up to my neck. It takes me a minute to remember where I am and my racing heart slows down. Last night was the first time I’ve slept for more than a half hour at a time in weeks. I know the reason is because I felt safe in Riley’s arms and I hate it.
I find myself slipping and letting him back in. I don’t even realize it’s happening until I snap out of the daze I’m in. I fight it. I push it all down and push him away. The problem is I ache for him. My body craves for him. My heart bleeds for him. My soul longs for him. But my head won’t allow it.
It’s so confusing and I have no one to talk to about it. Rachel was the one I told all my secrets to.
I push the blanket off and go take a long shower. I let the hot water pound on my body as I try to clear my head. I close my eyes, wishing that my biggest problem was trying to push my feelings for Riley down. But compared to my life being on the line, it seems inconsequential.
He brought this all on me and I’ve never felt fear like I have the last few weeks. Even now, hidden within the club, I’m terrified. I don’t even understand how something like this could be possible.
After my shower, I do my hair and makeup. I have nothing but time, so might as well use it. I step into my favorite jeans and red shirt. The outfit that brings back memories of Riley. I look in the mirror and notice how I seem to pop against all the brown in this room. I’m sure it’s purposely done, but it’s awful. Brown walls, tan carpet that has seen better days, dark wooden furniture that looks handed down through a few people. Even the comforter on the bed is brown and black. There’s a small window above the bed, but it looks like a window out of a basement. It lets in very little light and the tan curtain doesn’t help. My red shirt is the brightest thing in the room.
I sit on the bed and sigh. Now what? I stay here until Riley comes home and let my thoughts consume me? Because that seems to be all I do lately.
Just as I get up to grab a cigarette, there’s a knock on the door. I freeze and stare wide-eyed at the door.
“Gillian? It’s Harper.”
I relax and open the door. “Hey,” I say, smiling.
“You know you don’t need to stay locked away in this room. Come out and hang out with us. I just brewed a fresh pot of coffee,” she says, stepping back.
I grab my cigarettes and step into the hallway. “I don’t know what I can and can’t do.”
“Don’t stay in the room. It will make you crazy,” she says.