CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: WINTER
Psychological warfare.
That's what this has to be.
Why would Vito say that he wouldn't hurt me and then ask me about the shootings’ affect on me when he was taking me to another one, a more personal one.
It has to be him showing that he doesn't have to do anything physically to hurt me.
Right?
Right.
Because every time I think I can survive this torture, they go and do something that reminds me I'm not dealing with any lowly gangsters, I'm dealing with the worst of the worst.
What will they do if I can't find the rat?
My three current candidates are nothing to even mention considering I have nothing concrete on them.
"You look like you're about to pass the fuck out, girl," Amarie says as she slides up next to me.
Ever since I eavesdropped on her conversation with the guy in the booth, things have been tense. Neither of us have directly said anything to the other. But she's definitely been side eying me a lot, and I know this because I've been eyeing her myself.
How can I not when she's possibly connected to the French mafia and the rat I'm looking for?
Despite it all, I find my lips falling open as I confide in her. "I think I am."
Her brows pinch together slightly and her lips thin into a flat line. She looks around the club, her gaze pausing on Enzo who's standing in his usual spot in the shadows. She eyes him for a moment before returning her attention to me. She scoots closer until I feel one of her soft curls brush against my shoulder. She keeps her voice low. "You're not in some kind of trouble, are you?" She actually sounds concerned.
And this is why I'm having a hard time labeling her as the rat. Because despite the shady movement and the way she seems to always be keyed in on me, she isn't exactly mean. And the way she's looking at me now without any judgement in her gaze, it confuses me even further.
I clear my throat before rubbing at my wrist. "No."
"You sure about that?" she asks, raising a brow.
No, but there's nothing you can do to help me, and you certainly won't want to after I toss you to Giovanni.
"I'm sure."
A humorless laugh passes her lips and her eyes harden slightly. "I know the Costa Family is intimidating but if they're doing something to you..." She pauses, her lips twitching downward. "I have connections."
Is that a confession?
I turn my full attention to her, my heart hammering in my chest and dread filling the pit of my stomach. I want to ask her more about her connections, it's what I'm supposed to be doing after all. But my heart is telling me not to. If I'm going to tell on her, the least I can do is pretend to be clueless for a bit more.
I know the idea is stupid. Turning her in could be the key to my freedom after all. Even though Giovanni hasn't said a thing about letting me go, what use will he have for me after I do this job?
So turning Amarie over is the most logical thing.
I look into her concerned face again and a pang rips through my chest.
Turning her over may be easy, but it's not my thing.
She's sitting here offering to help me, even if the offer is null because I signed a contract and my brother will die if I break it. But still, she doesn't know that.
And really what evidence do you even have against her besides a couple whispers about who she's connected to and the fact that she keeps losing you.
This time her laugh is a bit more full and her eyes scan over my face. She shakes her head slightly. "It's okay, I know a trapped animal when I see one." She pats my shoulder before standing back up. "Just know if you need help, you can come to me," she says and amusement lights her bright eyes. "Even though you seem to have a pension for spying on me."