“I want the fucking money I know you’ve got. And I want to get revenge on Aitkens for cutting me loose.”
I don’t trust him, not for a bloody second.
“Go on.”
“The girl. The one I was watching, the one you were with. You can't trust her. She's been put to work by her father. She's spying on you."
I keep my face impassive as cold creeps down my back like the biting edge of a razor’s blade, an uncomfortable shiver going through me.
“How do you know this?"
"I overheard a conversation. I was outside the door when her father was talking to her. I know exactly why he put her up to this."
I do my best to stay nonchalant, to not let on how this is affecting me. I'm the one that’s supposed to be bloody manipulating her, not the other way around. And how do I even know he's telling me the truth?
“She wants money,” he says. “Wants to build her fucking shop up. Thinks her father will give her money if she hands you in.”
I shake my head. He’s lying, I know he is.
“Prove it.”
He shakes his head. “You’ll have to take my word for it.”
“I’m supposed to take your word for it? You, the fucking bloke who hit on Bryn, who tried to hurt her, right under my damn nose?”
He glowers. “She fooled me. She’s a goddamn slut.”
I hit him so hard his head snaps back, blood spurting down his face and all over me. He cries out, and his hands strain to get out of his bonds to cover his face.
“Shut up. Shut your fucking mouth.”
“You’ll see!” he says, his eyes dancing with maniacal glee. “You probably already fucked her. You probably already care about her! She’s sucking you in, only to lead you right to her father’s lair.”
William’s shaking his head. “Don’t believe him, brother. I’ve run his background. He’s a master manipulator and a liar.”
“Fuck you,” he growls. “Fuck all of you. I came here because I need to start another life for myself. I thought I’d give you intel you needed, get paid for it. I don’t fucking care who you love or where you stick your fucking cock. You can sleep with the whore all you want—”
I punch him again, this time in the gut. He heaves and gasps for breath.
“You’ve got something else to say?”
He shakes his head.
“Good,” Leith says, scowling down at our bloodied prisoner. “Tate, you finish this interrogation. Mac, you come with me.”
I give Leith a questioning look. I shake my head at him but he’s immovable.
“Now.”
Tate steps in front of our prisoner and the door shuts behind me.
I wish that Leith had let me be the one to interrogate that arsehole. I turn on him as soon as we’re alone.
“Why the bloody hell did you pull me out of there?”
“You were losing your mind,” he says, shaking his head. “You’re too invested in this, brother.”
“What do you fucking mean?”
He puts his hand on my shoulder, leading me away to the stairs that lead back to the main house.
“I haven’t asked you how you feel about her. But I don't need to ask. This is no mere prisoner that we have, and I don't think that you have the ability to be impartial. You’d kill the man before you got any information out of him. I know it."
I sigh. I know he's right.
“Do you think he’s telling the truth then?”
He shakes his head. “William ran his specs, and the man’s a fucking liar. For all we know, he’s here because Aitkens sent him. All I know is that he can’t be trusted, and anyone affiliated with Aitkens is our enemy.”
Anyone.
“And Bryn?”
Leith holds my gaze for long moments before he answers. “Do you care about her?”
I don't answer at first, because I don't truly know the answer. How does one even answer that question?
“I wouldn’t even know how to tell.”
Leith sighs. “I know. I was in the same position myself at one point. I hate to tell you, brother, but you've got all the classic signs. Are you going to be able to complete what you started?”
There's a hardness in his voice I haven't heard in a while, and I know that he's concerned, that he doesn’t know if he can trust me to seek the vengeance I’ve promised.
“I haven’t fallen for her,” I tell him. “I’ll do the job I promised you, I swear it.”
Leith doesn’t respond at first. Instead, he changes the subject.
“First, go to the wedding. There’s no need for a big skirmish or confrontation before then, is there?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Go to the wedding. Enjoy yourself. But watch your fucking back.”
Jesus.
“Mac, I heard you tell Tate you confiscated something from one of the staff?”
“Aye.” I almost forgot about the notebook in all the commotion.
I tug the notebook out of my pocket. “The girl called Aisla. Was running from me. She’s always prowling about the place like she’s got something to hide.”