He shakes his head, and I raise my eyebrows at him, not having nearly enough patience for this as I stand and press my boot over his chest through the rug, which I can only imagine doesn’t make his confinement any more comfortable.
He groans, quickly nodding.
“Great,” I reply, easing the pressure off. “You know what you’ve done?”
He nods.
“You know what will happen if you ever do something like that again?”
I can tell this time that he’s only nodding because he thinks it’s what I want from him. I smile, shaking my head. “It would be very stupid of you to think I can’t track you down. Trust me, I’ve tracked men with far less.”
He says something, and I sigh, debating for a moment before leaning down to pull the rag out against my better judgment.
“You’ll regret it if you do,” he immediately snarls. “You and…” He looks around as best he can, trying to catch a glimpse of Cypress.
“He’s not here,” I inform him, trying to sound apologetic. “I sent him to bury your friend. Afraid he didn’t make it.”
The man curses, continuing to tell me how much I will regret my actions as if I don’t already have a lifetime of that behind me.
“Look,” I tell him. “I’m giving you a chance. But if I hear of you hurtin’ anyone in the future, you can bet I’ll be the first to darken your door. You understand?”
“They’ll find you first,” he says. “I have more friends. They’ll already be looking for us.”
“Gonna have to look pretty hard. Not sure you’re worth it.”
“Maybe not,” he replies. “But the money your partner took is.” He laughs, likely seeing the first trace of uncertainty on my face. “Didn’t tell you about that, did he?”
“We were somewhat busy,” I say, hoping I’m getting away with a smile at least somewhat close to the one Cypress uses at the poker table. “Had to decide where to dump your friend. Maybe we made a mistake deciding not to roll you up along with him?”
I whistle to Helios and the mustang trots forward, dragging the rug behind him with the rope fixed to his saddle. Tom panics.
“No,” he begs quickly. “No, I’m sorry. Don’t.”
I whistle again and Helios stops. Such a damn good horse. Wish I could say the same about more people.
“He’s…he’s going to betray you,” the man starts to babble. “He will. Your partner…he’s crazy. You…you didn’t see him.”
“I saw him,” I say, thinking of how Cypress had acted when I’d come in the room, when I’d found him standing over one man while another lay dead, when I’d finally gotten him to look at me only to seethatversion of him.
He’d looked like he had that night in the alley. That night with the knife. Under the rage rolling off him, I’d seen it—how scared he was. Maybe better than he even saw it himself.
I’d seen him. And I never wanted to see him like that again.
“He’ll betray you,” the man is saying again. “Only a matter of time.”
“And let me guess…” I reply slowly, ready to be done with this. “You wouldn’t?”
“No.” He shakes his head for added emphasis. “I won’t. Not if—not if you help me. I saw the posters at the station. You’re running from someone, too. You need people with you. There’s safety in numbers.”
“Not really partial to crowds,” I inform him, suddenly thinking again of dinner at Dolly’s house last night. “Three is nice, but any more than that would feel excessive.”
“Isn’t when it comes down to a fight,” he counters. “He—you’ll both wind up dead if you stay with just him. Let me go, and I’ll take you to my friends. Knowing who you are, they’d welcomeyou. If you were with us, no one would stand in your way.” Below me, the man smiles, my silence making him think he’s finally getting through to me as he further explains, “Not with our resources. Not with your reputation.”
Fuck, Aiden, I didn’t want your reputation. I wantedyou.
I sigh, putting my hand in my pocket to brush against the watch as I stare for a moment at the night sky.Damn it.
“You know, as tempting as you hope that offer to be,” I start, smiling as I turn my head back to him, then bend to grab the knife from my boot. “I think I’m good where I am.”