"I'm not scared," I argued. "I haven't been scared a day in my life. I just think this is a bad idea."
"Then help us plan it so we don't fuck it up," Forrest said.
"You're not giving me a choice, are you?" Was I thinking about going along with this? Did I have a choice? They were going to do it with or without me. If they did it withoutme, chances were they'd miss something. Possibly something important. Even if it was something small, it could be vital.
If I sat out, they might get themselves killed. If I didn't sit out, I could get myself killed, but what the hell? We'd done dumber things in the past. I couldn't think of any right now, but no doubt there were some. As meticulous as we were, we were more or less only human. Some of us more than others.
Yes, I'm referring to Woody. I love the guy, but he has his moments. Setting fire to a house with Sable in it, for example. Not that I thought for a minute he'd let her die. He had a sadistic streak a mile wide and a very strange sense of humor. Not to mention an enjoyment of setting things on fire.
Honestly, that house needed to be torn down anyway. If Woody off on the method of destruction, where was the harm? Sable got herself out before he got her. Lucky for him, or he would have been next. If he did anything like that again, I was going to choke the living shit out of him.
Fortunately for everyone, he seemed to have calmed down when it came to her. For now at least. He still shot daggers at her with his eyes, but I suspected that was because he couldn't deal with the fact he was falling for her, not because he didn't like her.
Woody was a complicated dude at best. Not to mention, slightly psychotic. Although, who standing in this room wasn't? I liked to make leather out of the skin of our victims.
Some would suggest that was a little unhinged. Personally, I got enjoyment out of it, and it kept me busy and creative. Everyone needs a creative outlet of some kind. Making leather, and designing houses were mine. I wouldn't judge other people for their unusual hobbies. As long as they didn't hurt anyone who didn't deserve it, which of course I wouldn't.
That was why I'd agree to help them find Savannah. She was innocent in all of this. If we could get her back without any harmto Sable, then we owed it to her to try. What was the worst that could happen? We'd die in the process.
Goodie.
In case you didn't realize, that was sarcasm.
"Where do we start?" I said with a sigh.
CHAPTER 7
SABLE
"You're good." Leif slipped onto the piano stool beside me and sat with his hands in his lap while I played.
"I'm a bit rusty," I said.
"I wouldn't have known," he said. "I can feel the emotions in your playing. That's something no one can teach. Right?"
"My piano teacher used to say that." I finished the song and took my hands off the keys. "She believed I could do great things." She was the only one who encouraged me to chase my dreams. If not for her, I wouldn't have met Savannah.
"What do you think?" he asked. "Do you want to do great things? You still could, you know. It's not like you're one hundred and twenty-five, winding down after a long lifetime. You and me?" He flicked a hand back and forth between us. "We're just getting started. You could take over the world. Go on tour with some famous singer. Anything you want."
"You think I should do that instead of trying to get Savannah back, don't you?" I asked.
I'd seen the expression of disbelief, then concern as we were discussing it. He thought the idea was insanity.
These men, they took risks, yes, but those risks were to their own lives, not to those of someone else. Not in the way this trap would risk me.
The thing was, I didn't see it as a risk. Savannah would have done the same for me. She would have done whatever was necessary to save me from the situation she was in right now. She would have saved me from Wolfgang if she could. She would have hidden me under her bed if I'd let her.
I hadn't. Wolfgang wouldn't have been gentle on her if she'd become involved an inch more than giving me emotional support when I was able to accept it. Had I told her how much I appreciated knowing she was there for me? If I had, it wasn't enough.
When we found her, I'd make sure she knew. And never let her forget it for as long as we lived.
"I think if there was an alternative, it'd be a better idea." He offered me a smile. "Don't worry, I'm still trying to think of one. So far, the only thing I've come up with is contacting Batman and asking him to find her. I seem to have misplaced his phone number. You wouldn't have it by any chance?" He patted his pants, searching for it.
I managed a small laugh. "I'm sorry, I don't seem to have it either. If I did, I would have used it by now."
Leif snapped his fingers. "Damn. I'll keep thinking then." He was still smiling, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Would you really buy me?" I asked. "If I was taken and sold."