Page 97 of Toxic Attraction
"And if I think you're lying," I take a step closer. Let the tool catch the light. "I'm going to start removing pieces of you until the truth comes out. Starting with fingers. Then toes. Then, other parts you'll miss more."
The fear in her eyes is absolute. Primal. The kind that says she believes every word.
It's a dagger to my heart.
But I deserve this hurt. Deserve this pain. Because I let my guard down. Because I chose to trust. Because I was weak.
"I'm not lying." She's crying again, hands held up defensively. "I swear I'm not lying. I'll tell you everything. Just please don't—"
"Then start talking." I set the pliers down but keep my hand on them. A reminder. "And Valerie? If you leave anything out, I'll know. And you won't like what happens next."
She talks. For an hour straight. Tells me everything all over again, no inconsistency.
The specific intel she passed. The photos of Ethan progressively more beaten. The demands that escalated from simple guard schedules to complete operational details.
And the trap.
"He's planning an ambush." Her voice is barely above a whisper. "That's why he wants your location. He's planning to kill you and anyone with you."
My jaw clenches. "So did you tell him the location?"
Even though I already know the answer.
"No." She presses her hands over her face. "I haven’t said anything; he’s still waiting on that information before he can make his move."
Interesting.
An ambush I know about is an ambush I can reverse.
"What else?"
"He has Ethan in a warehouse on the docks. Pier 47. " Her voice breaks.
I process this. The intel she's giving me is detailed. Specific. The kind that would be hard to fabricate on the spot.
Either she's telling the truth, or she's a better liar than I gave her credit for.
“And how do you know this?”
“My best friend, Tash, had her bodyguard find out the information because she is trying to help me. He found out Ethan’s whereabouts and told her.”
"Why should I believe any of this?" I move closer. "Why should I believe you're not still playing me? That this isn't just another layer of Patrick's plan?"
"Because I love…I love Mila!" It explodes out of her. "Because that little girl trusts me and I can't—I won't—be the reason she loses you. Because I'd rather die than hurt her like that."
"But you did hurt her. You put her at risk by being here."
"I know." She's sobbing now. "I know, and I hate myself for it. But I'm telling you the truth now. All of it. Because even if you kill me, at least you'll be alive. Mila will still have her father. And I will not have to live with the pain of knowing I sent my brother to an early grave."
I study her face. The tears are real. The fear is real. The guilt is real.
I want to believe it's manipulation. Want to believe she's incapable of actual feeling. Want to believe this is all an act.
But that look in her eyes when she talks about Mila—that's not something you can fake.
I make a decision.
"Here's what's going to happen." I lean against the table, arms crossed. "I'm going to use your intel. Reverse Patrick's trap. Kill him and his men. Extract your brother."
