Page 68 of Bitter’s Sweet

“I promise.”

Her mouth parts a little.

Mine wants to do something stupid with that.

Instead, she gives me the phone.

“Picture and number,” she says.

“That’s all.”

The second it is in my hand, I turn enough that Mercy can see what I’m doing but the rest of the carnival can’t. I send the photo and number to myself, Hyde, Nevermore, and CSI. No other messages. No scrolling. No digging through whatever pieces of Sweet’s old life Razor has been throwing at her.

Then I delete the sent copies from her thread and hand the phone back.

Hyde answers first.

Bring her inside. Lock down Mercy’s place. You’re on her.

Nevermore texts next.

Do not be stupid.

I type back.

Too late.

CSI comes in immediately after.

Keep the number active. Don’t block it. If he texts again I may be able to pull more.

I look at Sweet. “CSI says don’t block him yet. Gives him a better shot at tracing the number if Razor keeps using it.”

Her grip tightens around the phone. “You want me to keep letting him text me?”

“I want you to decide.”

Her eyes search mine, and I know exactly what she is looking for. Not the right answer. Whether I mean it.

Goddamn it, I hate the way that feels.

“What happens if I block it?”

“CSI gets what he already has and works from there.”

“And if I don’t?”

“He gets another chance if Razor contacts you again.”

“Do I have to answer?”

“No.”

“Can anybody answer for me?”

That one comes hard. “No.”

Her gaze stays on mine.