shouldn't have been surprised. Not really. The man had tried to sell his own daughter to pay off his gambling debts.
“What about the finances?” I asked quietly. “Did he gamble them all away?”
“Ah-ha. No.” Isaiah stubbed out his cig. “He directed me to control the movement of the money, and I did. Right into a secure bank account in your name.”
“And he didn't know?”
“Why would he know? He doesn't like getting his hands dirty, Adriana. Whereas your mother was sure to double check every document, every dollar—hell, the woman questioned a fucking missing quarter once, only to find out you'd borrowed it—your father doesn't do a thing. He's lazy. He asks everyone else to do everything for him. He doesn't even leave the Hamptons. He's too afraid of death for that.”
“Ironic that his most trusted friend is the one who wants him dead,” Hunter snorted.
“I don't want him dead. I wouldn't mind it,” Isaiah admitted.
Darien shook his head.
I was getting more and more confused by the minute. I didn't entirely understand why Isaiah was actually here, except to convince my father that he'd take care of me. And not in a good way. Everyone was too relaxed, too chilled over the whole situation, and that made me more uncomfortable than if everyone was waiting for something to happen.
I felt like I was the only one waiting for it. I didn't like it.
“I'll be right back,” I said, standing and hugging the bag to my front. Three pairs of eyes watched me as I walked into the house.
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was paranoid.
Maybe there was no 'maybe' about it. I felt a little paranoid. Like every corner I turned someone was waiting to kill me.
See. This was why I wanted to go to New York before now. But no. Wait, they said. It's a silly idea, they said. Even Hunter, who agreed to take me, said to wait. I didn't want to wait. I was tired of waiting. I wanted to do something.
I wanted to watch a bullet pierce my father's skin and the light leave his eyes.
I wanted to punish him for trying to sell me, then kill me, and for stealing everything that belonged to me. It was a dark desire, morally wrong, but I didn't care. There was no such thing as morals in this world. If you had morals, you had a target on your back. It was that simple.
“Addy?”
“I just... I need a minute, okay?” I turned to Hunter.
His piercing silver eyes locked onto mine. “What's wrong?”
“This whole situation. Don't you think it's incredibly fucked?” I tightened my grip on the bag strap. “Two of my father's men have just decided to switch sides? Am I expected to believe it's this cut and dry? This fucking simple, huh?”
“Maybe it is.” He shrugged. “Enzio isn't well liked. I can't say I'm surprised.”
“Well I am.” My fingers hurt, I was holding the bag so tightly. “I don't think it's this simple. I don't trust Isaiah. I don't think he's telling the truth.”
“Really? The getaway bag didn't clue me into that,” he said. Sarcasm dripped from every word, and he half-smirked.
“Fuck you, Hunter. This isn't a joke. You don't know that he came alone. For all you know, he's lying, and just because he said he's alone doesn't mean he is.”
“I know, I know. I'm not sure he is lying, though. I think he genuinely hates your father.”
“That doesn't mean he's not here to kill me,” I argued.
Hunter closed the distance between us and cupped my chin. “Do you really think I'd let him?”
“You wouldn't have a choice if he killed you first.”
“You've really thought this through, haven't you?”
I nodded. “I'm not much use to myself if I haven't. If he's going to kill me, he's going to kill you first because he knows you'll protect me. And if he didn't come alone, then, well. We're both fucked, aren't we?”
He tilted his head to the side, dropping his hand. “If you're really worried about this, why aren't you at the Pontarelli house? You'd be much safer there.”
Because I know you can protect me alone better than all of them put together.
“Gaige,” he said, half-correctly. “You don't want us near each other.”
I shrugged one shoulder. “I guess.”
“Why not?”
“Because you'll probably kill each other, and then you're no good to me?”
“Right. Like he'd get the first shot in.”
“And that right there is exactly why you're not there.”
Hunter reached forward and took hold of the bag. He gently pried my