here to do it? They’re setting you up for something. Testing you. With me.”
Deal had sunglasses on, but I watched his jaw tighten, realizing I was right.
“It’s not just me. They brought an army down when they saw you on the camera.” He tilted his head in the direction of the snipers that I’d already spotted.
“I’m half-naked on a beach with no cover. What the hell will they do with me after they eliminate me?” I leaned back and felt Uncle Case’s body tighten as he registered my words.
“I’m supposed to trust you and they’re getting ready to kill you?” Case’s hands were still in the air.
“Am I dead yet?” I changed my full attention to the man between my legs.
“No?” His answer was hesitant.
“Then trust me until I’m dead. Then trust him.” I looked back at Deal.
Deal put it together immediately. “No. You’re not cashing that favor in now. I mean, you can do it now, but I’m not putting him before you.”
Deal owed me. I had a favor I could cash in. Even if I was dead, he would grant me the one thing I asked for. I’d never intended to use it. I was going to let that enormous debt he owed me expire with my last breath, showing him that I’d helped him years ago out of the kindness of my heart.
“He makes it out alive, no matter what.” I laid the demand in the sand.
“Shit. Dammit, Eight. Why? Of all places? This is impossible. Goddamn impossible.” He rubbed his forehead, squeezing the skin there until it was red.
“I’m still very confused.” Uncle Case tried to see Deal, but I kept his hips pinned with my thighs.
“Just do as I say. And then do as Deal says. You’re going to reap the benefits of an ancient favor I did for Deal when we were just pups.” I caught the scruffy jaw of the nervous man in my hand.
“I would tip a government into power or out of it for you. You can have anything.” Deal wasn’t kidding. He could do those things, and would if I asked.
“I found my sister.” The sentence I longed to hear myself say aloud was in the exact opposite tone it should have been. An obituary announcement instead of a party invitation.
“I’m so, so sorry.” Deal’s voice cracked. He looked at his feet and fisted one hand. “I wanted it to be different.”
“Did you? Did you really?” I slid back to Uncle Case’s aka Paul’s thighs.
Suspicion, then guilt, had an ombre effect on Deal’s facial features.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out you were involved? That you at least knew some of it?” My years of research and clandestine hunting for my Lexa had never hinted Deal was in on what happened to her.
“I didn’t know it was her. Not for sure. I was just a wheelman. You know how that goes.”
“You should’ve said something. Just a hint of something was all I needed.” I slowly got to my feet, standing between the chairs. My feet sank into the white sand. Soothing, even though everything about this moment was wrong.
“Can you blame me? Eight, you’re here, ready to die because you lost her? Why would I hasten that moment in your life? I want to keep you alive, okay? So hate me for that if you have to. I was selfish enough to want you to live.” He ripped his sunglasses off his face. His deep brown eyes were tortured. “I still want you to live.”
Uncle Case tried to stand up.
“Listen, I’m just here to work a deal out—maybe a payment system with the company? I can do contract work for them if anyone’s kid is having trouble with math or anything.”
I put up a hand and prevented him from moving.
Deal reached over and pressed his fingers into Case’s shoulder. “Math tutoring isn’t going to get you out of this, pretty boy.”
Despite our intense conversation, I covered my smile. This whole scenario was bonkers.
“Let me save you. You know I can get us both out of this.” Deal reached for my wrist with his other hand. I glanced at the snipers. They were refocusing their scopes.
“Him. Not me.” I pulled my hand away from Case when he seemed to be staying put.
“I love you.” Deal gently brought my wrist to his mouth and kissed my pulse there.
“You don’t. But thanks for the gesture.” I lifted an eyebrow.
I watched the bombs of rejection explode in his eyes.