Tristan turned down another street. “By the way, Shaw might have the impression that I haven’t seen nor talked to you since our last job together.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I might have said quite a number of disparaging remarks about your character, claiming that you were too busy blocking the little people from your palm to step outside your crimson tower and help a bunch of kids.”
“I didn’t block you.”
“It feels like it. It wasn’t that hard to channel my frustration. He bought it. You should have seen his face. He told me to leave you out of my business from now on, that you were an important woman with important things to do. He also said you’d have me in a holding cell if I tried to contact you again.”
“So, good meeting?”
“Good meeting. He and his men will take precautions. If there’s one thing Bullstow handles carefully, it’s children. My people will keep watch over the brothels and who goes inside until Shaw acts. It’s killing some of my people not to tear those monsters apart, but they know the score. Besides, those predators might lead us to more locations later.”
They reached another stop sign, and he squirmed a little in his seat before driving on. “I’m sorry about what I said yesterday, by the way. It was uncalled for. You have your entanglements, and I have mine.”
Lila nodded, some of her anger draining away.
“But using that as an excuse just because you’re scared about what’s going between us? It isn’t fair, and it pisses me off.”
“I’m not scared.”
“You’re scared.”
“I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“Congratulations. We both have. Stop throwing out excuses. It’s—”
“I’m being blackmailed,” Lila blurted out, wincing as soon as the words were out of her mouth. It was as if someone else had said the words, as if someone else had taken over her body and her tongue, using her as a puppet.
Tristan slammed on the brakes. The truck bounced in place, its frame squeaking.
Lila grasped her shoulder as the seatbelt yanked it back, crying out.
“Sorry.” Tristan’s eyes darted to the rearview mirror. A red sedan honked behind them in one long, angry curse.
Tristan shifted into park. “Are you okay? Your shoulder, I mean?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said as she massaged her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I didn’t mean to say anything. I’m dealing with it.”
“Lila—”
“I knew Reaper had a partner. All that data wiped the day he died? It didn’t add up.”
“What do they want?”
“Short term? Money. Long term? Who knows? I haven’t had time to do much about it yet. I’ve been a little busy, what with you, the oracles, Oskar, and my parents forcing me into a vacation I don’t want. I have to pay the asshole tonight or else something bad will happen. The message didn’t say what.”
The car behind them honked again. The driver flipped Tristan off as he drove around their truck and sped past.
“We should go,” Lila said. “We don’t have time for this right now.”
Tristan put the truck back into gear and started off once more down the street. “We’ll talk while we look. What do you know?”
“Not much. I hired Max to—”
“Max? Max Earlwell? Gods, I suppose it makes sense that you know him. I don’t know whether to be impressed or horrified.”
“I’ll pretend you said impressed. He’s a friend, and he’s given me a lead. I’ll pay now, but as soon as we’ve found the kids, I’m finding that asshole. Apparently I have the time now. I have two weeks to fill.”