“I took care of it,” I say simply, hoping that’s enough and we don’t have to get into it.
He murmurs something decidedly unconvinced. “I believe I told you not to hurt her.”
All this mess with Paul makes me a touch more defensive about that, but I can’t afford to show it. “I didn’t.”
“Lance says differently.”
“Why don’t you tell me what Lance said then,” I say evenly, not liking this little guessing game.
Raj looks at me disapprovingly, removing his glasses and setting them on top of his stack of papers. “That you…” He pauses, unsure how to word it, maybe hoping I’ll save him from having to, but I don’t. “—slept with her. Which seems… improbable given your specific directions not to be seen.”
“I wasn’t.” I’m not sure how much of the truth to tell. Truth is, I can’t figure out what Raj is thinking when it comes to Annabelle. Seems like he used to be close to her, but now he can’t accept her innocence in her stepfather’s world.
Raj quirks a dark eyebrow. “Then perhaps I’ve been doing sex all wrong.”
Expressionless, I make a snap decision and go with it. “I went back after that night. The following night after work. Just to make sure I was right about what I’d reported back. I didn’t sleep with her; I saw her husband hurting her. I stepped in. It was easier to tell Lance I slept with her.”
“You spoke with her?”
“Briefly. She isn’t working for Pietro. She hates him. Blames him for her father’s death. Not to mention he made her marry an abusive prick. I can’t say she’d be much use, given that she doesn’t seem to have much contact with him, but… if given the chance, she’d switch sides.”
He’s eyeing me up but he doesn’t unsettle me. “We don’t need anyone on his side.”
I shrug. “I don’t know the girl, but you seem to have a history. Just thought you might be interested in another way.”
Raj shakes his head and sighs, looking at his desktop. “My history is w
ith a naïve young girl who doesn’t exist anymore. Her husband is abusive, you say?”
I nod once, feeling a tick in my jaw and hoping he doesn’t notice it.
“That’s unfortunate,” he says, looking worn.
“Her whole life seems to be,” I state.
“What would we do with her?”
I shrug, like it doesn’t mean much to me, but I’m excited that he’s taking the bait. “Extra assurance? She knows the place inside and out, knows the people—she could help everything go smoothly, night of.”
Raj considers it for several seconds, then shakes his head. “I don’t believe she would go along with it. She’s not cold enough. She would end up betraying us.”
I don’t know if she would, and I can’t vouch for it. Then if something goes wrong, it’s my neck on the line. Not to mention, if I cared enough to put my own neck on the line already, Raj wouldn’t believe I’d let it go as easily as I will. Raj doesn’t know me, and usually that’s fine, but I don’t want to suddenly make him skittish, make him start second guessing me. Not over some girl I barely know.
“All right,” I say, easily enough. “It was just an idea. I thought you might have some sentimental attachment. Anyway, I’ve already taken care of it. She just wanted to thank me for stepping in with Paul. She won’t be back around.”
“She didn’t question why you were following her in the first place?”
I pause, because I’m not sure how to answer this. “She thinks I want to fuck her.”
“Do you?”
I shrug. “She’s attractive. So are many others. Would I fuck her? Yes. Do I need to?” I snort, instead of answering.
This is easy for him to accept.
“She didn’t seem to suspect anything?”
“She doesn’t seem to give a single shit what we’re doing here.”