I step inside. There are no windows in here, and no neighbors. “No one can hear you.”
She rounds on me, breathing hard from exertion. She’s holding a pair of scissors, the blades aimed at me.
So much for the helpless act. I cross my arms, not amused. “You know, I do have a job. Things I have to do…other than babysit a deranged woman hell-bent on killing me.”
“Then let me go. You’re not going to kill me. If you were, you’d have done so by now.” She jumps off the edge of the tub and takes a hesitant step forward, wet hair spilling over her shoulders. “I won’t make this easy for you. You can’t keep me locked up forever. There are only two options, Easton. Kill me, or let me go.” She raises her eyebrows in challenge.
With a heavy sigh, I dig into my pocket and pull out the coin I always keep on me. The silver quarter was the only thing the cops found on my sister when her body was discovered. One fucking quarter.
“What makes you think I won’t kill you?” I ask.
She blinks. Holds the scissors higher. “You want revenge. For what, I don’t know. But it has nothing to do with me.”
I hold the coin between my thumb and index finger. “You choose.”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“Yes, Mak. Make your call. You want to know what I did with your tawdry lover, make it happen. It’s all in your power. You want to be set free, then all you have to do is make a choice.”
Her wide gaze flicks from me to the coin. “Heads, you tell me where Hudson’s body is, and tails, you set me free.”
A laugh barrels from my chest. “I must come across as a big dumb fucker. Trust me, I’m not. There has to be leverage. It’s a gamble. Fifty-fifty. You have to sacrifice something.”
Her swallow drags along her slender neck, her forehead creased in thought. “Fine. Heads, you tell me where Hudson is. Tails…” She glances up. “Tails, you kill me.”
Fucking hell.
I drag a hand through my hair, processing. She watches me, waiting to see what I’ll do. She doesn’t look at me the way others do. With that invasive, fearful stare, appall evident. Or like the ones who try not to look at all. Gaze cast everywhere else but at my scars.
But she sees them.
She judges based on how she thinks I got them.
I slip the coin back into my pocket.
An audible breath eases past her lips, and she lowers her weapon. “Why can’t you tell me? I’d rather you just kill me now than never know.”
I step closer, and she doesn’t back away. She shakes her head. “Tell me!”
I grasp the scissors. I allow her to struggle a bit before I pry them from her hand and set them on the counter, out of her reach. “All the evidence is there. You want answers, get them.”
A shiver rocks her, and she sniffs back her anger.
“What are you scared of, Mak? The truth?”
“I said, don’t call me that,” she says through gritted teeth, suddenly fearless.
I can’t tell if she’s really this tough, or just flat out crazy.
“You have a cracked brain, you know that? Let’s go.” I grab her wrist, careful of her blistered hands.
She pushes back. “I’m not going back down there…” Her struggle comes alive now, more determined. Nails dig into my forearm. I’m starting to look like a scratching post.
“That is not one of your choices.” I hunch down to throw her over my shoulder, since this seems to be the only way to handle her.
She grabs hold of my shirt, like she’s going to shove me against the wall, but I don’t budge. I almost laugh, except for the hostel glare in her dark eyes that spears me. “I’ll walk.”
I hold my hands out in surrender. “Do one stupid thing…”