Page 36

ABI
It’s chilly in the car.
Living in Las Vegas, I’m used to it cooling off a bit at night, but it’s only five thirty. Colter must be one of those people who like to keep it freezing in their car because even with the chill, the AC is blasting. I must’ve been too preoccupied to notice the other night, but now I wish I’d brought a coat. It only adds to the ominous vibe of this car ride, and I have to guess whether the goosebumps on my arms are from it or the fact that I’m fucking terrified of what this evening is about to bring.
“It’s going to be fine, Abi.”
Those are the first words Colter has spoken to me since we pulled out of my apartment complex, and it does nothing to calm me now. I don’t bother to respond or take my eyes off the houses we pass.
I imagine us driving deeper into this neighborhood, and then the next. We’ll turn on some back road, unheard of by the general public. It’ll lead us through a grove of trees, unbelievable for this part of Nevada, all the way to some mansion, complete with gargoyles and an alligator-filled moat surrounding it.
Then the car stops.
I squint at the modest stucco house Colter has pulled in front of. There are several cars filling the driveway and then a couple more by the curb in front of us.
“What are you doing?” I ask, turning to him.
He raises a brow at me and shuts off the car. “Parking.”
I turn back to the home and rake my eyes over the white brick and then the flowerbeds outside. “Thisis where the Italian mob lives?”
Colter chuckles and I peel my eyes off the house to gape at him.
His amused smile spreads. “Not what you were expecting?”
“A little less grandiose,” I reply, turning to stare out the passenger window, wondering if this is some kind of joke.
“That’s more Settimo’s taste. This is his father’s house.”
“Ah.” I nod, although I’m only thinking about what Settimo’s father will be like. Scarier? Old and fragile? The kind of guy who has tulips growing in his flowerbed?
“You ready?” Colter asks. Ice coats my skin, and I can no longer blame it on the blasting air conditioner. No, I’m not ready. I will never be ready.
“Yeah.” I unbuckle my seatbelt while Colter gets out and walks around the car. I can’t help but notice how calm he seems. Relaxed. From every communication we’ve had about this day, I would’ve thought he’d be even more on edge than me. They’re his family, but he has the burden of knowing more about them and what this dinner will be like. I at least get the benefit of not knowing all the depravity these people are involved with. They scared the hell out of me, and they drugged me, but they never actually hurt me.
Not yet, at least.
Colter opens my door, and I take several deep breaths before I can acknowledge him. I reluctantly take the hand he offers me and let him help me from the car.
“You’re shaking,” he points out as we’re walking up the concrete path to the door.
“No shit,” I say, pulling my hand away when I realize he’s still holding it. I cup my hands behind my back to hide the trembling.
Before I take the first step up onto the porch, Colter brushes my arm and stops me.
“I’m nervous too, Abi, but don’t be scared. Nothing is going to happen tonight.”
“How the hell can you be so sure? You’ve been drilling into me for days the seriousness of this, and now I shouldn’t be scared? Are you kidding me? According to you, my life depends on—”
Colter’s hand clasps over my mouth and cuts me off. He doesn’t carry any sort of intensity with it, and it annoys me. He’s still calm. How the hell can he be calm right now?
“Shh,” he coos like he’s comforting a child. “Take a deep breath.”
I glare at him until he takes his hand off my mouth. Once he does, I breathe in deeply through my nose, telling myself it isn’t because he told me to but because I can hear my heartbeat in my ears and my head is spinning.
“Good,” he says after I’ve taken a few more breaths. “These people can smell fear. A little bit of nerves is normal, but try not to act like you’re being held hostage, all right? It’ll worry my aunt.”
I can’t even begin to form a response to that. I give my head a shake and squint my eyes at Colter.