Page 31 of Redd

I couldn't blame him for wanting to keep her safe. I couldn't blame him for wanting to protect her.

She was too young to understand where I came from and how I got there. And Redd was right, he had gotten himself into a world of shit, piled from floor to ceiling.

There was no doubt in my mind that Diablo would come looking for me. He would send out his goons, he would search far and wide to find his treasured slave. Because in Diablo's eyes, my job was done when he said it was. . .

And there was only one way out for me—death.

When Redd showed up, I knew he wasn't a part of it. If he had any idea who the hell Diablo was, he would have left me right where he found me.

“What if she asks me a question? Am I supposed to tell her I can't talk to her?”

“That's exactly what you're going to say. And she's been told the same, I don't expect you to be here long enough for her to disobey me.”

I won't be here long. . . What does he plan to do with me?

I wanted to pick his brain about what he meant. But I wasn't ready to hear whatever truth he had already fashioned into a noose for me. Right then the rope was loose, dangling without force around my neck.

And for now, I was okay with that.

“What did you tell her about me?”

“It doesn't matter.”

“Itdoesmatter. Shouldn't we have the same story at least?”

“It won't matter because neither one of you are going to say a goddamn word to each other.” Hanging his head, his arms went stiff. “But if you must know, I told her I saw you on the side of the road and it was too cold for you to sleep outside.”

“That's it?”

“That's it. She doesn't need to know the rest, not one word of it.”

Fiddling with my fingers, I dug the pad of my index finger into the nail on my thumb. “So she thinks I'm some homeless person?”

Releasing a heavy breath, he rolled his eyes. “She thinks what I want her to think. And that's how I'm keeping it. If you so much as say one word to her—”

Holding up my hand, I nodded. “I got it, I won't.”

Obviously. Does he really think I'm going to fill that young girl's head with stories of torture and abuse?

She was just a kid, innocent and pure. If she was anything like my sister, she still believed in magic and unicorns. I wouldn't taint her fragile mind with nightmares of all the evil this earth really held.

Fuck, I wish someone had warned me better.

Pulling my knees up into my chest, I snuggled into the blanket. “I have family I need to call, can I use your phone.”

Redd didn't answer, continuing to stare off at nothing in silence. Hard hands slammed into his pockets, heavy breaths replaced his voice as he dismissed my question like I hadn't just asked him something.

“You can't just ignore me, I need to use your phone, people are looking for me.” Sitting up straight, I clutched the blanket in my hands.

I had to call my father, I needed to let him know I was alive. Was that too much to ask for?

Soft feet tapped down the hall and into the living room, her eyes still curious, filled with wonder. Dropping her backpack to the floor, she glanced at me quickly, then pulled her eyes away. “I'm all set.” Lifting up the hood on her purple jacket, she pulled it over her head, allowing the furry ring to frame her round face.

“Let's go.” Redd flipped his fingers at Vicki, hurrying her along.

“Wait, where are you going?”

Looking over his shoulder, he narrowed his gaze. “I'll be back soon, then we can talk.”