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“How do I know you didn't set this up? Maybe this was part of your plan? Take me. Trick me. Save me. Keep me for yourself because I'll think you're some kind of hero.”

Vega let out a half-hearted laugh. “Yeah. There it is. You got me. You figured out my master plan. I'm just making an elaborate scheme to get you to fall in love with me. Look at you. A regular Nancy Drew.” He shook his head as his fingers pressed against my skin tightly. “For someone who is so fucking smart, you're really ignorant.” He was silent for a moment, then said, “Look, I get that this whole thing is hard to comprehend, but I need you to trust me. If you don't let me do what I'm good at, you will die.”

“I thought you said killing people is what you're good at? When did you expand your talents?”

“This isn't a joke, Poppy. I'm trying to fucking save your life. The people after you aren't like me. They don't give a shit if you've done nothing to deserve this. But I do. So, let me protect you.” I stared at him, debating his level of honesty. Trying to feel out the lies and the myths of his motives. “Enough with the interrogation. We have to keep moving.” Vega kept his eyesstraight ahead as he walked us through deep brush with razor-sharp prickers and paper-thick leaves.

We reached a small clearing, blocked by several thick trees and plenty of greenery for coverage. Vega placed me down gently and began to look me over. “Were you hit? Are you okay?”

“I'm fine,” I said, tugging my arms free.

“You sure?”

“Yes, I'm sure.”

He took a broad step back and glanced around. “We can't go back to my place. They know where we are now, and they'll be watching it. We'll have to stay here tonight.”

“Here? But we're in the middle of nowhere.” My eyes wildly scanned the forest around us.

“You seemed pretty okay with spending the night outside when you thought you were alone.”

“That was before someone shot at me. What if whoever did this sends someone else while we're sleeping? Or what if that guy is alive and tries again?”

“You don't need to worry about that guy. He won't,” Vega said sternly as he started to gather the loose wood around us.

“How can you be so sure?” I wrapped my arms around my body as a cool breeze began to pick up.

“Because he won't. And it's going to take a day or two for that piece of shit's boss to realize his man is gone.”

“Who? Who are you talking about? Do you know these people? Who the fuck are you, and how many of you exist?”

“To put it simply, we're all acquainted one way or another. There aren't many of us, but enough that there are options for people who need to get rid of someone.”

“Get rid of someone? You mean kill someone.”

“We need to start a fire to keep you warm,” he said, evading my question. His eyes began to shift around the ground.

Vega walked the perimeter of where we were, gathering sticks and debris for a fire. He dug a small hole with his hands and built a fire. He kept feeding wood into it until it was large enough to spit out some warmth. I sat on the ground beside the flames, holding out my hands to feel the heat.

“Why did you dig a hole for the fire?” I asked.

“It keeps the flames low just in case someone is out there looking for us. But it also helps block the fire from the wind.”

I rubbed my hands over the flames and leaned my face closer. “That makes sense.”

“See, I called it. You're not an outdoor kind of girl. You're lucky you're stuck out here with me.” He cut some fresh branches off the pine trees and layered them on the ground. After making a thick forest bed, he sat down and patted the open spot next to him. “Come sit here. The ground is too cold; you'll never warm up like that.”

I glared at him and spat, “I'm good.” I was a ball of emotions. Anger, sadness, and fear were all swirling around my body. I didn't know which one to grasp and lean into, but anger seemed to be the one that was the loudest.

“You're still shivering.”

“Because you threw me in the water like an asshole. Probably another tactic to make me weaker.”

“Just stop already. I don't know what else I have to do to prove to you that I'm not here to hurt you.”

“You kidnapped me. Or did you forget that part?”

He angled his head and sighed. “No, Poppy, I didn't. The asshole who sent that guy to put a bullet in your head kidnapped you.” Vega pointed out into the dark forest in the direction of the sniper. “I'm not behind any of this.”