Page 32 of Deliverance

My brow furrowed briefly. Saffron would tell her brother-in-law that I refused to have sex with her, and he would what? Kill me? "Tell Frank—"

She silenced me with her finger. "I won't tell him that you refused to screw my brains out. I'll tell him that you tried to free Erin." I opened my mouth to protest, but she continued. "I know you have a sweet spot for her. I don't know why, but I know. Are you willing to die for her all because I'm your boss, and you don't want to fuck the boss?"

I no longer liked drunk Saffron.

The limo stopped at a red light, and my gaze met Marcus's again in the rearview mirror. I closed my eyes, let out a breath, and pushed the button to close the partition window.

Chapter Twelve

Erin

I took a deep breath, breathing in the city air as I turned my face up toward the warm sun. The thirty or so minutes Zell and I got to feed the ducks was a mini-retreat I was starting to look forward to each week. It was the third time we had taken our little trip across the street, and I hoped they remained until we were free.

"You're quiet today," I said to Ric as I continued to sun my face.

"Am I?"

I cracked a grin, still with my face turned up. "How was your date last night?"

"It wasn't a date," he snapped.

Opening my eyes, I looked over at him. "You don't have to get upset. I'm just teasing you."

Ric sighed. "I know. Sorry. Just—don't."

"Did something happen?" In the month and a half I'd been at the penthouse, I hadn't seen Ric upset. Based on our conversations, I knew he was troubled about the situation and working for Madam and Frank, but he never showed it, and he especially never took it out on me.

"Erin!" Zell shouted as she ran the few feet to us. "I'm out of bread. Do you have any more?"

"Let's go," Ric urged, placing his hand on Zell's shoulder and leading her back toward the street.

"But I want to keep feeding the ducks," she whined.

"It's time to go," he stated.

"Are you going to answer me?" I questioned as I fell into step with them.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not proud of it and don't want to discuss it right now."

I thought about what he'd said as we walked through the park and then stopped in my tracks. "Oh my God, did you … did you—"

"Shh," he scolded.

"You did?"

We started walking again. "I had to."

"Like, she forced you?"

"Can we not?" He motioned with his head to Zell.

"She has no idea what we're talking about."

"Just—later, okay?"