Page 128 of Burn Like An Angel

Xander joins our laughter—begrudgingly, from the sound of it—as he helps me walk over to what feels like a kitchen table. Measuring the space between the chairs with my foot, I begin to form a mental image.

Lennox passes around breakfast pastries crammed full of thick, sugary jam. I recognise the taste and texture on my tongue. We eat peacefully, sipping our drinks, until he breaks the silence.

“Do you think he meant it? That Enzo bloke?”

“Meant what?” Ripley chews loudly.

“What he said about cutting the head off the snake,” Lennox clarifies. “Are they going to make a move on Bancroft?”

“Are we even sure he’s the real threat anymore?” Xander slurps his drink. “Harrison hinted at management changes. Then there was that phone call.”

I hear someone put their food down.

“You can say it. My uncle.”

“Yes. He clearly sent those men after us,” Xander says, blunt as ever. “Your uncle put a hit out on us.”

“That goes a bit beyond mere disownment.” I wince at my own words. “Sorry, Rip.”

“Don’t be. We can’t tiptoe around this.” She sounds resigned. “I think his role goes beyond being an investor. He’s more deeply embroiled in the conspiracy than I realised.”

“We have to tell them,” Lennox chimes in. “Bancroft is still a threat, but they need to get eyes on Jonathan. Perhaps he’s pulling the strings while his boss is under fire.”

“That seems likely,” Xander agrees.

Finishing up our breakfast, we remain at the table, gulping down our hot drinks. Ripley’s leg pushes against mine underneath the table—she’s sitting on my right side. I drop a hand to her thigh.

“So we tell them everything.” She covers my hand with hers. “In exchange for what? Protection?”

“We need to negotiate for immunity,” Xander responds. “For the riot. The contraband. All of it.”

“You really think we’d face prosecution?” Nausea spikes through me.

“Warner told us criminal charges were on the table for other escapees.”

My mouth pulls down in a grimace. “And if Sabre doesn’t have that power? Or won’t help us avoid charges?”

Xander doesn’t answer. Fantastic. That really gives me a vote of confidence.

“Shit, Xan.” Lennox breaks the long pause. “You can’t tell them about… You know…”

The silence is frustrating. I strain my ears, trying to understand what’s happening.

“Lennox is miming,” Ripley whispers to me. “Throat cutting, to be specific.”

“Thanks. Can we really keep that a secret?”

“Nobody saw me,” Xander says nonchalantly.

“Are you absolutely certain?” Lennox counters.

His silence is telling. Nope. He’s not.

“Then lie!”

There’s a loud boom, and the table shakes as Lennox must slam his fist down onto it.

“Tell them what happened, but say the warden threatened you. Anything. It’d be your word against a dead man.”

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