Page 19 of Never Bound

“Because your dad’s involved!”

Now it was my turn to be speechless.

“Nondikass.”He took an angry swing at the back of the swivel chair I had just been sitting in, sending it spinning toward the bed.

Whoa. What wasthat? He had never exactly shied away from profanity in English, but in his native language, it sounded downright scary, and quite jarring to observe in someone who had been raised, albeit unsuccessfully, to be submissive.

“Why did you make me say that?” he demanded. “Why did you push me?”

“How about, why did youlie to me?” I demanded back. “I think that’s the real question here.”

“I never lied,” he said. “And if there were things I didn’t tell you, it was only because I was trying to protect you.”

“You’ve known this whole time, haven’t you?” I asked quietly. “Since the first time you tutored me.”

He tried to calm his tone to match mine. “The real estate title for the place where Langer is keeping her and other girls, too, is in your dad’s name. I found it in his file cabinet.”

“What? By accident?”As if that’s even possible, dumbass,I scolded myself.

“No.” He was unapologetic.

“God,” I said, shaking my head. “But how did you know he and Langer—”

“I’ve known for months. Since Germany. It’s … well, it’s kind of the reason I’m here.”

Another piece of the puzzle filled in. “The warehouse,” I said. “That was it on the map the gardener was waving around at the party, wasn’t it?”

“He was trying to blackmail me with it.”

“After you printed it offmycomputer,” I concluded.

He cringed and nodded.

I threw my hands up. “Unbelievable.”

“But I never lied to you,” he insisted.

“Oh, yeah, no, sure, of course you didn’t lie.” I was shaking now. “You just misled me abouteverything. Did you ever evenwantto be in here with me? Did you even—didweeven—” I bit my lip, a sob building.

Slowly, tentatively, he approached me like I was a scared baby animal who might bolt. He touched the tip of my elbow, but I snapped it back from his fingertips. “The first time I came into this room, it was for my sister,” he said. “But every time I came back, it was for you. If you don’t believe anything else I say, believe that.”

I closed my eyes. I believed him. I almost wished I didn’t. “And yet, despite all we’ve been through, you still don’t trust me,” I said softly. “And apparently I can’t trustyou, either.”

“Lou, your dad is loyal to the guy who’s going to make him rich again, and you’re loyal to your dad,” he explained. “Can’t you see how I couldn’t risk putting my sister in more danger when I came this far just to find her? They’re doing horrifying things to her. Maybe as we speak.”

“Like what?”

“What do you think?” he asked. “It’s slavery. Do I have to draw you a diagram?”

He reached into his pocket, a slow, deliberate movement, and pulled out a small, blood-stained bracelet—Maeve’s. He handed it to me. The metal was cold, the reality colder. Because what I noticed immediately, besides the blood, was that it was totally intact—it hadn’t been cut off or smashed or even torn from her wrist by force. The implications made me gag.

“Corey gave it to me. He said it was courtesy of his boss.”

“Langer.” I recoiled, the bracelet dropping from my fingers and onto the carpet as if it were electrified. “Oh God.” Horror churned in my stomach. And amid my trembling body, an eerie chill surfaced. I looked up at him. “You’re going to go after her, aren’t you?”

He paused as if this were the hardest admission so far. “Yes.”

My knees turned soft, and I sank onto the bed, head spinning, eyes a blur.

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