Page 114 of Ricochet

“Adelia?”

Her bottom lip shook, but she didn’t crawl off the bed the way he expected her to do.

Colin pressed forward, “You skimmed money from Mayhem.”

Tears waterfalled down her face,and the heavy weight of disappointment was enough to knock them both over. “For a reason.”

“Yeah. That’s where you lose me.”

Her head dropped, and she covered her face. “I made a vow I’d never share.”

“Where are they now?” Colin lumbered from out of his covers and pulled her against his chest. It hurt to hold her—but not because of his side. He hated that she wouldn’t trust him more than Mayhem,that she valued a vow to an organization he didn’t respect more than she trusted him.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“And I won’t unless you explain.” He rubbed her back. “Doesn’t that make sense?”

Her grumble disagreed, and all of him ached to lighten her burden. Colin pulled her to the pillows—grunting through the pain—then silence settled.

Maybe she’d fallen asleep again. That was probablyan important thing. She needed the rest, and this time, he wouldn’t say a word, not about Astor or Delta team, and nothing about Mayhem. For all Colin was concerned, they could talk about ice cream and puppies for the remainder of their days. Though that made for an unrealistic plan. Flawed plan aside, rest was the only thing he was supposed to do until the doc gave a thumbs-up to move out. Shortof their safe house sustaining an air attack by a hellfire missile, Colin wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was she.

“You always follow the rules,” Adelia whispered.

Colin inched back. “Not always.”

“Just mostly,” she teased softly.

“I’m not as much of a stick in the mud as you think.” He eased close again. “And I’ve tried to understand Mayhem’s point of view.”

“I used Mayhem money and replacedit with the next bank deposits like a Ponzi scheme. Always moving it from one account to the next within the main banking system, transferring the right amount back while it still said the first amount was pending. Anyone who double checked would assume a transfer error.”

Colin blinked, not sure he wanted to know much about how Mayhem banked, but he was ready for Adelia to confide in him. Henodded.

“No one double checked.” She bit her lip. “Until I was caught.”

“That’ll do it.”

“Before that,” she continued. “I couldn’t stop unless I had money to pay off the last withdrawal.” Her head tilted. “I don’t know how Ethan figured it out as quickly as he did, but he must’ve gone to Tex or Hawke, and by the time Tex told me what Mayhem knew, Ethan was dead”

“Pops killed Ethan over you?”

She nodded.

“Then why isn’t he running from them? Why the hell—” Colin fumed. “What the fuck is wrong with those people!” Tex killed to protect her? Avenge her? What the hell did it matter. Adelia was still on the run.

“He wouldn’t let me explain—”

“And I’m begging you to tell me, and you won’t.” His temples pounded. Mayhem was so far beyond fucked up. “They have you brainwashed. The MC’s likea cult.”

Her lips bunched. “What? No.”

“One person dies, another doesn’t. Another person can kill someone, but, hell, who cares?” He threw his arms out and pain radiated from his side. “You’ll fall over yourself to tell your Pops, but he throws you to the wolves, and here I am, and you don’t tell me shit about your secret bullshit world.”

“I bought people.”

Colin stared at her blank face,finally offering the only thing that made sense, “Bought them off?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I used their money to purchase people. Women and girls. I bought merchandise.”

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