Page 43 of Lethal Deceit

“Great. Thanks.”

I start to say goodbye, but she interrupts me. “It’s kinda sad, though, when you think about it.”

I scowl. “Think about what?”

“That she doesn’t have anyone who cares about her. No family, no friends.”

My fingers hover over my laces. “That’s because she uses people and throws them away when she’s done with them.”

“Maybe. But… I dunno. Her parents gave her away to total strangers like she was nothing. What would that do to a kid?”

I drag my fingers through my damp hair. “I don’t know.”

“Yeah, well… maybe think about that. Adena and I have been digging up more of her history. She’s incredibly clever, and she’s very careful with who she targets. They won’t report her because they’d incriminate themselves.”

I don’t know who Adena is, and I don’t have time to ask.

“You sound like you admire her.”

“I admire her resilience and resourcefulness, not that she’s hurt people. I’m hoping to meet her so I can slap some sense into her.”

The idea makes my lips twitch into a smile. My phone sounds another alert, giving me no more time to talk. “My phone’s going to die.”

She exhales loudly, almost as if she’s disappointed in me. “Yeah. Go plug in, but will you do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Look out for her, Coastie. Right now, you’re the only person who can.”

Ten

Samantha

While my infuriating excuse for a captor occupies the bathroom, I thumb through the brochure and mentally formulate a plan. I’m curled into an overstuffed armchair that’s seen better days but still manages to be the most comfortable thing I’ve sat in for weeks.

Thanks to the handy walking distances on every page, I know I can reach the closest mall in around thirty minutes. Maybe fifteen if I run.

All I have to do is wait for an opening, find a way to retrieve the keys from his pocket, then breeze out the front door with my money. It’s thehow toretrieve the keys that I’m struggling to figure out.

Under ordinary circumstances, I’d flirt with him, ply him with drinks, and take what I wanted and go. For the briefest of moments last night, that seemed like a viable option.

Until… he did the one thing I didn’t expect him to.

Getting him to let his guard down is going to be a challenge.

Movement from the doorway draws my attention back to reality. Mick glances at me then leans down and reaches into his bag, obviously looking for something.

I keep my eyes on him, gauging his reaction. “So, what do you think your faults are?”

He shakes his head, gives me a tight smile, then pulls out his phone charger and plugs it into the wall. Then, with a frown, he stalks into the kitchen. “We’re back on that again? I thought you wanted a shower?”

I shrug and sip my coffee. “I can wait.”

The ridge between his eyebrows grows more pronounced as he pulls out a pan and a carton of eggs. “I need eggs. You want some?”

I screw my face up at his offer. “No, thanks.”

His eyebrow lifts. “You don’t like eggs? My dad makes great eggs.”

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