Page 46 of Carnival
“I don’t have access to that kind of information,’’ I explained.
“So… you’re useless, then?”
My jaw ticks in annoyance, and I can feel the poison leaving my body, slowly giving me back the ability to control it. I’m too close to snapping; the only thing preventing me is the Glock on the table. He’s close to it, and given my current state, there’s no way I’d be fast enough to reach it before him.
“I’m. Not. Fucking. Useless,’’ I sneer, my pride and ego wounded. Hudson lifts a brow, clearly unimpressed by my little outburst.
“Yeah?” He tilts his head to the side, staring me down. “Then tell me everything you know about your boss, the organization itself, and everything in between. I have a reason to suspect they’ll come after Rose sooner or later.’’
My head snaps in his direction, my blood running cold.
There’s not a chance in Hell I’ll let any of them get an inch closer to Rose. She is mine to protect, and I don’t care who I’ll have to kill to keep her safe. If I need to face the Devil himself, then he better brace himself, because I’ll tear him apart and bathe Rose in his blood to prove that no one can protect and care for her as much as I can.
I open my mouth to speak, but my throat is dry. Hudson notices it and taps his knuckles twice on the tiled wall behind him, and the door swings open. A white-haired, tall man that is a spitting image of Hudson enters, bringing a bottle of water with him. A small smirk is on his lips as he comes to stand in front of me, tossing the water bottle on my lap.
“James Maddox,’’ he greets, mockery in his voice.
“Arlo De Santis,’’ I spit his name like it’s the most vile thing on my tongue, and he raises an amused brow, shaking his head.
For a few moments, it’s a staring competition neither of us is willing to lose. I shouldn’t be as agitated as I am. I should be focusing on more pressing matters, such as figuring out who and why would want to hurt Rosalie, yet here I am, having a staring contest with a little fucking pest.
He’s the first to look away, and I smirk in response, taking a second to celebrate the small victory. My hands are shaky, still unstable as I take the water bottle from my lap, unscrew the cap, and drink it all down in one go.
“The organization is ran by a woman named Vivian Hunt.’’ I start speaking, tossing the bottle away. Arlo steps away from me, standing closer to his father; both of them are listening to me. “I have never met her.’’
Arlo scoffs. “You can’t expect us to believe that, can you?”
I roll my eyes. “It’s the truth. I was recruited by one of her people, and all communication, training, and such have been going through them.’’
“Alright, who’s your contact, then?” Hudson asks, and just by the way he’s looking at me, I can tell he doesn’t truly trust what I’m saying, and that’s pissing me the fuck off.
“Abigail Gilbert.’’
Arlo immediately pulls out his phone, types in a text, and then shoves the device back in his pocket, eyes on me yet again. It’s almost as if he’s trying to see through the poker face I’ve put on, and he’s getting irritated that it’s not succeeding.
“How did you get recruited?”
“Before I left the last foster family I was with, when I was about seventeen, I got mixed up with the wrong crowd. Drugs, alcohol, all of that. I ended up borrowing money from the wrong people, and once I turned eighteen, I ran for the hills. I was homeless for a while until Abigail found me. She offered to pay off the debts for me if I agreed to become one of her people.’’
“And since you’re working for them, we all know how that terribly predictable story ends,’’ Arlo mocks. “What I want to know is what they would want with Rosalie?”
“Why do you think they even want her in the first place?”
“Because while I was driving from the house Aria and Rose rented, someone followed us. They followed us all the way to New York, and although they’ve made no attempt to attack or approach Rose, I find it hard to believe it’s a coincidence.’’
My hands fisted by my side, the anger rolling off me in waves. The murderous intent slowly awakens, and it takes all the self-control I have not to go and find the bastard who dared to follow her. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.
“Well, have you caught them?”
“No need,’’ Arlo shrugs. “They’ll reveal themselves soon enough, and I’ll be waiting. As for you…’’
He pauses, eyes flicking all over me before he looks at Hudson. The two seem to be having a silent conversation, one I’m not a part of, and I hate it. I hate being left out, especially when it comes to Rose.
“Do we kill him?” Arlo asks, to which Hudson shrugs.
“I don’t know. Rose will hate us.’’
Arlo nods. “But she’ll be safe.’’
