Page 41 of Preying Heart
The problem is convincing Remi that I did the right thing.
I knock on her door and wait.
There’s no answer.
I knock again and modulate my voice to be calm and steady. “Remi, I’d like to take you on a hike. Show you around my property.”
No answer.
I’m getting impatient. I already tried being nice, but she’s pushing all my buttons.
“Remi, are you mourning your foster father? If you are, I’ll leave you alone.”
The door opens and Remi glares at me through green eyes bordering on brown.
“I need to make plans to leave. Since you got that Bitcoin payment because of me, you should split it with me.”
My first reaction is no can do, but I want her to trust me. She isn’t safe until I discover the identity of Million-Dollar Dude. Then I have to figure out a way to neutralize him. He’s probably a big fish in the trafficking organization. The problem is tying that crypto address to a real individual. Which means getting him to make a mistake. The one time he forgets to enable his VPN or uses a Bitcoin ATM machine where he’s filmed or uses his crypto for a purchase such as real estate or a car. That’s when we can nail him.
“We can discuss a proper split,” I tell Remi. “Might be nicer to go on a walk—more private.”
“Are you saying someone could be spying on you?”
“We don’t live in a vacuum. If you’re going to be staying here long term, then you need to know your way around—in case of emergencies. You also need to pick up skills like shooting, evading capture, ways of confusing a bloodhound, and survival skills like starting a fire, snaring game, and protecting your body from extreme heat or cold.”
“Sure.” Her expression is still wary. “But why would you teach me? Wouldn’t it lessen your control over me?”
“That’s not what this is about,” I protest. “You’re the last person I want to control.”
“Why? Is it because you failed at controlling Lucy?”
“Keep Lucy out of this.”
“She’s your ex, isn’t she?” Remi nails me with a direct shot in the gut.
“That’s not your business.”
“It is my business because my safety now depends on her cooperation. How’d you get her to cooperate? By offering her half of your take?”
“I offered her the possibility.”
“She wants you back, Heath, and she’s using this to get under your skin. I see way too much enjoyment from her over my troubles. She doesn’t give a rat’s ass about keeping me safe other than the reward. But then, neither do you.” Remi turns to go back into the room.
I step in after her and close the door, knowing full well I’m taking a threatening stance. I’m not above scaring a woman into compliance. In times of war, anything is fair.
“Whether you like it or not, you are under my control.” I advance on her menacingly. “You are under my protection. You have no place to go, and if you step away from me, there will be plenty of others ready to feast off your carcass.”
“Ah, so you admit that’s what you’re planning to do. Feed off my carcass.”
“The fact that you’re talking back to me means you know full well I’m not going to hurt you. You’re upset because of Lucy and what you imagine is going on with us.”
“Oh, please.” She rolls her eyes. “I don’t give a cat’s patootie if you two were going at it like teenage bunnies last night. All I know is I’m stuck in a weird situation, and I need to get out of it. If you really want to help me, transfer me some of that Bitcoin and lend me a wad of cash. Drop me off at a bus station and never see me again.”
“Can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can, and you will.” She raises both fists and holds them in front of my chest. “You promised me you’re one of the good guys.”
“That’s exactly why you have to stay with me.” I get in her face, meeting her glare with my own. “Big Dude, let’s call him that, can make a similar offer to just about any other bounty hunter out there.”
