Page 80 of Caretaker

I frowned and tightened my grip on Silverlight’s cold hilt. “You said you’d take me to him, and you will take me to him.”

“For your friend’s information.” His voice was mild, but a thread of steel ran through it.

“What information, exactly? I don’t know where he lives, or—”

“His name and phone number. That’s all I want. Give me that, and I’ll give you Stark.”

“His name is Alejandro, and you don’t want to take him on. He’s a dangerous man. He will destroy you.”

“I don’t want to take him on. At least not the way you think. I’m a little twisted inside, Trinity. I saw something in that man’s eyes. I want to make a deal with him.”

I wrinkled my nose. “That was clear as mud.”

“Look. I don’t plan on hurting him. I couldn’t if I tried.”

I nodded, then sighed. “I’ll pass on the request. That’s all I can do.” I would have given him Al’s left nut if I’d had to, but I knew I wouldn’t have to. “I have your number.”

“Tell him I live on Bethany Street in the city. I’m not hard to find. Tell him to find me.”

“I can do that,” I promised. The strident buzzing and shrieking of the siren had ceased earlier—but suddenly, it began again.

“That’s painfully loud,” I muttered.

“They’re coming in, Trinity. They’ll lock down the prison and no one will be going in or out. You need to get off the island as soon as I give you Stark.”

“What’s your story, Jamie?” I was genuinely curious.

“You want to know my motivations.”

I didn’t trust him, not even a little bit. Whatever he was doing, I had a feeling it was only partly to mess with his father. There was something else going on. Maybe I’d never know. Maybe it didn’t even matter.

“It’s a long tale of abuse and childhood trauma and bad fucking people, Sinclair. Maybe someday I’ll tell you my story. But right now, I can tell you that my father deserves every bad thing that’s about to happen to him.” He stopped at a door, ran a keycard, punched in a code, then shoved open the door. “I took Melinda’s card since mine was stolen.”

“What are you planning?”

He hurried me across a dark courtyard. “Best you don’t worry about that. You’re here to save Stark—nothing more. You’ve helped me tonight—distractions and all—and I’m going to repay the favor by letting you get your friends the hell out of here. Especially Alejandro.”

They hadn’t taken Angus or the giant out of the trailer. I imagined they were baking inside. The sun was long gone, but the night was hot and sticky.

I doubted they’d been given water after the grueling fights. I could not wait to get Angus out of there. I could not wait.

“Trinity,” Jamie said, as he stood with his hand on the door. “Do not waste time. Gather your friends and get off the island. There are sleeping ferry operators on the docks. Hold a gun to their heads if you have to but do not linger. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I nodded. If I lingered, they would recapture Angus and take all of us into custody. Yeah, I understood. “Thanks, Jamie.”

My hands trembled as I darted my stare around the area, keeping watch while Jamie threw back the lock. He flung open the doors and jumped aside, and Silverlight screamed to life.

Jamie must have known the prisoners inside the trailer were likely to come out swinging, but I hadn’t been thinking of anything other than seeing Angus. He and the giant leapt through the doorway, roaring, preparing to stomp some guards into the ground.

They landed so hard the ground seemed to shake, then stood there, confused, at the lack of electricity-shooting, sadistic guards. There was only one lone woman holding a glowing sword.

Jamie disappeared, and I didn’t care.

“Angus,” I cried.

The giant looked from me to Angus. He said nothing.

Heavy chains hung from the collar around his neck and the cuffs at his wrists and ankles, but he seemed almost unaware of them.