Chapter Seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Emily never got the chance to see the bearded man up front to determine if those gray eyes belonged to Charge. She also failed to learn why Elonzo had brought her here or why he'd insisted she meet the governor. Elonzo had simply introduced her as "Emily, the woman I told you about" and left it at that.

After the intros, the guard had walked her back to her suite, promising to send up a big green salad and cheeseburger, but she must've dozed off because when she woke, the clock on the wall said it was just past midnight. Elonzo sat next to her bed in an armchair, typing away on his phone. The light from the screen illuminated his stern expression.

"What are you doing here?" she muttered, trying to stay calm. Had he changed his mind about not hurting her?

"Your food was cold, so I ordered you another plate. It will be here in a few moments."

"You came to check on my food?" She rubbed her eyes, realizing she'd just given herself racoon circles since she hadn't bothered to remove her mascara. Oh well. I'm not here to look good for him.

"No. I came to show you something and noticed you'd fallen asleep without eating. I guessed you might be hungry once I woke you, though…" He paused.

"What?"

"Do you wish to eat first?" he asked.

"Why?"

"I find that eating and business do not always mix."

She could guess why. His business was an ugly one. "Sure. I'll eat." She needed to start regaining her strength. "Are the guests still here?"

"They went home an hour ago."

"Did you get what you needed from me?" She hoped he might tip his hand with regard to the purpose of that intro to the governor.

"I did. Thank you." He didn't offer more.

There was a knock at the door, and a large man appeared, carrying a tray. He had a gun clipped to his waistband.

"Set the food there." Elonzo pointed to the spot beside her on the bed. "And then leave us. Do not enter no matter what you hear."

Emily's heart began to accelerate. What was he planning to do to her? Because if he laid a finger on her, it would be the last time he enjoyed ten full fingers. "Why are we going to need privacy?"

Elonzo gave her a stern look. "Do not think me that sort of man."

The sort who takes what he wants and cares only about himself or his own children, but not about anyone else's?

"I don't know what you mean," she said innocently.

"Yes, you do. And I suppose I cannot blame you for thinking such evil things about me."

She kept staring, waiting for him to say more about this need for privacy.

"Please eat. I insist. Then I will explain."

She went for the water first and chugged down half the bottle. Then she took a huge bite of the juicy burger, savoring the melted cheese spreading over her tongue. So good . She was starving. She went in for another big bite. Then another.

"My night chef makes the best burger in the world, yes? I hired him after tasting his food at a small restaurant in New York. The only authentic burger place in the entire city, in my opinion—nothing but the finest bacon, grass-fed beef, and aged cheeses. It was better than anything I'd tasted here, so I asked him to work for me."

She set the burger down, wiping up the dripping grease on the side of her mouth with her napkin. "It's a great burger."

He nodded. "Are you done?"

She wasn't sure. Her stomach was a mess from the drugs, but now she had the added bonus of not knowing what he wanted to show her.

"I think I'll finish the food later—let my stomach get accustomed to non-prison food." Not to mention actual food.

He stood, took the tray, and set it on the nightstand.

"Thank you."

"You are my guest. And I am here to win your trust."

Bullshit. She blinked at him, bracing for what came next. "What did you want to show me?"

He sat next to her. "Do you remember earlier tonight when I told you that I had to choose my path after Julia died?"

It was only a few hours ago, dude. She nodded.

"By then, I'd already lost so much. It doesn't have to be that way for you. Not when you have someone on your side." He showed her his screen. On it was a photo of Warden Mitchel and the guards who'd beaten her. Well, of their heads, anyway.

Emily gasped and covered her mouth. "You only saw my bruises a few hours ago. How did you…"

"Find and execute them so quickly?" He got up and headed for the door. "Earn my trust, Emily, and you will find out. Then you'll never have to be a victim of people like that again."

He was almost out the door.

"But what about people like you?" she asked.

"Everyone answers to someone. By the way, you handled that better than I expected, Emily." He left, and she heard him lock the door behind him.

A strange wave of relief washed over her. Those people would never hurt her or another inmate again. But had justice really been served? What would keep someone else from filling the warden's spot? Nothing. Because "the game" in that prison was still intact. Only a few players had been removed.

On the other hand, since when had justice truly been served when it came to things like that, where evil people preyed on others with consent from the top? There was no way Warden Mitchel had been hiding his side gig without help from someone higher up.

Jesus, this is messed up.

She grabbed the tray and finished her meal. Tonight she'd sleep with a full belly and let her wounds heal. Tomorrow, she'd figure out how to play the next round. One week.

***

Early the next morning, one of Elonzo's female servants came in to wake Emily. She'd slept like a log, but not because she felt safe. Exhaustion had been her elixir. Also, it didn't hurt having a bed to sleep on that wasn't made of cardboard.

"The boss wants you ready in thirty minutes," said the woman.

"For?" Emily slowly lifted her head.

"You have a doctor's appointment. Then he has a function you are to attend."

"What kind of doctor? What function?"

The woman flashed her an annoyed look.

"Okay. Got it. Trust-building time." Emily got up from the bed slowly, feeling the aches and pains urging her to get back into bed. "Can I have some aspirin?"

"No. You may have water and black coffee. Doctor's orders. After your exam, you may eat."

Emily frowned. This sounded like a fasting situation. She'd only done it once after she'd started having heart palpitations. Her doctor thought it might be a blood sugar issue, when it had really been Ed and stress. She'd chickened out telling the doctor the full story.

The servant laid out clothes on the bed—all very nice, new things with the tags still on. Expensive jeans, a green silk blouse, and those same style of expensive tennis shoes Elonzo had worn yesterday, but in black and tan. She hated that she didn't know the brand, but only because knowing things helped her fit in. Fitting in was a tool that had saved her life more than once.

She bathed, put her hair in one big braid, and dressed. Just as she was about to try the door, it swung open.

Hunter Collins smiled down with his blue eyes. He wore a white dress shirt, black jeans, and a very large gun holstered under his arm.

"I'm not sure if I should be happy to see you or alarmed," she said.

"Alarmed?" He raised a brow.

"You're one of his heavy-hitters, right?"

"No. I mean yes. But the boss thought you might appreciate a familiar face after yesterday's events. It was a lot to deal with."

Oh, yes. I find the presence of sicarios so comforting. "I'm fine. Can we just get this over with?"

"Whatever makes you happy," he replied.

"Happy as a shit-eating bug."

He took her down a back stairwell and into a waiting SUV.

God, I hate these cars. They always led to trouble. Two more men joined them, one of whom drove, but instead of going to a normal doctor's office or hospital, they took her to a house. Your run-of-the-mill rancher with yellow paint and white shutters in a suburb not too far from Elonzo's home.

"What kind of doctor is this?" she asked Hunter.

"The kind who won't tell anyone that you're a wanted felon."

"Oh."

He walked her around back through a side gate and past a gnome garden. They entered what appeared to be the garage but was instead a waiting area complete with pleather chairs and magazines.

The driver and other guard stayed outside, and Hunter went in with her. A woman in a white sweater appeared and let him know the doctor would be along shortly.

"I'd love to know what this is all about," Emily said.

"The boss didn't say, but I'm sure he's just being careful. You're pretty beat up."

"Nice of the boss to care."

He shrugged.

This was driving her insane. "Hunter, I'm not dumb. I know what your boss is and how he does business. If I'm here instead of being dead, it's because he sees a way to make some money. I just don't know how."

He nodded. "Elonzo is a man of many secrets, but you are right. Money is generally his underlying motive for everything."

"Miss Wilson, the doctor will see you now," said the nurse.

Hunter got up.

"You're not coming with me, are you?" Emily asked.

"Just like prison."

Great. She hoped she wasn't going to have to strip for this, too.