Chapter 11 Ransom #2
After a couple of minutes, he nods. “Got something. There’s a new wing opening at the Museum of Contemporary Art soon, and Galvin’s name is on the guest list for the unveiling gala.”
Malice and I trade looks. That could be a very good opportunity for us to do what we need to do.
“It’s an exclusive event though, isn’t it?” I ask. “I’m sure it’s black tie and probably invite only. They’re not just letting people walk in off the street, right? We need a way in.”
“We could knock out a couple of caterers,” Malice suggests. “Get in that way.”
I make a face. It’s messier than I like, with the possibility of unwanted collateral damage if the caterers manage to fight back before we take them out. There’s also always the risk of someone finding their unconscious bodies before we finish doing what we need to do.
“Too sloppy,” Vic says, speaking up before I can voice the words myself. “That would have to be a last resort.”
Malice growls under his breath, flexing his fingers. “What else is there? It’s not like we’re getting on the guest list ourselves.”
“Give me a second.” Vic starts tapping away again, brow furrowed as he does his research.
Malice takes to pacing the room as we wait, nervous, irritated energy radiating from him. But he doesn’t get to make more than one rotation before Vic sits back, drumming his fingers on the edge of the desk.
“What?” Malice demands. “What did you find?”
“I found a connection between us and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Or a possible one, anyway.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, leaning forward to peer over his shoulder.
“Olivia Stanton has been a donor to the museum in the past,” Vic says, his voice low. “And not for a small sum either, there are several substantial donations. She’s not on the guest list for the event right now, but I’d be willing to bet she has an invite. That could be our in, if…”
He trails off, staring at his screen.
“If Willow will help us,” I finish for him.
“Yes.”
“No,” Malice counters immediately. “We can’t get her involved in this. She’s already too deep in it just knowing about X and his shit. If we start asking for her help with things, then she could end up right back in danger again.”
“You’re right.” Vic is still gazing straight ahead, but I have a feeling he’s not really looking at the screen anymore. “But if we don’t do this, then we have to come up with another plan to get into this event. Or some other way to get to Galvin. And it’s not like we have a lot of time.”
“Yeah, X is already pissed as fuck at us,” I murmur. “If we start dragging our feet, he might take it as us refusing to do this job. And then…”
“Yeah, I fucking know,” Malice snaps. “Okay? I know. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”
I draw in a breath and let it out, then shake my head. “Well, we don’t have any others, so unless someone’s got something hidden up their sleeve, I’m gonna go see Willow.”
Vic just nods, gaze still fixed on his computer monitor, and Malice’s jaw goes tight all over again. Something flashes through his eyes, and I have just enough time to clock it as jealousy before it disappears.
I don’t know what he’s so jealous about, considering he’s the only one who’s seen her in person since she told us all to fuck off, but maybe he knows I have a better chance of convincing her to help than he does.
Whatever’s going on in his head, he doesn’t say anything, so I turn and stride out of the room. Now that I’m set on a plan of action, I don’t waste any time, heading back down to the garage and getting on my bike.
At this time of day, Willow will be at school, so I ride over there, grateful that Victor has still been keeping tabs on her, even though she pretty explicitly told us not to. Knowing her schedule helps a lot.
I park my bike near the curb and head for the building I know she’ll be coming out of soon. I don’t have long to wait. As soon as I approach, the doors slide open, and students come out in twos and threes, chattering amongst themselves.
There are fewer of them than before, since it’s summer, I guess, so it’s easy to spot Willow when she comes walking out.
She’s stuffing a book into her bag, but as she reaches the bottom of the stairs leading up to the building, she hesitates, going still.
As if some kind of deep-rooted instinct has alerted her to my presence, she looks up, her gaze going to me.
She stiffens at the sight of me, and it sends a pang through my heart.
I hate that. I hate seeing her retreat this way. For a little while, she would soften when she saw me, a smile on her face and light in her soft brown eyes. Even when it was against her better judgement, she still seemed happy to see me.
Now there’s what feels like a chasm between us, and it makes my stomach tighten unpleasantly. But I don’t let that stop me from doing what I came here to do.
I step forward, falling into step with Willow as she starts moving again, walking away from the building.
“How was class?” I ask, glancing sideways at her. “You must be happy to be back in school.”
Willow swallows hard, not looking at me.
“What are you doing here?” she murmurs, her voice quiet. It’s pretty obvious that she’s not thrilled to see me.
“Can we just… talk first?” I ask, suddenly not in a hurry to bring up the business I came here to discuss. I haven’t seen her in way too fucking long, and now that I’m standing right beside her, I just want to soak up her presence for a few more minutes.
She doesn’t answer, but she doesn’t tell me to fuck off either, so I take that as a win. I look down at her, noticing the way the wind stirs her delicate blonde hair, the strands catching the light and glowing like gold.
Fuck, she really does look like an angel.
“How have you been doing?” I ask quietly. “I hear your grandma’s been making sure you’re taken care of. I’m really happy for you, you know? You found your family, someone you can belong with.”
Willow’s tongue darts out of her mouth, licking her lips. She finally glances at me and nods. “It’s been…”
But she cuts herself off before she can finish that sentence, shaking her head. It’s like she’s remembering that she’s not supposed to talk to me, and it feels shitty as fuck to be shut out this way. But it’s not like I can blame her.
Her face hardens, and she takes a deep breath and lets it out.
“Why the fuck are you all still following me?” she demands. “Why are you so intent on being in my life? I told you I’m done with all of this.”
“Do you really not know the answer to that?” I ask. I turn to face her, unable to stop myself from reaching up and touching her cheek.
Tears well in her eyes, but she goes stiff all over again.
“Don’t give me that.” She jerks her head back. “You hurt me. Seeing myself like that… seeing every horrible thing I’ve ever thought about myself typed out and sent to someone else? Seeing Vic describe me as worthless? How do you think that made me feel?”
She shakes her head, and the tears spill over, falling down her cheeks.
“I know,” I tell her softly. I brush those tears away and step in even closer.
“And I’m sorry, angel. I’m so sorry. We just couldn’t think of another way.
Maybe it was wrong what we did, but I can’t regret trying to protect you.
If X had gotten his hands on you… there’s no telling what you would have suffered.
The last thing any of us wanted was for you to have to go through that. ”
When Willow doesn’t jerk away from me, I keep going.
“You have to know that none of us think you’re worthless,” I say, cupping her jaw as I hold her gaze, hoping she can read the truth in my eyes.
“We don’t and we never have. You were so beautiful that night with all of us.
So wild and free. You should never feel bad for that.
You should never feel dirty or less than because of what you like. ”
Willow swallows hard, and she still doesn’t pull away. Her eyes shine with more unshed tears as she looks at me, and I can feel something building between us.
It’s not quite the same as it used to be, but it’s not the open anger and hostility that was there when we approached her at the hospital. The connection that always sparked between us is still there, and when I lick my lips, Willow’s gaze drops down to follow the motion.
She sways a little, leaning a fraction of an inch closer to me, and I want to kiss her so damned bad.
But I don’t.
Bit by bit, Willow softens into my touch. Some of that awful stiffness bleeds out of her, and she looks less angry and hurt and more tired than anything.
She lets out a breath, leaning into my touch a little, even though I’m sure she’d deny it. “Why did you come here, Ransom? Tell me what you want. Please.”
“We need your help with something,” I answer honestly.
That breaks the spell almost immediately. That stiffness crawls right back up her spine, and she draws back from me, opening up the distance between us again.
I hate it, but I don’t press her for more. I understand why she’s so wary of me and my brothers right now, and like I said, I can’t bring myself to regret what we did. So I’ll just have to live with the consequences of it, even if it means Willow hates me forever.
At least she’ll be alive and in one piece to do it.
“What do you need help with?” Willow asks, surprising me by not turning on her heel and stomping away. There’s a coolness to her tone, and it’s clear she doesn’t trust me at all, but at least she’s still listening.
“There’s a new wing of the Museum of Contemporary Art opening soon, and we need an invite to the unveiling event. We think you can help get us in.”
“An art museum opening?” She blinks, looking confused. “How can I help with that? I don’t know anybody who…” She trails off, her voice dropping as she figures out what I’m getting at. “Oh. You want me to ask Olivia.”
“She’s definitely been a donor of the museum before,” I say, nodding. “Which means she’s probably on the invite list or can manage to get one if she wants.”
“I don’t know if she has an invitation or not. We’ve never talked about the art museum. Why do you need to be there, anyway?” Willow narrows her eyes at me, looking even more suspicious. “It doesn’t seem like your scene.”
“It’s… complicated, but all you need to know is that it’s part of a job for X.”
She nods, taking that in. For a moment, she chews on her bottom lip, and it’s even harder to keep my distance and not soothe that lip with my tongue.
“Will anyone get hurt?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No. This isn’t that kind of job.
The whole point is that no one should even know anything weird is going on.
We wouldn’t have asked if we had another choice, believe me.
The last thing any of us wants is for you to get dragged into this shit with X.
But…” I take a breath. “If we don’t do the job, our contract with X will be voided. Malice will go back to prison.”
I don’t elaborate on that, and it doesn’t seem like I have to. Something flashes through Willow’s eyes, a glimpse of the old determination that used to flare up from time to time.
I’m prepared to say more to try to convince her, to lay out my case for why we need her help, but before I can, she nods once.
“Okay,” she tells me. “I’ll see what I can do.”