CHAPTER SIX
That night, Dimitri comes in.
“Alexander tells me you’ve been making offers,” he says.
“Just trying to survive,” I say.
“By turning my partner against me?” he asks.
“He’s not your partner,” I say. “He’s just another guy John is using. Just like you.”
“I’m not being used,” Dimitri says.
“Then why are you still here?” I ask. “If this is such a great gig, why do you look so miserable all the time?”
“I’m not miserable,” he says.
“You’re a terrible liar,” I say.
He glares at me. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know you’re not like the others,” I say. “I can tell. You’re smarter than this. Better than this.”
“Flattery won’t work on me,” he says.
“I’m not flattering you,” I say. “I’m telling you the truth. You could walk away from this right now. Help me escape. Start over somewhere else.”
“And then what?” he asks. “John would hunt me down and kill me.”
“Not if you disappeared,” I say. “Hunter has connections. He could help you relocate, get a new identity.”
“Why would he do that?” Dimitri asks.
“Because I’d ask him to,” I say. “Because you helped me.”
Dimitri is quiet for a long moment.
“I’ll think about it,” he says finally.
“Don’t think too long,” I echo what I told Alexander.
After Dimitri leaves, I work on the zip tie around my ankle. I’ve been slowly loosening the bed frame, and I think I’m almost there.
I just need a little more time.