Deep Under (Tall, Dark and Deadly #4)(14)

“What he did or didn’t do to me isn’t what’s important. It’s what he’ll do to us both if you don’t answer your phone that matters.”

In this case, I’m not sure if the “he” she references is Juan or Alvarez, but I reach into my pocket, grab my phone and hit the answer button. “Yes,” I say as my greeting. “I removed the listening devices, and the camera, because she knew they were here, thus I’ll never test her loyalty when they’re around.”

Myla’s eyes go wide with shock that quickly shifts to disapproval that, while illogical to me, is not in doubt. It’s real. It’s a live charge and she whirls around to leave, and not sure what she will do to save herself from whatever perceived threat she feels from me or anyone else, I shackle her arm, maneuver her around, and place myself in the archway to prevent her departure. “The powers that be-” Juan begins.

“You mean Alvarez,” I state, while Myla’s expression tightens and she turns away from me, putting several steps between us.

“You don’t need to name him,” Juan states, a reprimand in his words, while Myla sits on the edge of the tiled ledge surrounding the giant tub. “He doesn’t like to be named,” he adds.

“Tell Alvarez to call me,” I reply to spite him, while Myla squeezes her eyes shut, as if she wants to block out everything I’m doing. I wonder what else she’s blocked out just to survive this past year and if she knows she’s done it.

“You deal with me,” Juan snaps. “And I’m sending a team up to re-install the devices, and if you don’t like it-”

“If you want to know if she’s loyal,” I say, leaning against the sink, and placing Myla in profile. “She has to think you aren’t looking. She has to believe you aren’t watching.”

“Knowing we’re watching keeps her loyal. Where is she now?”

“In her room,” I say, “and pissed at me because she’s afraid she’ll be blamed for my actions.”

“She should be afraid,” he replies. “You should be afraid, too.”

“Fear isn’t loyalty. Fear is a motive to run. You need to know what she’ll do when she thinks you’re not looking. Do you really want to tell Alvarez that her fear equals her loyalty and then let her burn him later?”

“It’s you I’m worried about burning us.”

“And yet you’re paying me a million dollars for eight weeks of work.”

“We are paying you a million dollars,” he agrees. “And we expect compliance in exchange.”

“Compliance isn’t success, and my failure comes with consequences that I’m not willing to pay. I won’t operate with my hands tied. If that’s what you want, then this isn’t the job for me.”

“Take her to dinner while we re-install the room devices,” he bites out, the reply telling me Alvarez won’t be happy if I quit.

“I told her that Alvarez ordered the removal of all devices,” I counter.

“You did what?” He all but growls into the phone. “You are pushing my limits, but this changes nothing. In fact, this is good. She’ll never know we’ve re-installed the equipment.”

“She knew they were here the first time,” I lie. “She’s smart. Don’t let her be smarter than you. Alvarez needs to tell her he removed them because he trusts her, then, and only then, will you find out if she rises to the challenge or runs for the hills.”

He doesn’t immediately answer, remarkably silent considering his big mouth, before he says, “I’ll be in touch.”

“Make it fast,” I say, “because time is money that I won’t waste.”

“I said, I’ll be in touch,” he snaps, ending the call, and the moment I lower the phone, Myla is standing in front of me, green fire in her eyes.

“First and foremost,” she says, “do not speak for me. Telling Juan that I knew about the equipment and didn’t tell Michael is bad for me. It means I knew and didn’t tell Michael.”

“Why is that a problem?”

“It matters,” is her only reply. “They’re paying you a million dollars to be here with me?”

“Yes. They are. Clearly you mean a lot to Michael Alvarez.”

“Silence means a lot to Michael Alvarez,” she counters, inferring she isn’t what’s important, but she’s already moved on. “Were you actually hired to protect me or test my loyalty?”

“Both.”

“If you’re testing me, then why would you tell me that?”

“Because if you fail their test,” I say, sliding my phone back in my pocket, “then so do I.”

Disappointment flares in her eyes, and quickly shifts to anger. “So this is self-serving.”

“This is what you call mutually beneficial. We both stay alive.”

“You assume I’m going to betray him,” she says, guarding herself as any survivor would.

“How long have you been with him?” I ask, despite knowing the answer.

“Why does that have to do with anything?”

“How long?” I push.

“A year.”

“Then you know him well enough to know that his definition of betrayal and yours might be different. And his is the only definition that matters. I’m not leaving this up to his interpretation.”