I met Charlie three blocks from Jett’s penthouse in front of a bagel shop that’s open twenty-four hours. He lurked in the shadows, hidden away from the light that poured through the front windows, wearing shorts and a black hoodie. The sight of him sent a shiver down my spine. I was glad for the yoga pants and three-quarter length shirt I pulled on in the dark of Jett’s bedroom.

I was next to him in seconds, shoving the flash drive into his hand. “Here.”

He clicked his tongue. “Someone’s in a pissy mood.”

“It’s almost three in the morning.”

Charlie shrugged, spreading his hands wide in front of him. “You’re the one who blew me off earlier.

“Yeah.”

Looking at him, in front of that stupid bagel shop…it was too much. All of it. The sneaking around in the middle of the night, lying to the man I love—

The man I love....

I wanted it to to be over. So what if Adam has to start over somewhere new? It’s a great big world, for Christ’s sake.

I turned to go, but Charlie followed. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“I’m done with this, Charlie. You got what you wanted. My brother’s debt is paid. This is ridiculous.”

He wrapped his hand around my arm in a vise grip and jerked me around to face him. His mouth is twisted, teeth gritted together, eyes flashing.

“Are you sure you want to say that?” he hisses.

I shook my arm—hard—and he let go. “Get. Away. From. Me.”

Charlie glanced to the left and right, but the sidewalk was empty. My heart beat fast, furious. “You’re a stupid bitch, aren’t you?”

“Not as stupid as you.” I turned away again.

Charlie as by my side in an instant. “Think about what you’re doing.”

“I’ve thought about it.”

“How does your mother like living in Elsie?”

My shoe caught on the sidewalk as soon as his words registered. My mouth went dry. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Charlie.”

“Elsie, where your mother lives. In Michigan. You grew up there. Your brother’s visiting her right now.”

My heart pounded against my ribs and I swallowed down an acid burst of panic.

He knew where they are. That doesn’t mean he can get there.

Does it?

“I don’t know who you got your information from, but they’re an idiot.”

Charlie laughed like I’m a stand-up comedian. “You’re a bad liar.”

“If you’re going to threaten me, then do it.”

“Oh, I’m not threatening you,” he said, his voice smooth and disgusting. “I’m giving you all the information you need to make a good decision.”

“You’re so kind.”

Charlie’s hand shot out from his body at lightning speed, and I jumped backward. “See? You’re scared of me. And you should be. Because if you walk away from me right now, it won’t be you who faces the consequences. It’ll be your mother. And your precious brother.”

I bit my lip to stop my chin from quivering. “I don’t believe you.”

Charlie whipped a phone out from his back pocket and held it up to my face. “Do you believe this?”

On the screen was a picture of my mom and brother sitting in a corner booth at the only cafe in town. The next image was one of a rough-looking man holding up yesterday’s paper.

I swallowed hard.

“I know where they are, and you know what I’ll do. Choose.”

I wanted to slap his face. I wanted to kick him in the balls and call 9-1-1. I wanted to put my own hands around his neck and make him feel like I felt—like all the air had gone out of my lungs.

Instead, I held out my hand, face up.

He drops a new flash drive into it.

“See you in a week.”

Even now, with Jett’s arm wrapped around me, safe in his penthouse, the fear is still icy at the pit of my gut and my hands feel filthy from clutching that flash drive.

He was waiting for me when I got back. Did he believe that shit I babbled about Adam’s difficult life? Does he believe me now? He seemed to accept that I didn’t want to wake him. That I was being kind, not a dirty liar who’s taking him for all he’s worth and then sleeping with him on top of it.

He comforted me. The guilt leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I shift under his arm, trying not to feel like such an unbelievable asshole.

Jett breathes deep, his chest against my back, and he sighs in his sleep. It guts me.

What would happen if I woke him up right now and told him everything?

I turn onto my back and Jett shifts, his arm curling around my waist. My heart thuds, one, two three, in my chest. The pressure builds, the words on the tip of my tongue. I could tell him. I could do it.

“Jett.” I whisper the word into the dark and some of the pressure releases. His breathing doesn’t change. “Jett…” I run a hand over his arm and move again.

He’s not waking up. The courage I’d built up for this moment is fading fast.

One last try.

I clear my throat. “Wake up.”

He stirs, his arm tightening around my waist. “Sweet thing,” he says, his voice low and sleepy. “Are you all right?”

“No,” I whisper.

The photos Charlie showed me flicker up into my mind.

“What’s wrong?” He pulls me in closer and brushes his lips against my ear. “Tell me.”

“I’ve been—” How do I say this? How do I beg him for help after all that I’ve done? The photos from Charlie’s phone flicker up into my memory and my chest seizes. What the hell am I thinking? “I can’t sleep,” I finish lamely.

“I can help you with that.”

Got help me, I let him.