Chapter 26 · Gloves Off

The house smells like mold and old cigarettes. I'm standing in what used to be a sitting room, except all the furniture's gone and there's just one metal chair in the middle with my dad tied to it.

He's breathing. That's all I care about right now.

Vito's leaning against the far wall, gun in one hand, phone in the other. He looks bored. Like this is just another Tuesday.

"You're early," he says. "I like that. Shows you care."

Locke's beside me. He hasn't said a word since we walked in. His hand's on my lower back, light enough that it could be reassuring except I can feel how tense he is through his fingers.

"Let him go," I say. My voice comes out steadier than I expected.

Vito laughs. "Sure. Soon as you hand over the files."

I hold up the laptop bag. "Everything's here. Dad's notes. The witness list. All of it."

"Open it."

I unzip the bag slow. Pull out the laptop. My hands aren't shaking. I don't know why they're not shaking.

Vito pushes off the wall. Walks over. He doesn't take the laptop. Just looks at it.