“Not exactly the way I hoped you would use them, gypsy. Those secrets were to be a negotiating tool with Wild. To ensure he didn’t try and double-cross you.”
“How do you know about Wild?” She glanced around to see if anyone had noticed them talking. She pulled the veil up over her face so she could see him better. “What’s going on, Nic?” She could read him as easily as she read everyone else. Guilt made the lines around his eyes and mouth heavier.
His voice lowered and he leaned in close. “Wild knows what you’re doing, gypsy. He’s had his eyes on you the whole time.”
Thoughts slammed together in her head. Nic knew about Wild? About their deal? And Wild knew what she’d been up to?
She gasped. “You’ve been watching me?” Her heart slammed against her ribs, threatening to break free from her chest. No. No, it wasn’t true. Nic would never betray her like that.
But his eyes, hooded with pain, refused to meet hers. Oh God…she was going to be sick. She covered her mouth and pushed outside into the fresh night air.
Her stomach tightened and her throat burned as she leaned over a hedge. When the convulsions stopped, her body ached. She glanced over her shoulder to where Nic stood just behind her.
“Nic?” she said desperately. “Please tell me that it wasn’t you feeding him the information.”
“I’m sorry, gypsy.” His voice sounded strained and tight. “You don’t understand.”
The floor could have opened up and swallowed her, and it would have been less of a surprise.
“You’re working for him? How long?” The words caught in her constricted throat, and she desperately swallowed the sob building there. This was Nic. Her best friend. She had trusted him.
He dragged his fingers through his hair, inhaling through his teeth with a sharp hiss. “You know it’s always been about the money for me. I’m not good, like you. Wild came to me months ago, offered me a position in his operation. We’d break into a few houses, take some valuables, and then those rich bastards would pay Wild to ‘find’ their stolen belongings. Wild knew about you—knew that I escorted Lady A to her meetings. He wanted to meet you, so I set up the meeting with Wild at Lady Carstair’s. Left the note for Becky to find.”
Rage burned through her veins. She took a step closer and pressed her fingertips against his chest. “You set me up. I almost died that night. Becky almost died.”
He met her agonized stare. “That wasn’t supposed to happen. I was coming back for you, I swear. Wild was going to meet us in the alley, but I got tied up with something else and ran late that night. When I finally got there, the building was on fire, and had been burning for hours. I was sure nobody was alive in there. I didn’t know Wild saved you until almost a week later. I wanted to see you, but he said you’d agreed to work with him, and he wanted me to stay low.”
It all fell into place with sickening clarity. The heat inside her vanished, replaced with a heavy coldness that seeped into her bones. Wild had known where Nic was the whole time. He had never looked for him—didn’t need to—because Nic was working for Wild. Long before the fire.
Nic knew how much she valued the little freedom she had, and how much she wanted to get out of this life. He’d basically indentured her to Wild without her even knowing.
“I didn’t give you all those secrets so that you could just give them all back. Damn it, gypsy, you were supposed to use them to negotiate with Wild. To solidify your partnership with him. To make sure he didn’t set you up.”
He ran agitated fingers through his hair again and glared at the space behind her.
“Secrets destroy people,” she said. “I’m tired of being a part of that.”
Nic scrubbed a hand over his face. “They deserve it. You always thought so, too. Those rich bastards who think they own the world—they deserve everything they get for being greedy.”
“I’m done, Nic. I’m getting out. I don’t want this life anymore. It’s killing me from the inside.”
“It will kill you from the outside, too, gypsy. Wild won’t let you double-cross him. Did you think you’d just disappear after you agreed to work with him? You think Bones was vengeful? I promise that anything he did to us would pale in comparison to what Wild is capable of.” His voice turned low and urgent. “He already knows what you’re doing, gypsy, but you have one small advantage. He doesn’t know that I’ve told you. He won’t expect you to try and run yet. That’s why you need to get out of here.”
A sob caught in her throat and she stiffened when he pulled her close. The arms that had once been so familiar were like a stranger’s. His drawn-out sigh brushed across her ear. There were no spikes of excitement, no goose bumps now.
“I’m sorry. I thought I was finding you a way out.” He sounded so lost that for a minute, she believed him.