would you prefer I phrase it?”
“There are details you don’t understand.”
“Then explain them.”
“I can’t right now.”
“Why?”
Rachel heard voices behind him.
Brenda.
Paige.
Then a man.
Not someone who sounded like hotel staff.
The man said something too muffled for Rachel to understand.
Her attention immediately sharpened.
“Who’s there with you?”
“No one.”
“That was a man.”
“Rachel, stop.”
“Who is he?”
Brandon lowered his voice.
“You’re making this situation much more difficult than it needs to be.”
Rachel felt a cold uneasiness settle over her.
That sentence wasn’t defensive.
It sounded more like a warning.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“An hour ago, you were asking me for money. Now you sound like you’re warning me.”
“I’m not warning you.”
“You just said I’m making everything worse.”
“For everybody.”
“Who exactly is everybody?”
Brandon stayed silent.
Rachel heard Brenda’s voice clearly in the background:
“Tell her she needs
