“And so I went into my rooms and I’ve stayed here ever since. It pains my father greatly that I refuse to leave this piece-of-shit room. It’s my prison and my statement. I will not leave until my father, or the next leader of the family, allows me my rightful place.”
I didn’t know what to say. I stared at her, seeing Louisa in an entirely new light.
I had assumed she was a weird, eccentric, crazy person. And she was weird and eccentric, no doubt. But she wasn’t crazy.
She was strong. I could see her strength and defiance written in every expression, in every fiber of her being, in every word and gesture. And I was beyond impressed.
“That’s incredible,” I said softly.
“It’s not so amazing. It’s just what I have to do.” She stood and walked back over toward her computers and began to tinker with them.
“But what happens if your father never gives in?”
“Then I’ll die in this room, I guess,” she said almost off-handedly.
I could hardly believe her. I shook my head and stood up. “You’re amazing, Louisa. I wish I could have half of your determination.”
“You do,” she said, not looking at me.
“I’m not so sure.”
“Stop feeling so bad for yourself. If you want something, take it.”
I looked at her for a second and let that sink in. “Okay. Thanks.”
“And, Natalie?” she asked. “Your secret is safe with me. I have no love for my father and his little boys’ club.”
“Thanks,” I said, though I wasn’t sure which secret she meant. I got the feeling that she meant all of them.
She continued working on her computers, and I got the sense that our conversation was over. I walked over to the door, pulled it open, and left. She didn’t even glance in my direction.
The door shut behind me and I suddenly felt so much better. I felt lighter. Louisa was an inspiration, and her strength made me feel stronger just for having spoken with her.
I didn’t know what I was going to do about Lucas, but like Louisa had said, I should take what I wanted.
There was no shame in it.
I headed back toward my room, my head abuzz with questions and plans.
Chapter Twenty-Six: Lucas
I stood with Vince on a small bridge overlooking a steam. We were well back in the woods in the back of the compound, well away from anyone that could possibly overhear.
“Well?” he asked. “Why’d you drag me out into the goddamn forest?”
“I got a lead,” I said.
“Must be serious.”
“Might be, but it might not be.” I paused, throwing a stone into the water. “You know that young driver, Franklin?”
“Nice guy,” Vince said. “What’s the deal?”
“I got some information about him. Apparently he speaks multiple languages, and Russian is one of them.”
Vince paused, thinking. “What’s a driver doing speaking a bunch of languages?”
“My question exactly. Knowing Russian isn’t all that suspicious, but if he’s so smart, why’s he just driving us around?”
“Maybe he’s trying to work his way up?”
I shook my head. “I spoke with Roger. He said Franklin never mentioned any languages when he got hired. Said that Franklin just seemed like another city goon looking to get into the crew.”
“Seems odd,” Vince said, “leaving that bit off your resume. How’d you find this out?”
“Can’t say.”
Vince raised an eyebrow. “That’s new. What, you don’t trust me?”
“I do,” I said, “but I’m choosing to hold this one back.”
“Okay, boss. Your call.”
We stood looking out over the water together in silence. I wondered how many times we’d come back to this spot to talk about confidential shit over the years. I’d known Vince most of my life; we were around the same age, and he had joined the crew around the same time that my father had allowed me to start getting my feet wet in it.
But as loyal as he was, Camille’s indiscretions were too dangerous to share. I didn’t know who Vince spoke to or who he trusted, or what he joked about when he was drunk. If it ever slipped out, even by mistake, I couldn’t live with myself. I wasn’t about to be the reason Natalie got thrown out with her trashy mother.
“So what’s the plan?” Vince asked finally.
“Research him,” I said. “And have one of the boys keep an eye on him.”
“Got it. Anything else?”
“Keep it low, if you can.”
“Will do. Only trusted guys.”
“Good.”
We began walking back toward the compound.