Page 184 of Stay Scared

“You wanted an audience,” I say. “Get in the frame.”

“You are the reason they are watching.”

“That must hurt.”

His hand closes harder. “What?”

“They still came for me.”

The beak turns toward me. I watch his reflection in the monitor instead of looking up.

“They know Cade’s face. Owen’s name. Ash’s company.”

My wrists pull against the plastic.

“They barely know what you are.”

Rook steps farther into frame. That gets him there. His hand leaves my arm and catches my chin. “Tell them what Crimson Night is.” His fingers press into my jaw.

I look at the camera. “A place he has spent years trying to take back.”

The grip on my face hardens. “That is not what I told you to say.”

“You wanted the truth.”

“I want you to tell them what Langston built.”

Mark shifts behind Rook. The cord slips another fraction over his thumb. I keep my eyes forward.

“Ash kept your attraction alive after he kicked you out.”

The beak turns sharply. Rook’s fingers leave my chin.

“You think that was mercy?”

“No. I think it makes you furious.”

He steps in front of me. The camera catches him now: a scratched beak, a black coat, a knife still in one hand.

“You think he improved anything?”

“I think he kept selling tickets without you.”

Rook stops moving.

I found it.

“He used my systems.”

His voice loses some of its polish.

“Your old systems.”

“He would have had nothing without them.”

Behind him, Mark’s hand keeps working.

I look at the camera. “So you came back through a dead vendor account.”