“It’s so hard to find good help these days.” I lean back against the wall beside him and cross my arms. The music downstairs is low, making it quieter up here than I’m used to.

“We have to use him,” Lars pushes. “If there’s even the slightest chance that he could figure out what happened to Colin, we need to take it. I don’t think it’s a coincidence at all that you were with him when he was attacked. He was supposed to be here.”

So that we could use him as bait, apparently.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m team get my brother back through any means necessary, but is Perry really the answer? From the little I know about him, he’s just as likely to screw that up as anything else in his life, and trading people doesn’t really feel like the kind of deal you’d want to be sloppy on.

“This is feeling kind of trafficky to me.”

Lars is silent for a while. “Yeah, I get that.”

Every day that passes with no answer is another day without Colin. At this point, I’m struggling to hold on to hope that he’s not dead. Worry is a heavy rock in my gut, constantly reminding me that I’m missing a part of my life.

But Lars is right. What if it isn’t Yanni?

Seems unlikely, considering what an asshole he’s been and that he’s made vague threats about the fact we won’t like what comes next. I can now confirm he’s right about that. I don’t like this one bit.

“I think … our first step needs to be figuring out who wants me dead.”

“Okay.”

“When we know that, we can work out how to handle them. As soon as those people are off my case, I can get back to looking for Colin.”

“That makes sense. Let me guess: we need Perry to work out who hired him?”

“Correct.”

Lars doesn’t look any happier about that than I am, but not for the same reasons. “How the fuck do we put up with … all that?”

“He’s an acquired taste.”

“If you say so. What do we do with him?”

“At this rate …” I’m not even sure myself. “I think we have to trust him.”

“Awesome. I’ve always wanted to be shot in my sleep.”

“Does he even have his gun?”

That shuts Lars up. “I’ll check him when we go back in.”

“All right. Well, if he doesn’t have it on him, I’d say we’re okay to remove the cuffs?”

“I … guess.”

I grab Lars’s arm and give it a supportive squeeze. “Seriously, thank you. I’d be a scared ball in the corner if I didn’t have you.”

He manages a half smile. “I’m worried.”