“Leslie’s ready to talk when you are,” Vic said, peeking his head into Mo’s tent. She nodded and followed him outside, offering the others who were gathered outside their tents an encouraging smile. This was a minor hiccup, and it would be business as usual before long. She slipped inside Leslie’s tent, studying the young girl’s busted lip and blackened eyes, both hands and feet bound. Mo understood this might seem harsh to outsiders. When someone violated their code, extreme measures were required.

She lowered herself beside Leslie. “Hello, my darling.”

Leslie whimpered, tears streaming down her face. Mo reached out and gently patted her leg. “I know you’re hurting, and that’s unfortunate. The thing is, Vic says you’ve been deceitful. Is there something you want to tell me? About Nate and Ash?” Mo asked, her voice soft.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you, or the Tribe. All I wanted was to protect us. That’s why I told Ash to stay away. I just wanted her to leave us alone,” Leslie whispered.

“You don’t think you should have discussed that with me? Or with the rest of your family first?” Mo asked. Leslie nodded tearfully. “Instead, you try to handle things on your own, and now Nate is gone. I need to know what you said to him.”

Leslie was crying harder now, her shoulders convulsing. Mo scooted a bit closer, gently taking Leslie’s face into her hands. “Remember when Vic and I found you, all strung out, hooked up with that low-life pimp who was whoring you out for dime bags?”

Leslie whimpered in agreement, blood and tears streaming down her face. Mo reached into her pocket for a tissue. She wiped away excess blood, recalling how sickly Leslie was when she first joined them, so strung out, nothing but skin and bones. Mo oversaw Leslie’s healing, watched as she grew stronger and more confident. Hours upon hours she invested in this girl’s rehabilitation, spending the Tribe’s hard-earned money feeding her, nourishing her mind. “Remember what I said to you when you joined us?”

“You said as long as I was loyal to the Tribe, I always had a home.”

“I also said we didn’t tolerate liars,” Mo said, doing her best to stifle her anger. Losing control would not get her what she wanted. She needed all the facts. It would dictate how she handled Nate and Ash.

Mo reached out and took Leslie’s hands. “All I want is for you to tell me the truth about Nate. Tell me what you said to him, and we might have a chance at restoring things to the proper order.”

She saw a hopeful flicker on Leslie’s face. “I said you were upset with Ash. I just wanted him to know so he’d stay away from her.”

“And what was Nate’s response to that?”