Chapter 13

The workday at the office is stilted, to say the least. David doesn’t speak to me, and I don’t speak to him, either. I just do my work, clock out at 5:30 p.m., and march out of the building.

I talk to Marcus on the way home about spending the night at my “friend’s house”—meaning my night job. Sel is going to come over, pick me up from my apartment, and then Marcus will walk us both downstairs.

It takes the whole walk back to convince him to let me go. Once Sel turns up at my place, he suddenly realizes that he’s absolutely okay with it, but he simply needs her number as well as mine to keep tabs on me.

I’m suspicious, particularly as I notice his eyes lingering on her a little too long. Either way, I pack my evening outfit in a bag, throw my coat on, and rush off with Sel. I feel a wave of peace wash over me as I step into The Red Room. Nico runs up to hug me, an