Page 74 of The Duplicity of Thieves

After I left her at her apartment the other morning, I’m not sure if she’ll apparate again. I didn’t expect her to let me stay, but I didn’t want her to regret it the next day. She wasn’t well, and she sucked my dick anyways, not wanting anything in return. When Hermes roped me and Minos into helping Vivian move from her apartment, he must have had ulterior motives. As far as they knew, I hadn’t seen Josie since the night at the club.

When I first came into the place it was a mess. Bottles of alcohol were on the floor, and a book was face down in the corner by an open window. Burnt out cigarettes laid on the windowsill next to a broken chair that looked like it had been dragged straight from the trash. Vivian didn’t strike me as someone who smoked, but she had mentioned she had a roommate. She failed to mention that the roommate was her sister. David had made a few passive comments, but Vivian had ignored him, tossing furtive glances at Bella.

I had been assigned the boxes in the bathroom, and when I walked into the shattered bloody mess, I didn’t know what to think. With the area we were in, it was entirely possible someone had tried to rob the place. Especially with how the key wasn’t hidden at all. That, or some sort of wild party had ravaged the apartment recently.

I minded my own business, grabbed the boxes, and left. When Josie appeared in the kitchen, I knew she was the culprit. There was something different about her. Some of her defenses were down. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her hair was in a messy bun on her head.

The thing that Vivian didn’t notice was the blood dripping onto the floor from Josie’s hand. She looked like a caged animal as her sister questioned her, and she didn’t seem to be in her right mind. Josie was no longer the witty brat I was used to, and it created a pit in my stomach. I felt something akin to fear. I was reminded of the first time I met her when her hand was healing and covered with rough flesh. I saw the healing wounds in a new light.

Josie needed someone to make sure she didn’t lose her mind because she was pretty fucking close. I wondered if Vivian had any idea that she was spiraling and how often this happened, but she seemed pretty calm about it once I asked. Josie seems like the sort of person to lose her shit in private even if it kills her. She clearly didn’t want Vivian to know the extent of it, so I sent her back to bed and personally moved all of the boxes past the kitchen. I must have redirected Vivian a dozen times.

Bella had approached me when we finished unloading everything at their condo, a stark contrast from the seemingly dangerous place we had just left.

“Is everything alright?” she had asked.

I played dumb. “Pertaining to what?”

“Please, Aedonaeus.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t insult me. You’re probably the one Josie sees the most.”

Her admission struck me. I’ve seen Josie very little compared to how much I figured her own sister would see her. I wondered again how much they really know about who Josie is deep inside.

“She’s made herself scarce, and Vivian is worried,” Bella said, as if reading my mind. “I’m sure you’re aware that Josie has unresolved issues. That's why she’s so good in our line of work.”

“What line of work would that be?”

“Torture, Aedonaeus. You’re not dense,” she said plainly.

Bella still hasn’t given me an impression, almost as if it’s calculated, but the concern she had was full of true unadulterated worry. A stark contrast from Vivian. I had figured Josie murdered; torture is an entirely new animal. It didn’t make me like her any less. It made me want her even more.

“She seemed off today, didn’t she?” I had been worrying about her since we left.

“She did,” Bella had agreed.

“I’m going over there.”

Vivian appeared, wiping sweat from her forehead. “Going where?”

“To Josie’s.” There was no point in lying. It didn’t seem like there were secrets between Bella and Vivian.

“Oh,” Vivian answered nervously. She tried to hide it, but the concern was finally peeking through the cracks. “She looks like she hasn’t eaten in a week. Maybe we should go with you. I’ll grab some takeout.”

“It’s alright. I’m going to revive her from her hangover.”

“Oh.” Vivian’s lips had parted in surprise. “I see. I didn’t realize it was that serious.”

I hadn’t either. When she was on her knees, I had let the words ‘I’m going to marry you’ slip out. Josie didn’t mention it, but I hadn’t seen her since. It was a rash thing to say. A careless thing that could create complications. I knew she wouldn’t appreciate me showing up at her apartment again after she’s asked if anyone saw me come back, and it felt desperate to seek her out. She could already be gone, and she’s an expert at not being found.

I’ve never been in love before, and I don’t know if I really am. I’m certainly partial to Josie—more than partial. She dominates my thoughts. I haven’t even noticed anyone else since she re-entered my life.

Hades checks his watch and turns to us. “So, what’s new with the three of you?”

I don’t feel like conversing right now. In fact, it’s the last thing I want to do.

Hermes throws me under the bus immediately. “Same shit with us. Not sure what Aedonaeus has been up to. We don’t see him anymore.”

“Really now?” Hades’ eyebrows raise with question.

“I’ve been tired,” I grumble.

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