Page 32 of Cruel Devil

Vito grabs Andy’s bun in a fist. He wrenches back her head, bending to whisper something in her ear as he points to a corner of the room.

Nyx’s expression goes from angry to confused to shocked. Vito releases Andy, and she ducks her head, cowed.

“Christ,” I murmur. What the hell happened when I was gone?

Nyx is staring at Vito like she’s seen a ghost.

Vito heads back my way. “Seven seven nine four five,” he says as soon as he’s in earshot.

I unlock Andy’s phone, and take a few minutes to scan through everything for intel.

There’s surprisingly little to find. The only person in her contacts she regularly texts is “Mom”, and even those texts are sporadic.

Their chat history goes back several months. Most of it is ‘Mom’ asking Andy how she’s doing, if she’s managed to find a job yet, asking if she has enough money, making sure she’s looking after herself. It’s nauseatingly sweet, and even a little sad, seeing as Andy took months before finally responding…only to insist her mother stops contacting her.

There’s a two month gap, before ‘Mom’ starts up again.

She got Andy a job, please call back, this is real.

When Andy didn’t respond, ‘Mom’ texts her Doc’s name and address.

Mom

PLS GO SEE HIM

THIS IS WHAT U WANTED BABY

Then there’s a string of messages from earlier today, all about Viv’s visit to a sushi place her ‘daughter-in-law’ told her about. A picture of a pretty, if slightly out-of-focus water fountain. A plate of sushi. A random tree.

I switch off Andy’s call ID in her phone settings and dial ‘Mom’, staring up at Andy as I make the call. The women are silent now, Nyx watching me over the brim of her whisky glass.

A few rings later, Viv answers the line with a reedy, “Hello?”

When I remain silent, her voice becomes wary. “Is someone there? Hello?”

I end the call and turn my attention back to the phone.

“And?” Vito asks. “She’s legit?”

“Seems that way.” I toss Andy’s phone on the counter, and the clatter makes both women glance over at me. “Untie her.”

“You sure? It’s usually more fun when they can’t get away.”

“Vito…”

“Yeah, yeah.” He’s already walking over to them. I follow him a moment later, my eyes on Nyx as she watches Vito untie her new friend. Andy stands to stretch, groaning as her neck and back clicks.

“There’s been an update,” my wife says, boring a hole through my skull with her stare. “She’s coming with me.”

I stop with my tumbler raised to my lips.

“Where?” Vito asks.

I wave away his question, then gesture from one woman to the other. “You discussed this with her?”

Nyx shrugs. “You said you didn’t want me going alone.”

I take a slow sip from my glass. They all watch me like I’m the timer on a nuclear bomb.

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