Page 116 of Savage

“Wrapping it up now.” I sent it off to the editor of New York News Now and stretched back in my chair, lifting my arms over my head so my body cracked after hours of sitting.

“I’m meeting up with a few friends at the Crown Bar if you wanna come? They make a killer Cosmo, and I’m parched.”

I grinned, her words only reminding me to call Hannah this weekend to catch up.

“While that sounds like a good time, I’m just gonna go home and pass out. It’s been a wild week.”

That was an understatement. In the month since Mick and his crew had been taken into custody, more had come out abouttheir ties to other fatal drugs across the U.S. and into South America. It felt like there was something new every day, and even though I hated having to even think about them, I couldn’t help but feel like I was finally doing my part in shining a light on the situation.

Not to mention, New York City was brimming with endless scandals and possibilities, making it hard to choose where to narrow my focus.

“Pass out, huh? On a Friday night? Lame.” Jill slid her purse strap over her shoulder and shot me a wink. “See you Monday, Patterson.”

“Have fun.” I powered down my workstation, gathered up my belongings, and headed out. It was still bitterly cold, and yesterday’s snowfall still lined the sidewalks and streets as I walked to the train with the quickness of a focused but frozen New Yorker.

Not that I truly considered myself one yet, but the city was definitely growing on me. After my story about Mick hit the press, I was offered a job with several outlets around the city before ultimately settling on the one who’d taken a chance on me in the first place.

New York News Now was my dream job, and even late nights like this made me grateful I’d moved here in the first place. I had Alex to thank for that. I hoped wherever he was, he was at peace and could now rest easy knowing the ones responsible for his death couldn’t hurt anyone else.

And it sure as hell helped me to sleep at night.

“Oh no you don’t,” Ms. Edith said before I made it fully in the door. “You promised you’d stop by Levain and bring me a dozen?—”

Her mouth snapped shut when I pulled a blue tin out of my backpack and handed it to her.

“Your assortment of cookies, Ms. Edith, freshly made just for you.”

She lifted the top of the tin to inspect the contents, and then she looked back at me with narrowed eyes. “Well. You can follow an order, I suppose.”

Ha.She had no idea just how well.

“Anything else you want me to run out and get for you, just let me know.” I smiled and started up the stairs, leaving her to stare after me, no doubt trying to find another reason for an argument. Clearly she hadn’t expected me to actually follow through after her comment the other day about Levain Bakery, but it was fun to surprise her.

And piss her off at the same time.

I chuckled to myself and jogged up to the fifth floor, the route a lot easier now that I’d gotten in better shape. When I reached my door, I unlocked and shoved it open and my empty apartment greeted me with silence.

Some might find that lonely in a town as busy as this, but after a long, arduous workweek it was exactly what I needed. A warm bath and a drink wouldn’t be bad either, but I’d just have to settle for a glass of wine on the shower ledge.

I dropped my bag on my desk and peeked out the only window of my place, watching as the snow fell lightly on the fire escape. There was something so pretty about the way it dusted the old iron railings, and my lips tipped into a wistful smile.

Nights like this always made me thankful I’d been brave enough to follow my convictions and make the trek to the big city. People had doubted me—hell, I’d doubted myself. But here I was months later, not only surviving but thriving.

I had a steady job, which meant a steady paycheck, a landlord who’d finally decided I wasn’t a total ingrate, and nothing but my future to look forward to. Compared to the drug-infestedalley I’d stumbled into during my first couple of weeks here, I’d say things were looking up.

I grinned as I opened the microwave and put a wrapped burrito in. So maybe my food choices didn’t exactly reflect the “thriving” part yet, but I was happy.

After my quick bite, I poured that glass of wine I’d promised myself and headed to the shower, where I stood until the hot water turned lukewarm, letting the heat work its magic on my tense shoulders. Hours at a computer was nothing new, but with the overtime I’d been putting in, they were definitely protesting a little this week. I really needed to invest in a better setup, maybe a standing desk.

I drained the rest of my wine and climbed out of the shower, placing the empty glass on the counter before I dried off and wrapped a towel around my waist. The alcohol and steam had done its job in relaxing my body and mind, and as I stared at myself in the mirror I slicked my hair back from my face, smiling at the ring on my middle finger.

It glinted under the light as I twisted it. It was a new addition, and I couldn’t stop looking at it as I made my way to the bed and pulled back the covers.

I tossed the towel aside and climbed in, more than ready to wrap myself in the smooth sheets I’d splurged on a couple of weeks ago.

I didn’t bother with my tablet, nothing on there sparking my interest more than stretching out on this bed in bliss and staring out the window. The snow was starting to come down even harder now, and I was grateful I’d gotten home before it got too bad out.Warm and cozy in my bed, safe, no unwelcome intruders…

Closing my eyes, I stretched out, pushing my arms up under my pillow, and that was when I heard it.

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