Page 102 of Nocturne

She gasps, like I’d just revealed her darkest secret.

Good.

Desperate times and all that.

Harley leans her elbows on the table, dropping her head into her hands.

“You’re bothfucked.”

“He doesn’t know! And besides, he has no interest in me other than scaring the living shit out of me. I didn’tkisshim or take his jacket twice and sneakily take a whiff of them from where I stored them in my closet. And also, I didn’t play romance with the bossman or act all fine with his stalkerish tendencies!” Ivy sputters.

“Oh please,” I scoff. “You’re aware of the way Iblis looks at you whenever you’re around. The only reason he’s risking his neck with his boss is becauseyoucried.”

I’m not completely sure about this accusation. When it comes to that diabolical man, I cannot expect anything humane. But if this proves my point and shuts Ivy up, I’m not above using it.

Ivy blushes, torn between mortification and some level of smug satisfaction. But of course, she can’t let it go without one final jab.

“Well, I’m not the one who got allhot and bothered,had a wet dream and ruined my sheets.”

I bury my face in my hands, wondering what I ever did to deserve friends like these.

Harley groans, massaging her temples. “Sothoroughlyandirrevocablyfucked.”

* * *

“We are now in deep shit, right?”

I nod as Ivy and I walk towards our respective classrooms. I’m always happy to be back at work, but with how things have beentaking a nose dive to the south, a weight has settled in my gut. I feel like we are always one mishap away from hell breaking loose.

“Why can’t we like someone normal?” Ivy lets out a huge sigh, shaking her head.

I huff out a laugh, the absurdity of the situation no longer making sense to me. Why is it that there is a problem one after the other? Why does it feel like ever since we stepped foot into that abandoned warehouse, our lives have taken a swivel towards problems?

“What did Iyra say?”

I spoke to my sister this morning. I didn’t want to worry her, but I’d promised not to hide things from her either. Up until yesterday, I could have convinced myself it was just a one-sided attraction, a fleeting infatuation. Maybe I was just another woman who dreamed of that "beauty and the beast" kind of love—something many desire, but few truly understand the consequences of. The beast doesn’t change just because you love him. Your love doesn’t humanise him. If anything, it transforms you into someone unrecognisable.

But after yesterday, everything shifted, and I couldn’t hide it from her any longer.

“Let’s just say she had some choice of words that made me want to dig a hole and bury myself in it.”

She was not polite in the way she cursed at me. I know her anger comes from a place of worry, but also she understands that there is nothing I can do to cut myself from the situations I’m in. With the mess we have entangled ourselves from the recording and being the witnesses of confidential crimes, we cannot afford tocut our ties with the mob. Not with what we plan on doing with the evidence.

We are already too deep in this. Involving Iblis was the last thread that pushed us into the pit of trouble. But he directed us towards his boss for help.

I try not to think of Zagan and his absurd demand ever since.

Be mine.

He had no right!

No darning right to sound as magnetic and majestic while making ludicrous demands like that. And I’ve already made peace with the fact that something inside my head is broken to be still attracted to the man despite that. Something so broken that I wanted my dream last night to come true. Wanting him to ravage me in sleep, exploiting my inebriated state as he wished. Who the heck even wants that?

He is a stalker, a tyrant, a man who kills as a profession. And that must be the most benign thing he does in this area of business. And my body still craves him.

Ivy chuckles at my words and shakes her head. There are purple circles underneath her eyes, and despite the makeup, I can see her pale skin. Iblis had said something to her— while I was boxing the manicotti for Eero. Something that turned her paler than when we were being chased. The man smiled at her as if he didn’t scare the living daylights out of her.

“Are you okay?”

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