Page 33 of Whips and Chains
She clutched my arm. “Shut up. You cannot. I would die.”
I laughed. “I’ll be working so I might not be able to hang out with you all night or anything, but you can sit at the bar…or mingle…if you prefer.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Mingle as in…”
“Get naked and fuck a stranger?” I grinned. “Sure, if you want to.”
She shook her head fast. “I think that might be a bit much for me, but I definitely want to come and sit at the bar and watch…” She cringed. “Wait, that sounded bad, didn’t it? I don’t want you to think I’m some sort of perv…”
I gave her a quick hug. “I don’t think that. I get being curious. It’s definitely an experience. Go home and get changed. My shift doesn’t start ’til ten, and the place will be in full swing by then so we can make an entrance together. Meet me out front five minutes early?”
Nyah nodded, excitement dancing in her eyes. “I’ll be there.”
We parted ways, but instead of calling Fang for a pickup, like I’d promised I would, I caught a taxi back to my apartment.
The road in front was empty of ice cream vans, motorbikes, or silver sedans, and that sense of loneliness deepened. I’d been stupid to get so mad at them when they’d only been trying to protect me.
Because the alternative was this. Peering into the shadows nervously. Looking over my shoulder as I collected my mail from the box in the foyer and climbed the dingy stairs to my apartment.
I was completely alone, and if someone dragged me off to some new house of horrors, there would be nobody to hear my screams.
At my apartment, I paused, realizing something was different.
It took me a good moment to realize it was the lock. It was brand-new and shiny, a dead bolt that was a big upgrade on the flimsy thing that had been there earlier.
A piece of my heart squeezed, knowing it was Levi or Whip who had installed it. I couldn’t see X knowing one end of a toolbox from the other, but this had Levi and Whip written all over it.
Only problem was, I had no key to open it, but a quick search through my mail solved that problem. A yellow envelope had my name in the center, written in Levi’s messy scrawl that I loved so much.
I opened it, and a key fell into my palm.
But there was no letter. No note.
I fought off the disappointment and let myself into the apartment. I wouldn’t stay here long. I couldn’t even let myself look in the direction of Toby’s bedroom. I just needed the outfit I’d bought to wear at Psychos, since my dowdy black pants and blouse hadn’t really been the vibe last time. In my rush to get out of the apartment that morning, I hadn’t even thought to pack it.
I yanked open the drawers in my bedroom and pulled it out, still not sure I would have the guts to wear it, but Toby’s voice was loud in my head.
You better put that on and wear it with pride, girly pop. Slay like the queen you are.
Emotion threatened to overwhelm me, so I rushed out, closing the door behind me.
Unshed tears blinded my eyes, so I didn’t even see Devin in the hallway until I walked right into him. He caught me, steadying me, his voice gravelly when he said my name. “Violet.”
One glance up at him told me he already knew. That my worrying over whether I would have to be the one to tell him had been in vain.
His expression was full of pain, and he swallowed thickly. “Is it true?”
I barely knew Devin. He and Toby had only been dating a short while, but the anguish on his face cut deep.
All I could do was nod and whisper, “I’m so sorry.”
He nodded, looking numb. Then he glanced down at me. “I’m so sorry, I can see you’re on your way out, but I left some things in his room I’d like to get…”
I nodded, quickly opening up the lock again for him. “Of course. Go ahead. I need to get to work, but just close the door on your way out, okay?”
I was sure he could use a moment to grieve alone and in private. He certainly seemed like he was battling to keep it together there in the hallway.
He nodded. “Thank you.”
