Page 84 of Heresy

Holding out her arm, she stops me in place before spinning to face me.

“Because you’re not answering your phone, and I’m worried about you. So I figured you’d be done with class, and I can take you out for some grub.”

No.

It’s my instant thought.

An absolute refusal to be anywhere off campus.

Plus, how the hell will I hide all of this from her if I’m forced to face her long enough to eat?

Intuiting my thoughts, she grabs me by the shoulders and lightly shakes me.

“I’m not taking no for an answer, Brin. Either you go with me or I’ll call into work and stay here all night pestering the shit out of you. Your choice.”

I want to plead with her to go away, but I know it’ll do no good. Ames is stubborn like that. Once an idea is in her head, she runs with it regardless of the consequences.

“You can’t miss work. You need that money to pay your rent.”

A wicked grin curls her lips. “Exactly. So either come eat with me or you can help me pack my shit when I’m evicted.”

“Ames—”

“I’m not taking no for an answer.”

It’s just lunch, right? One hour tops away from school. Convincing myself I’m being ridiculous to think I’m a target everywhere I go, I remember what Governor Callahan said about the Inferno not striking in public.

A restaurant is as public as it gets, so I breathe out a sigh and accept her offer.

“Fine. But who’s paying?”

She pulls a credit card from her back pocket and winks. “Granger’s paying.”

“How—”

Shoving me along, she interrupts me. “Don’t ask questions, and just let me treat you for once. I’ll explain it all on the ride there.”

At this point, there’s nothing I can do but let her lead me to Granger’s car.

We reach the parking lot, and for anextracar, it’s really nice. Much better than what I’m driving, at least.

Ames climbs in the driver’s seat of the silver Mercedes then hits the electronic locks so I can open my door and settle in beside her. The interior smells like leather, every detail inside it black and chrome.

“He let you take this?” Surprise edges my question.

Her violet eyes sparkle in the sunlight streaming in through the windshield.

“Can you believe it? The man must be really hard up to get me to work.”

I toss my bag in the back seat then settle straight again.

He’s definitely hard up for something,” I suggest.

Ignoring me, Ames clears her throat and lifts her chin up at my seatbelt. “Buckle up.”

My brows tug together at the reminder.

I should have done that immediately.

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