“Glorious,” I said. “Radiant. Possibly delusional.”
“Perfect,” she replied. “Then you’re ready to block.”
One by one, the rest of the team filtered in.
Zella sat on the floor braiding her long blonde hair while arguing about playlist rights. Eleanor pretended to listen but just played her punk playlist. While Sonia dramatically reenacted something that had definitely not happened the way she was telling it. Laughter bounced off the walls as the space filled with all the comforting sights and sounds of my roller derby life.
I laced up my skates and felt something settle into place.
Here, I didn’t have to be calculating or strategic or even diplomatic.
Here I could just be solid.
“Warm-up laps!” Mel barked.
We took the track. The first push forward sent that familiar rush through my veins, my wheels gripping, my body aligned, momentum building.
This made sense.
On the track, there was impact, recovery, and control.
Mel skated up beside me. “Try not to murder anyone,” she said.
“No promises,” I replied.
The whistle blew.
I drove into the first drill like I had something to prove. Because maybe I did. Or maybe it was just nice to feel something besides tired.
5
RAPHAEL
“Ibelieve the basement inventory is proceeding efficiently, sir.”
Geoffrey stood near the window, posture immaculate as always.
“It is,” I said.
“Then additional hours were not strictly necessary.”
I didn’t look up from the document in front of me. “I prefer completion without delay.”
“Of course.” A pause. Geoffrey did not leave. In fact, the slight raise of his eyebrow told me all I needed to know.
“You offered Sunday at double the rate,” he added mildly.
“Yes.”
Another pause. “If I may observe,” he continued carefully, “you do not typically accelerate nonessential projects.”
I set the pen down. “It will be completed faster.”
“Undoubtedly.”
Silence. His infuriating way of communicating without a single word was irritating. He inclined his head slightly and exited. The door closed.
Belle Blythe was in the basement. Again. The project did not require Sunday. It did not require urgency. It required patience, cataloging, and order. It did not require her.
