Her nostrils flare. “You’re making a mistake.”
“Probably.”
“I’ll scream.”
“I’ve heard you.”
Her lips part in outrage, and despite everything, heat flashes through her eyes.
Wrong time.
My phone rings again.
Diablo.
I answer without looking away from Lady.
“Yeah.”
“Vice said Lady got a rose.”
Diablo’s voice sounds like gravel dragged through blood. He didn’t sleep. None of us have much. Not after what Rico did to Darling.
“She got a photo and texts,” I say.
“Bring her in.”
“She’s resisting.”
Lady mouths something filthy at me.
Diablo exhales hard. “Put her on.”
“No.”
Lady grabs for the phone. I lift it out of reach.
“She’s Darling’s best friend,” Diablo says. “Darling wants her safe.”
That lands.
Lady hears enough to still.
I lower the phone a little.
“Darling’s worried?” she asks.
I nod.
Her anger shifts shape. For Darling, Lady softens in a way she will not soften for herself.
“I’ll go see Darling,” she says. “Not because you ordered me.”
“Fine.”
“And I’m still doing my set after.”
“The hell you are.”
