Page 116 of Anthem of Love and Loathing

“Yes.” I drop back and let the others go ahead to the bus.

“The pills were pure,” he says.

“Then why...” I was sure he was going to come back and tell me that they were the problem.

“Your blood test showed GHB along with the amphetamines. And acid... Did you drop a tab?”

“No. And I didn’t take GHB either.” I press my fingers to the bridge of my nose. “Acid would explain why I was tripping balls by the time I got to the lobby.”

“Yes, well GHB and amphetamines are a terrible combination. Your body doesn’t know what to do with it. If you didn’t take it, and someone gave it to you...”

If someone gave it to me... “I was roofied.”

“Unfortunately, it appears so,” he says.

“Thanks, Doc.” I hang up, reeling.

Someone at the Savant party drugged me. They slipped GHB into something I was drinking. I try to recall every drink I’d had. Champagne Bronx brought me. Unopened tequila I stole from the bar after Sonatina told me we’re getting back together. More champagne when she came out to the balcony.

Champagne that she brought me before she demanded I stick around.

Only I’d left to find Kelsey.

Did Sonatina Savant fucking drug me? Did that bitch plan on knocking my ass out? And then... what?

Bronx comes back out of the bus. “Are you coming?”

“Yeah.” I put one foot in front of the other until I’m on the bus. I tug at the collar of my shirt. I can’t fucking breathe. She was planning on taking away my free will. She almost killed me.

I sit heavily on one of the benches. Kodiak has already disappeared into the bedroom to keep Kelsey company, but Golden has the peanut butter whiskey out. I snag the bottle and take a long pull from the neck.

“Are you alright?” Golden frowns at me.

“Yes.” No. Absolutely fucking not. But how do I tell them Carmine’s diva daughter, our manager, roofied me? What the fuck do I do with that information? Heat washes through me that makes me want to puke. I can’t tell the guys. Nothing happened anyway. There’s no need to talk about it. Ever.

Bronx, Golden, and I demolish the rest of the whiskey and play a few rounds of Grand Theft Auto. Eventually, Golden turns in. An hour later Bronx does too.

I send my nightly text to Micah.

He sends one back.

Torment: Target is still located in L.A. I’ll be in contact if anything changes.

If money was coming out of an account, could you find out where it is going?

In most cases, yes.

I’m going to send you something. I’ll pay whatever you need.

Don’t worry about it. The Devil can owe me one.

What does that mean?

He doesn’t respond, I’m not going to find out, at least not tonight. But I assume it has something to do with West.

Getting up, I prowl through bunk alley and slip into the room where Kelsey is fast asleep in Kodiak’s arms. The space is familiar and I find my seat next to the bed despite the darkness.

Sinking into it, I use a foot on the edge of the mattress to tip it back.