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Three fucking days.
“I’ve got to go. King will be back soon from the conference with The Fathers, and anytime he’s been with them he needs at least four hours to unwind.”
“Sounds tedious.”
“I’m being a good wife.”
“Someone’s gotta do it…”
She laughs, finally a real laugh. “You’re not bad, Lilith.”
“Same.” I hang up and turn to face The Dolls, who are all watching some weird doco playing on the TV. What the hell am I going to do with them, and where the fuck is Kyrin? I make my way into the lounge, and like robots, their eyes all follow me. “Good news. You will all stay on in Midnight Mayhem. You will answer to me, but you will respect everyone here and treat them as you do me.”
“We can’t do that and you know it.” Wolf and her snappy mouth.
I sigh. “I know, but try?”
They all nod.
“The next thing I need to tell you is that you’re staying here for tonight, but there’s only one other bedroom and this lounge. Three can sleep in the room and three out here, or you can drag the mattresses out and all sleep on those. I’m not bothered. Tomorrow, after we’ve all had a good enough sleep, I will figure out something more permanent.” Money isn’t a problem for me. I have access to the accounts that Kosta had access to when he was alive. Legally, it all was passed down to me. I’m not Kiznitch rich, obviously, because hardly anyone is, but I’m well off enough. “We’ll get you all some clothes and figure all of that out, too.”
They all stare blankly up at me. Oh God. This is going to be like trying to contain stray cats. I cross my fingers in front of myself. “Midnight Mayhem is different. I guess I don’t have to tell you all that because most of you already know. Here, you will make your own money and have your own lives. I’m here to guide you and be what you need me to be, but my hope for all of you is that you eventually won’t need me as much as you do now. I hope for you to stay on for the show, though, whatever you choose to do.”
“Lilith,” Lamb whispers, reaching forward to touch my hand. “We’re not as bad as you think. We’re not robots, we’ve got this. Some of us” —she side-eyes Bee and Puppy—“just might need a little longer to adapt, if you know what I mean.”
I squeeze her hand with mine. “Thanks, Lamb.” I roll my eyes. “Another thing, please start using your original names again. I can’t remember them, so let’s start with that and then we can watch a movie.” I lean down, putting my hand out to Lamb.
“I’m Lilith.”
Lamb looks down at my hand before sliding hers into mine. “Jesenia.”
Bee is next. “Devney.”
Siren nods. “Goldie.” Then she looks away sheepishly. “Don’t ask.”
Puppy smiles up at me. “Victoria.” Makes sense. She looks like a Victoria.
Finally, I move to Wolf, who smirks at me with simmering flames burning behind her eyes. “I’m keeping Wolf.”
Scrubbing death from your skin always feels like you’re baptizing yourself. Like you’re washing away your sins along with the soiled water. Down the drain you go, along with everything I did today. Three Days. Those words stick to my brain like white on rice, even as I rub soap circles over my skin. Three days.
I pause when I hear the door open, curling my fingers around the glass panel to see who it is. It wouldn’t be the first time The Dolls did something inappropriate without realizing.
Kyrin stands on the other side, bare chested with his shirt wrapped around his knuckles, wearing jeans with dried bloodstains all over them.
“Come here…”
He stares at me blankly, a dark expression clouding his face. As though the demons he lives with are extra heavy today from the extra load of baggage. He starts walking toward me, dragging his feet. When he’s close enough, I bring my hand up to his face, grazing my fingertips over the sharp edges of his jaw and cheekbones. He sucks in a breath. “I—”
“Shhh.” I press my finger to his lips. “Don’t talk.” I begin unwrapping his fist, ignoring the wriggle in my bones that something is wrong. Whatever it is can wait.
He winces, as if it physically pains him to let me touch him, and this is where I know. I know there can’t be a he and I without Eli. I knew that from the very beginning, but even more so now.
I start to turn away, to slip back under the shower when his mouth is on mine. He kisses me gently, like we have all the time in the world, when in reality, we only have three days.
It’s four a.m., but I still can’t sleep. Reaching for Kyrin, my hand lands on his empty side, ice cold as if he hasn’t been there for some time. Dragging the sheet with me and twisting it around my body, I tiptoe down the stairs that lead to the sitting room. The Dolls are all asleep, stretched over the floor. My chest fills with warmth, because they got out. They won’t have to be a slave to the system anymore. If I die tomorrow, I can die at peace knowing that Patience is no longer—but I still have one more score to settle, and I won’t rest until that is done. Kennedy is fucking mine. I will wash my hair with her blood and brush my teeth with the marrow of her bones. Every breath she takes right now is counted.
