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I knew she could no longer hear me, but I was unable to keep the words inside for one more moment. She was gone, sound asleep.
I stood, missing her already.“I’m taking her home. We’re done here.”
I snapped commands as I hauled Molly into my arms and moved toward the hallway.
“And this guy?” Ivan called, kicking Kap in the side.
“Take him to the warehouse along with his friends,” I said as I strode away.
Molly was a slight weight in my arms. I clenched my fist. The hand that had touched her skin was throbbing, and the tiny stain of her tear felt like a brand.
It was time for our game to end. I was tired of pretending. Every second Mallory spent out in the world was a second when she could be taken from me before I’d had a chance to closet her away. That would be simply intolerable. I’d have lost my reason for living in one simple moment. It was a risk I couldn’t afford to take.
15
MOLLY
Iwoke from dark and confusing dreams, bolting upright, and struggling for air. My ribs felt like they were cracking and clamping down. I could hear the dream-like crack of ribs snapping. I gulped down a lungful of cool air as my eyes adjusted to the light shining in the window. It was bright outside, and I was at home. I had no memory of getting here.
I groaned as a headache slammed into the side of my head like a bus when the sunlight pierced my foggy brain.
What the fuck happened last night? It was all a blur. Had I got sick before work? How? Who brought me home? I’d had the strangest dreams. I flopped back to my bed, covered my aching eyes with my arm, and pulled air into my tortured lungs. I had dreamed of faceless men and the sound of pain. I’d dreamed of Kirill wearing a devilish mask, his voice filled with dark emotion that sent shivers down my spine. What a trippy dream.
I grabbed my phone from the stand where I usually charged it and quickly pulled up Theo’s number.
“Hey,” he answered quickly. “You’re alive?”
“Barely. What the hell happened last night?”
“Girl, I barely know myself. You weren’t feeling well, took a quick break, and didn’t come back. Then there was a fight between the VIPs upstairs and some regulars. It looked intense. A guy got carried out by some seriously scary-looking dudes. Rafael didn’t call the police or anything. I called it once, and I’m calling it again—Rafael is mob. I know it,” Theo said. “Anyway, your boyfriend sorted it out for you, so I guess he smoothed it over with Rafael.”
“My boyfriend? Kirill was there?” I couldn’t get my head to focus on anything in particular.
“He sure was. And sweetie, let me tell you, he even sounds hotter than he looks when he speaks.”
I pressed my hand to my forehead and tried to push the memory of yesterday back into it.
“You should stay off tomorrow if you’re sick,” Theo advised.
“I can’t. I need the money.”
“Just ask Daddy Warbucks for a loan.”
“Very funny. I can’t do that.”
“Well, I can lend you something,” Theo started.
“No, don’t be silly. You need to make rent as well. I’ll figure something out.”
“At least let me buy you dinner later. Come on, take out and gossip. You can’t beat that for a night-off plan.”
“Okay, sure, go wild.” I hung up and flopped back onto the mattress on the floor. Staring at the watermarks on the ceiling, I tried my damnedest to recall yesterday, but it was a blur, and it only made my head hurt more.
I checked the time. If I hustled now, I could visit my mom before Theo came over. Kirill had been at the club? He hadn’t come to say hi to me, but he had helped me when I was sick? I rubbed my hand over my face and let out a short scream of annoyance. I’d been waiting days to see him, and when he showed up, I’d been out of it somehow and missed it. I guessed getting too sick to finish work made sense when I’d been woozy and lethargic all week. Maybe now, I’d get it out of my system and feel better.
I heaved myself out of bed, feeling nauseous and weak, but forged on. I pulled a hoodie over my sweatshirt, shivering in the cold air of the room, with its cracked windows and permanently malfunctioning radiators. I opened my door and stiffened as I saw a man standing outside—a very unwelcome man. Suddenly the feeling of being watched and the odd way things had moved in the apartment made sense.
Henry stood outside leaning on the wall, his arm raised to pound again.“Where’s the rent? I ran into the landlord on the way up, and he wants it,” he grunted.
