All I feel is anxious to get on with the night.
To move on.
To begin my redemption or demise.
“Do you have hair clippers?” I ask Finn as we leave the cell and Renee’s body behind.
“Hunter does. For his manscaping. Why? Fresh cut for our girl?”
“Fresh cut.” I nod. “You going to the office?”
“Daddy Hunter wants us back.”
“I’ll meet up with you later. Have a project.”
Finn salutes with bloody fingers.
I stop at the condo everyone’s been not-so-secretly moving out of, bringing their things underground to Lilah’s. I haven’t done the same, but I will, beginning now.
First, I dig the clippers out of Hunter’s bathroom.
I flick them on and the bzzzzt makes me smile.
Fully charged.
Shoving them in a backpack, I head out.
Busy, busy night.
Appointments all over town.
Debts to repay for my Lilac.
It’s deep in the night, almost morning, when I finally return to her apartment.
Atlas’s soft snore rattles down the hall. He and Orion are asleep in the same bed, door open in case she calls.
I stalk to Lilah’s room.
Need to see her, but the light’s off.
I hesitate to knock.
Adrenaline has me shaking.
Not from killing my rapist.
Not from all the other havoc I just played.
No.
Just from standing in front of her door, terrified Lilah won’t want what little I have to offer.
I drift to the bar cart in the living room and pour myself a glass.
The bourbon sears my throat.
If she doesn’t accept me…