Page 67 of Silver Sinner

"Cunts," I sneer. "Is this really what crawls out of the sewer these days?"

"The worst of the worst," Moses agrees. "There's no class these days."

"Clearly." My next breath subtly eases the tension caught in my chest, and I groan softly. "Let's get out of here."

Ten minutes later, we walk back to the car while flames start to lick at the windows within the apartment. It won't take long for a shithole like that to burn to the ground.

"Feel better?" Moses asks.

"No," I say, jerking the car door open.

"You must really love her," he says, pulling his own door open. "To go this far, I mean."

"Yeah… I must." I slide into the car and slump back in my seat, mulling over Moses' words as he starts the car.

Do I love her?

That doesn't feel strong enough. Not by a long shot.

She's mine. Pure and simple.

That's all there is to it.

25

LAYLA

Three days later, I return to my apartment.

Staying with Pierce was like a dream, a warm bubble where I was cared for, waited on hand and foot, and never had to worry about anything. It was a dream that broke when Maddie grew restless and demanding for her own bed, her friends, and school. That restlessness grew into crankiness and a full-blown argument where she refused to get into the shower and screamed at me that she hated me.

There's not a single hint of that anger or upset in her eyes as she balances on my hip while we walk into my apartment with Pierce and Moses behind us.

Only, it's not exactly my apartment. Not how I remember it, at least.

"Wow!" Maddie gasps, her eyes as wide as her mouth. "Look, Mommy!"

"I see it, I see it," I reply, scarcely able to believe what I'm seeing.

This apartment hasn't seen a lick of paint since I moved in, other than to decorate and cover Maddie's ever-changing tastes as she grew. I've been too busy and too short on money to cover the stains on the windowsills, patch the holes out of the carpet or paper over the mold stains near the floor.

All of which are now… gone.

My lounge is entirely different, with warm peach walls and a dark mauve carpet to match the freshly-painted brown windowsills. My couch has been replaced and no longer carries the butt indentations of every person who came before, all my books and trinkets are on a fresh set of shelves free from wood chips and bugs, and the new coffee table glints in the sun pouring in through the window.

From here, the kitchen also seems to have had a makeover, with an entirely new black-and-white backsplash, new appliances, and brand-new tiles on the floor removing all hints of the horrors that occurred there.

"Do you want to see your new room?" Moses asks gently as he meets Maddie's wide stare. "There are a couple of details you still need to pick."

"Yes!" Maddie turns into a snake and wiggles free from my hold, lands and then sprints away down the hall with Moses rushing after her.

"What…" I turn slowly and face Pierce who stands in the doorway with a small smile on his face. "You did this?"

"I did."

"Because you work in real estate."

"Exactly."