Page 194 of Bitter’s Sweet

“Stay there.”

“I was about to tell you the same thing.”

“He got inside Bitter’s apartment.”

“Or he had somebody get inside.”

That is worse.

My eyes go to the windows. The festival is still moving outside with people, bikes, and music everywhere, hundreds of places for somebody to disappear.

“Mercy.”

“I’m coming back to you. Do not leave that building.”

“I won’t.”

“Say it.”

My mouth goes dry.

“I won’t leave.”

“Good.”

She hangs up.

I stare at the phone while the front door clicks behind me as Lark locks it.

Junie peers through the glass. “Do we call Bitter?”

Every muscle in my body goes tight.

No.

The answer is immediate.

Then shame follows because this is not about pride. This is Razor. This is danger. This is exactly when I am supposed to call someone who knows how to handle danger.

Except Bitter stood in front of his whole club this morning and made sure I understood what I am to him.

A woman I fucked.

Not enough.

The memory is fresh enough to burn.

“Call Hyde,” I say.

Junie gives me a look.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“That was a look.”

“It was.”