Page 137 of Ash and Poison

I walked along the long corridor, right past the bathroom.

The corridor wound through smaller ones. The main one ended in a massive room with a carved wood door. I pushed the door open, my fingers shaking. It opened without a protest to my surprise. I walked inside, looking around, my heart hammering.

It was a study. There were tall shelves filled with books on law and crime.

I jerked, spilling the wine when someone grabbed my shoulder.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he hissed, eyes narrowed. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Re-rest room. Ellis said it’s … sorry, I’m drunk.”

He grunted something, nostrils flared.

“Go back. The bathroom is right in the front. It’s hard to miss unless you’re blind. Are you blind?” Jonah snapped, looking around the massive room. “You’ll be in big fucking trouble if Holland catches you here. Go now.” He opened the door, motioning me out, his eyes desperate.

“You… you are? You look like Vincent.”

While Vincent’s eyes were honest and open, Jonah’s eyes were… something else.

“I’m not anyone important. Get going now, Doctor.”

He knew who I was.

I made sure to stumble as he locked the door behind us.

I walked away and took the time he was distracted to hide behind another smaller corridor. Jonah whistled something—it reminded me of Jimmy’s songs—as he nervously looked around before opening the study door again.

What was he doing? I waited for a while, but he didn’t come back.

I sneaked back outside, grabbing my phone, calling Layne.

The voice that answered was not Layne’s.

“Asher?”

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes. I just met Jonah. He caught me when I was in Holland’s study, sneaking around,” I said with a wince.

“Please be careful, and don’t let Vincent touch you.”

“Fuck off, Pussycat. You told me the debt is paid,” I said with a frown.

“It is, but…” he trailed off with a sigh. “Just don’t.”

“You should finish that,” I said.

“Come back home in one piece, and maybe I will,” he said, sounding so sure.

What the fuck?

“Whatever. Tell Layne to give Jimmy his next dose. I’m hanging up.”

I walked back into the party, looking around. They all looked the same, their face stretched in eerily similar smiles. A parade of masks.

“I was looking for you,” Vincent said, tapping on my shoulder.

“Went to the restroom,” I said, exaggerating my slur.