Page 157 of Infernal Secrets

“I don’t think so.”

Until I asked them, I didn’t know what the afterlife looked like. Maybe we lost our memories when we died and went on to Elyrdin.

How could one location sustain such a large human population for centuries? Even without the dead in physical forms, the living already overpopulated Earth. How big was Elyrdin? How big was Niemna? Did souls just… float around there?

“I didn’t realize they weren’t American,” she said.

I didn’t correct her. I couldn’t tell her the truth, and the assumption they lived in a country I couldn’t visit worked well enough.

“What’s going on back here?”

We both looked up when Shane stepped in the doorway.

“Lunch,” Maya said, holding up her gyro.

“You were supposed to be back on the clock already,” Shane said, narrowing his eyes at me. “What’s wrong with you?”

I’d avoided him all day, not wanting to rehash what happened downstairs. After I emailed Diane about his behavior, I knew he’d confront me. I couldn’t deal with it right now.

“What do you mean?”

“Your makeup is a mess.”

“Way to make a woman feel special,” Maya muttered. “Anyway. What happened to your arm?”

Shane looked down at his arm in a sling, forgetting my makeup. “Broke it.”

Maya whistled. “Bet that hurt like a motherfucker.” She wiped her mouth. “How?”

“None of your business,” he snapped. His angry gaze slid to me. “I need you to close tonight.”

“What? But I’ve been here—”

“Trudy’s out sick, and Maya’s off at four.”

Maya closed the lid of her food container. “I can stay—”

“No. You’re almost at overtime, so I’m cutting you early.” He angled his head. “Raelynn can handle it. She’s a team player.”

I glared at him.

If I argued about working ten hours when he scheduled me for six, he’d spin it as disruption. Diane might believe me, but Shane was her neighbor. He had the stronger rapport.

“Fine.”

“Good. Now clean up and get back to work. Maya, you can pack up and go. No need to clock back in.” Before we could protest, he turned and left the breakroom.

“What crawled in his ass and died?” Maya tossed her container in the trash.

I hadn’t told her what happened outside the bookstore, but I wasn’t sure now was the right time. I didn’t need her deciding she needed to defend me.

I stood, tossed my salad container in the trash, and grabbed my purse. “At least I’ll get overtime pay.” I headed for the bathroom to fix my makeup.

“Worried about me getting overtime, but he’s fine dumping it on you. I don’t get him.” Maya shook her head, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “I guess we’ll hang out another night. Call if you need anything,” she said, grabbing her things to leave.

We planned dinner with the guys tonight, but Shane’s interference killed that.

I hated him.