Page 46 of Infernal Secrets

His jaw flexed when I didn’t acknowledge his instruction. I wasn’t playing his game. “Lunch time. Make sure you clock out. Diane’s on me about making sure you girls take your breaks.”

When I stood, he approached me. “I’m sorry about your grandmother.” He sighed. “Don’t look at me like that. Your aunt called Diane an hour ago to tell her when you’d need off for the funeral.”

Blowing out a breath, I put my hand on my forehead. “Right. Yeah. Thanks, I guess.”

I wanted to scream. Patricia called my boss as if I were a child who needed her mama to call her teachers.

“Raelynn,” he said, closing the distance between us, grasping my elbow. “If you need to talk—”

“Yeah. I’ll let you know.”

I backed away, sidestepping the boxes, and left. I needed to text Patricia.

11

ROYALTY

RAE

“She seriously called Diane?”

“Yes! I swear, Maya, I’m gonna lose my mind before all this is over.” I dropped onto the hard plastic chair across from her in the food court. “I really expected to only hear from her around the funeral. She’s never meddled in my business before.”

“Probably wants to make sure you don’t lose your job if you’re absent.”

I paused, setting my cup down. “Why would she care about that?”

“Well, if she’s making sure you don’t get an inheritance, you don’t think she’d try to keep you from coming to them for money?”

I rubbed my temples. “You’re probably right. As if I’d come to them for anything. Besides, I have savings to fall back on if Shane fires me. I don’t care about a stupid inheritance.”

Maya pointed her spring roll at me. “Girl, Diane would have his ass.”

“Maybe.” I looked down at my burrito bowl as if the beans held the answers to all my problems. “Maybe I should move.”

“What? Why?”

“Patricia made it sound like they were washing their hands of me now that Grandma’s gone, but she’s already shown she’ll interfere if she thinks she needs to. Plus, I don’t need to stay near Greensboro anymore. I never saw the townhouse as my forever home anyway.”

“Why would you move when you own your place? Where would you go?”

“I haven’t thought that far ahead. But I could sell.”

“See? Don’t act on impulse and regret it.” She stood, tightening the sleeves of the flannel tied around her waist. “I need to get going. Ma wants me to stop by before I head home.” She gathered her trash. “If you want me to come over later and talk about Bonnie…”

“No, I’ll be fine. I—”

“Oh, that looks delicious. What is it?”

I jumped when Zeke grabbed my fork and stole a bite.

“Oh wow, that’s good. You should try it, Ash.”

I turned to find Ash standing with his arms crossed. Under the bright lights, the tattoos covering his arms seemed to ripple like liquid over his corded muscles.

“What are you two doing here? I thought you were leaving.”

“No can do,” Zeke said, stabbing a chunk of steak and taking a bite. After he swallowed, he added, “Ezra’s still trying to figure it out. We’re just here to get some clothes and new phones.”