Page 146 of Problematic

“It’s five minutes till.” Kalon smiled at him.

The customer left.

I stared at him. “That was cold.”

He shrugged.

“You are absolutely on payroll.”

He didn’t deny it.

Mandi untied her apron. “I’m taking the trash out through the back, unless someone in a black suit tells me I’m classified now.”

“Take Sam with you,” Kalon said.

Mandi’s humor faded by a hair. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Sam, who had been quiet for once, grabbed her bag. “Liv?”

“I’m good.”

I saw in her face that she didn’t believe me. Still, she nodded. “Text me,” she said.

“I will.”

“I mean it.”

“I know.”

At 3:58, the shop emptied.

For the first time all day, silence lay across the tables. Kalon stood on one side of the counter. I stood on the other. He held my gaze for a moment, then reached under the register and pulled out a small black card. No logo. No name. One phone number written in silver.

“Mine,” he said. “Direct. It bypasses everything.”

I took it. The card felt heavy.

“If you need out,” he said, “text one word. Any word. I’ll come.”

My throat tightened. “Even now?”

“Especially now.”

The clock clicked.

3:59.

NO FACE: Little Flower.

NO FACE: Do not make me come in there.

My skin went hot.

Liv: You wouldn’t.

NO FACE: I absolutely would.