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“Have lunch with me today,” I say, still wanting more. Wanting to watch and talk, even if I don’t touch her.

“I’m eating lunch with Aidan,” she says and a challenge blossoms in her eyes. “Like most days.”

“You could do that,” I agree. “Or you could hide back here and wait for me to find you. I never realised how enjoyable the library could be until today.”

My smile widens and I see the twitch of her lips before she shuts down the response.

After Monday, I expected her to be more wary, but if anything, her defensive walls are crumbling. “From now on, I’ll save you a place at my table in case you change your mind.”

I tidy her hair one last time, then turn her around and pat her cute butt.

“Better hurry to your next class,” I say when the bell rings, enjoying the view as she walks away.

CHAPTERTWENTY

FRANCESCA

The next day,I drag myself from class to class, grateful to escape Westlake at lunchtime, which, considering the destination, speaks volumes about how unsettled I am in school. I arrive at the sexual health clinic fifteen minutes early for my appointment and rather than wait in my car or inside, I pace back and forth in the parking lot, needing to release my nervous energy.

In a few days, I’ve gone from thinking my problems were nearly over, to having a mountain of new trouble dumped on top of the old.

It’s knocked me sideways, but it’s about time I asserted some control. Nobody is going to save me. I take out my new phone and scroll through the saved contact list until I find the number for freezer-removal-dude.

The man had said no rainchecks and no refunds, but he’s got five grand of my money, and I need to try. Perhaps he’ll be more open to those options if a crying girl is on the other end of the line.

It can’t hurt. I press dial.

“No refunds,” the gruff voice answers.

“Wait! Please… Let me… A boy broke in and held me hostage. I tried to get him to leave, but I…” The tears flow without any encouragement. “I couldn’t get him out, and now everything’s ruined.”

“Nice try, darling,” he scoffs.

“It’s the truth! He broke into my house when I wasn’t there and when I came home, he hurt me.”

There’s no verbal response, but faint noises tell the man is listening more closely.

Suddenly, I’m back in the locker room, hearing Kincaid’s threat.For the five grand this is costing…

He told me how cheap it would be to order my murder. I should see if the reverse is true. “If you won’t reschedule the old job, how about a new one? How much to kill someone?”

“Kill who?”

“Kincaid Tana.”

There’s a pause, then he clicks his tongue, sounding amused. “Lady, if that’s the guy who broke in, you’ve got bigger problems than your freezer. There ain’t no one gonna touch that family. Cut your losses and run while you still can.”

“I can’t run until the freezer’s sorted.”

“Mm. Sounds like ayouproblem.”

“What about a new identity?”

He clicks his tongue again. “Three k for documents, up front. Birth certificate. Driver’s licence. Passport. What ethnicity do you want?”

“Only if you do the other job. I’m not paying you in advance again when the first—”

“You’re pushing your luck, sweetheart.” I fall silent. It’s not as though I have leverage. “No,” he says after a short pause. “You’re too high a risk. Thanks for the free money, but we’re done.”