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He dips his head. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

I step inside and inhale the scent of hairspray, perfume, and body lotion. The girls are all out still eating, buying me a little time. Lavinia should be here in three… two… one.

The door swings open, and she struts through, latching it tightly behind her.

“Bruce is dead,” I blurt, wringing my hands.

She freezes, eyes hardening. “Really?”

I nod. “It happened on Sunday, I think. I wasn’t sure if the Dukes had been notified, or if they’d even tell you.”

“Maybe not.” She leans up against a wardrobe, its sparkly contents strewn about. “There’s been a lot of disturbing news around here lately.”

“What’s up?” I ask, once again noticing the pall over her.

She releases a sigh, rolling her head toward me. “You know I set that explosion off, right? In North Side?”

“The one that killed your dad?”

She nods, lowering her gaze. “Turns out my father’s property wasn’t quite as deserted as I thought. Someone I know got caught up in it, and I just found out last week that he’s really hurt.”

I gape at her. “Shit. Lav…” We all heard the reports, but none of them mentioned any survivors. “Who was it?”

She meets my gaze, mouth twisting. “Cash Mallis.” I know him better as Cash Money, but I know him all the same. As one of North Side’s most prolific drug dealers, Cash is loved and hated in equal measure. Frowning, she goes on, “I know I chose my side and Cash chose his, and a lot of people in this town are happy to see him sidelined and not selling Scratch. But…” Lav toes at a spot of glitter on the floor. “He’s not a bad guy, you know? He just never had good choices.”

I remind her, “You didn’t know he was there.”

“I didn’t care.” She meets my gaze with a frankness I’m not expecting. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret it. I just wish I’d been a little more careful.” Averting her eyes, she adds, “The Dukes won’t let me see him,” which I am expecting. Cash is a Scratch dealer, and he’s also North Side–not to mention, possibly pissed at her. If anything, I’m glad her Dukes said no. People like Cash ruin lives.

But the grief in her eyes brings me up short of saying so.

“Maybe someone can pass a message,” I point out. “Where is he exactly?”

“Last I heard, he was getting released from the burn center.” Just then, her head snaps up, eyes widening. “Lex interns in the surgical unit sometimes, doesn’t he? Maybe you can–”

I raise my hands. “The Princes have me locked down. I can’t even sleep in my own bed without being watched.”

She pauses, head tilting. “That’s not hyperbole, is it?” When I shake my head, she snorts. “Jesus.”

“Also, I wouldn’t be so quick to call Cash sidelined.” I lift an eyebrow. “I overheard in a PNZ meeting that Scratch is still all over East End.”

Her head jerks back in surprise. “Who’s slinging it?” I shrug and she deflates, dropping her head back against the wall. “God, this has been a shitty week.”

“Pretty much.”

Wincing, she says, “Shit, here I am whining about my problems and you’re…” She gestures vaguely toward my stomach. “Story said she talked to you. How are things in the Palace?”

“All is quiet on the Eastern front.” No one’s really bothered me since Wicker’s little performance in the library. After a moment, I look up, casually mentioning, “Lex gave me Bruce’s severed finger as a gift.”

Lavinia blinks at me for a suspended moment. “To anyone else, a horrific side note. To me, a Thursday.” Brows rising, she asks, “So he likes you?”

“Definitely not.” Scoffing, I explain, “Lex is the leader. He stays on task and feels responsible for everything. If my Princes were a crown, he’d be those little comb things in the back, holding it on.”

The smile that touches her lips is the first genuine one I’ve seen on her tonight. “I have one of those, too.”

It takes me a second to admit, “Sometimes he’s really scary, but other times…”

She gives me a slow, sly grin. “Really, who among us can resist the charm of being given your enemy’s severed finger?”