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“Now I can really use some of my other skills. Maybe I’ll even be an influencer like you, Livvy.” He winks at me before grabbing an apple and taking a big bite. Juice sprays, and he mumbles through the crunch. “I forgot you never have any fun food here.”

“Why the change of pace?” I ask, ignoring his jab.

“No idea. Bossman went away for a week and came back with some fresh ideas, I guess.”

He flops down on the couch, stretching out his limbs so they cover three pieces of furniture as opposed to the usual one. I suck in a deep breath and steal another glance at the basement door. I can’t see him but I can feel his eyes on me still.

I consider moving out of his field of view, but something holds me in place. I like knowing he’s watching me.

“Sounds like things are changing. Maybe that means you’ll get a promotion. And a pay rise?” I say a little louder.

“I’m fairly compensated, don’t you worry.” He laughs while pulling out his phone.

“Maybe some more vacation days then.”

“What is wrong with you today? You’re being real fucking weird. We’ve talked about this: I’m not moving jobs; I’m happy where I am.”

“Happy or unable to leave?”

“I don’t want to leave, so that’s a redundant question.”

How I wish Austin would make him redundant.

“I just think there are better companies you could be working for,” I hiss quietly.

“I didn’t come here to get fucking lectured by you, Olivia,” he snaps back, rising to his feet.

I hear the basement door creak enough to reveal the fury of Austin’s features. He’s Mount Vesuvius and my living room is Pompeii. I’m preparing to get covered in hot spitting ash as Danny shucks his head in annoyance. The blood drains from my face, and I feel like everything I’ve been worried about is going to come true. He’s going to hurt me, or Danny, or both of us.

But as soon as his furious gaze moves from the back of Danny’s head to mine, his composure changes instantly. His mouth softens, his teeth no longer bared and ready to snap; his brow smooths; he leans back, pulling himself back into the shadows until I can’t decipher his features.

“Fuck, that was out of line, Livvy. I’m so sorry.” Danny pulls me into a hug, and I start to breathe again.

How can he flip so easily?And I don’t mean my brother. He’s always quick to anger and quick to apologize. But with Austin, I don’t know his moods. I assume he’d be quick to murder, quick to bury the bodies. Not quick to lose all sense of fury with one look from me. It’s unsettling to be unaware of how to manage him.

“It’s okay. I just worry about you.”

“Well. I’m more worried about you right now. I’ve seen those Millie—I’m a twat—Gilbert videos. What the hell is she doing? And with Travis, that fucking weasel.”

“I know, I know. I’ve emailed a lawyer to see if there is anything I can do. Until then, I just need to wait. They’re professing their opinions at the moment, so there’s not really a lot that can be done, unless I sue them for slander.”

“Done. Let’s fucking do it.”

“With what money, Danny? I make enough to cover the house and put a little aside, but you know Millie has her family money to fall back on.”

“Together we can sort something out.”

“No...I’m going to see what the lawyer says, and then I’ll get a plan together.”

He pauses for a moment and shuffles back and forth from his heels to his toes. “There is an alternative option.”

“And what’s that? Use your new muscles to go all gangsta?” I laugh.

Silence envelops the room like an oil spill. It seeps slowly until everything is sticky with it.

“Danny, no. I don’t want you getting messed up in that. Not at all. I don’t want to hear anything of the sort, okay? Besides, it would only make things worse. I’m sure she’d somehow find out I had something to do with it.”

He scoffs and shakes his head, leaning back into the couch.