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I’ve gotten used to his existence on the peripheral, making sure I don’t wander too far. Peeking through one eye to soothe the persistent throbbing in my skull, I wait for him to explain why he’s so close.

“Hello, Victor.”

“Ms. Delilah.” His nod in my direction is polite as ever. Then he reaches into his breast pocket and my refurbished cell phone is gripped in his huge palm. “Mr. Samson wanted me to give you this.”

Too quickly, I sit up from my lounging blanket and accept the device with trembling fingers.

The black square affixed to the back makes me look up at the man beside me.

“What’s this?” It looks like those battery packs they sell in the mall, but something tells me it isn’t. My voice goes playful. “It’s not like a tracker or something is it?”

When Victor simply stares at me, my stomach drops to my toes even as I click the side panel to turn it on.

Sixty-seven notifications from Indigo in the past two hours.

Four voicemails from the coffee shop.

And three notifications from my language-learning app begging me to come back and restore my streak.

I thumb through it all, not noticing Victor’s absence until the glare on my screen becomes too much.

First, I open my text thread with Indigo and send a message.

Me: I kinda ruined your dress. Promise to buy you a new one

Indi: Lilah!

Indi: I don’t give a damn about that dress. Where are you? Are you okay? I’ve been stressed the hell out

Me: I’m okay, Indi. I promise. I just got caught up

Indi: what does that mean?

Me: I let the days get away from me. But I’m okay.

I look aroundto see where Victor is. Not that it matters since he can read everything I’m typing right now.

Indi: Do you know I filed two missing persons reports? I went to the station for an update on the first one and they acted like they didn’t know what I was talking about

Me: That’s weird.

Indi: Exactly what I said so I stood there until they let me file another one.

I laugh.A real, genuine laugh from the depths of my soul. Because I knew those sixty-seven notifications weren’t even half of the picture. Indigo Carmine has never played about me from the second we met. The problem is, she’s no match for the man who took me, and I refuse to get her caught up in this.

I may go to hell for gaslighting her, but I don’t want her on their radar. If Adonis has the power to make a missing person’s report disappear, I don’t want to test what he can do to a woman he thinks is a nuisance.

Me: No more reports, Indi. I told you I’m good

Indi: I won’t believe you until you come home or at least FaceTime me.

My eyes dartaround the backyard and land on Victor. Again.

Choosing the second-best option, I lift the phone to my lips and send a voice note to quiet her concern.

Indi: How do I know that’s not an AI voice simulator?

Me: Indigo, please *crying laughing emoji*