Page 73 of Ballad of Nightmares

“She put on a fuck of a show,” Sam replied. And before he could stop himself, he was telling his friend everything. Every scream and laugh she’d let go. All the thoughts that had filled his head. When he was finished, all Rolfe did was shake his head and laugh.

“What are you going to do?” Rolfe asked.

Sam slumped onto the cement bench near him. “I don’t know,” he admitted.

“Could be a good thing to have her on our side,” Rolfe said. “Sounds pretty fucking scary, and if all the rumors are true…” His brow elevated in Sam’s direction, and Sam clamped his hands together.

“You would keep her?” Sam asked.

“I can’t say,” Rolfe said. “Might find out what exactly she wants first.”

Sam had thought about that. “That might require a little more breakage,” he said, meeting Rolfe’s eyes.

A smile lifted into the death hound’s gaze. “Keep playing, boss.”

The soul is so much more breathtaking against the storm of chaos, was the quote Ana sent him that morning.

I love storms, Sam replied once he was back in his office, finally ready to face whatever reports came for him.

I was never a huge storm person until I came here, she replied.Something about the ones in this kingdom make them irresistible. I find myself standing outside in the rain sometimes.

One of my favorite things to do, he said.It’s the cold water on your skin and the danger of the lightning.

The sky screams here, she said.I love it.

Me too.

Sam turned back to the reports on his screen, though for some reason, he couldn’t stop checking his phone. Until he couldn’t stop himself, and he picked up the device to text her again.

Lunch today?he asked.

Not today. I have to head uptown for an art consult and some shopping, but after… maybe you could meet me there.

Sam let that message settle with him for a moment. He had access to all of Jay’s bookings, every consult, every dime spent. All because he’d helped him buy the damn place, and because… well, Millie knew her way into things she shouldn’t.

Ana was lying.

It made his jaw tick.

But before he could respond, he got a text from Milliscent, and he prioritized it.

Meet me uptown at three, Millie texted him.Restaurant at SkyCor.

See you then, he typed back.

He pulled up Ana’s messages again.I’ll meet you around five?

Sounds great,Ana said.

What are you buying me?Sam asked.

Hm… a new jacket?

Black, he said.Nothing flashy.

Of course, she replied.I’ll see you this afternoon. Text me when you’re close.

Sam didn’t reply, and instead, he flipped the phone to Rolfe’s contact information.