Page 9 of Girl Between

Anger coursed through Jake as he exited the apartment building. As usual, he was pissed at a ghost. His father did nothing but leave a trail of destruction and betrayal in his wake. He left Jake, his mother, and an entire other family without any regard for responsibility. He should have to pay for his sins, but it was always Jake who paid. It was Jake who would disappoint Luca, and Jake who would break his mother’s heart all over again when he shared this news.

This discovery also meant Jake would have to delay his trip toNew Orleans to check on Dana. He was yet again a blameless bystander affected by his father’s transgressions.

When will it end?

Jake opened a flight app on his phone, typing Nevada’s airport code into the search screen.I found your husband, he had another family in France, wasn’t exactly a phone conversation. This was news Jake needed to deliver to his mother in person.

10

“Please,”she begs. “Please, I’ll give you anything you want.”

I smile, raising the blade until it gleams. “I know you will.”

They all do, in the end.

It’s pathetic the way they beg. No matter how I do it, no matter what I tell them, they always beg.

It’s my least favorite part.

I want them to understand—their death brings life.

Each soul I extinguish gives so many others the chance to flourish.

Why don’t they see?

My work serves the greater good. I hope knowing that will settle them, but it never does. I hate letting fear taint my work. Long ago, I learned how it seeps into the blood, souring the flesh. I do my best to avoid this; to do my work the way I’ve been taught.

Either way, the work still must be done.

I check my watch. The drug has taken effect now. It’s time to begin.

The girl’s eyes widen as I bend to place a kiss to her forehead. Though she hasn’t made a sound, I hold one gloved finger to my lips. “Shhhh,” I croon. “There’s nothing to fear.”

I’ve designed it that way. She will feel nothing now, and I will feel everything.

Briefly, I wonder how long this one will last. Then, I make my first incision.

11

Dana’s senseswere overwhelmed the moment she walked into Coop’s. It was like taking a step back in time. She stood on red bricks that were even older and more uneven than the cobblestoned streets outside. Besides the old wood, bad lighting, and cheesy neon bar signs, the thing that stuck out to her was the smell. She’d landed smack dab in the middle of a cauldron full of Cajun spices.

Dana let George do the ordering, which was her first mistake. At first bite, her mouth was on fire, but she couldn’t seem to stop the spoon in her hand from continuing to go back for more.

Doing her best to heed George’s two rules—eat what you’re served, and don’t ask questions—Dana finished the bowl in front of her, sopping up what was left of the mystery broth with a biscuit and washing it all down with an ice-cold bottle of Abita Amber.

She eyed the rest of his red beans and rice, and he laughed, pulling the plate closer to him. “Damn, girl, it’s like you’ve never eaten.”

Dana knew she should be embarrassed, but she was grateful her appetite had returned. She hadn’t had much of one since she arrived in New Orleans, which was a shame considering the city was bursting with culinary excellence. Most of the sustenance Dana got, she foundat the bottom of a bottle. Her clothes hung on her slim frame as a result, her unintentional weight loss yet another reminder of the traumatic past she was trying to escape.

“Sorry,” she muttered, finishing her beer.

“Don’t ever apologize to a Creole chef. A healthy appetite is the best compliment you can give,” he said, raising his hand to the busy bar staff. A moment later another round of drinks appeared, accompanied by a large plate of bayou delicacies. Dana’s stomach turned, the frog legs needing no explanation. She could only imagine what other creatures had been served up, deep fried, and seasoned beyond recognition.

Suddenly, her newfound appetite retreated.

Thanks to George’s rules, she hadn’t brought up the fact that she was a vegetarian. And now it seemed too late. She picked up her fresh beer and took a healthy swig as she watched George dig in.

“What’s next?” she asked, setting her beer down.