Page 14

RHAIM

I waited until Lia was sleeping to finally relax, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to at all.

If this was the only time I was going to get to be with her, in any capacity—like it very well might be—I wanted to drink in every moment. To savor the light sound of her restful breathing, and kiss her one more time before she left the bed.

I also needed to find her some clothing to wear tomorrow that wasn’t evening wear, and that had long sleeves, to protect the twin secrets of both her moth tattoo and scars.

She and Isabelle were close enough in size, but I suspected offering her any of my dead wife’s clothing would be a step too far—so I picked up my phone from the nightstand to text Sable.

Yo.

It took her a minute to wake up.

JFC Rhaim, it’s almost four, what the fuck?

I need you to grab me a set of clothes and shoes for Lia and bring them to Isabelle’s apartment.

The dots on my phone appeared to rotate at high speeds.

Do I look like your errand girl?

Not in the least. Which is why you’re perfect for the job.

Fuck you.

Is that the same as see you in fifteen?

Where do you think I’m going to get clothes for your tiny-ass girlfriend in New York before sunrise?

No clue, but I know I pay you enough to figure it out, I sent, and then added, Please make the top long sleeved. And bring a burner.

You’re getting whatever my ex left in my closet, and an iPhone 4 without a charger.

I moved to set the phone down, but to my surprise the dots kept spinning. My relationship with Sable had always been rough and tumble, so I knew she wouldn’t fire back after getting the last word…which meant that something must be wrong.

BTW, Cinderella’s phone’s been blowing up. You’re the only one snooping on her electronically, I’ve made sure of that—but it seems someone else on Corvo’s team is watching her building, and her dad knows she hasn’t been home yet.

I stared at the screen and clenched my jaw, as she continued.

He’s texted her twenty times. He started off yelling at her…but now he’s just hoping she hasn’t done “anything foolish”. I put her phone in airplane mode so no one else can track it—but maybe I should text him back for her, let him know she’s alive?

Unless you’ve dicked her to death, that is?

Would I be asking you to help me dress a corpse?

Rhaim, you’re a morbid fucker, we both know that.

I snorted.

Yes, but I’m not a necrophiliac.

Thanks for the heads up.

Gimme 30. I’ll text when I’m outside.

Appreciated.

I lay flat in bed, and pulled Lia beside me, close enough that I could listen to her breathe, my mind already whirling through what needed to be done—then I sent Sable another text.

Also—figure out how you’d plant a bug on a rich twenty-something year-old-asshole…

So you admit you’re out of touch?

she texted back, and I could almost hear her snicker.

But yeah. I have ideas. They’ll take longer than 30 though.

No problem. See you soon.