Page 19 of On Edge

I came here for peace. For a moment of quiet in the dread and chaos that my life has become. I hadn’t expected to find the ghost that’s been haunting our halls since morning—opening doors, rifling through cupboards, spying through my goddam keyholes like she owns the place.

“Sorry. I mean…I didn’t mean to.” She panics, voice scratchy from sleep, rushing to pick up the fallen book.

“Leave it,” I snap.

She freezes. “Sorry.”

My jaw clenches when I take in what she’s wrapped herself in…my bloody sweater. And there’s a damp patch on the leather armrest where her head must’ve been.

“Since when did we get married?”

She blinks at me, confused. “What?”

“You’re wearing my clothes, drooling on my furniture. What else did I miss? Should I carry you over the threshold?”

Her eyes drop to my cashmere and the stain on the leather. She’s white as a sheet and looks like she might be sick at any moment. She’d better not.

I told Mundel to get rid of her. Why is she still here?

“Why are you even here,Sage. If that’s even your name.”

“Itismy name.” She stares at me like I’m a monster

Of course, it’s her name.

I had it confirmed before sunrise. Her birth certificate, passport, and driver’s licence were all neatly delivered by Mundel this morning. If only he’d followed through on the rest of my damn orders.

Sage Amelia Lovett.

Nell’s supposed sister. I didn’t even know she had one. Even if that’s a lie, she’s Richard’s daughter, all right. But what is she really here for? I want to hear it from her lips.I want to see what lies she’ll spit before the truth comes out.

At least now I know, Nell kept a lot from me.

But Nell is dead.

“Why are you still here? I told you to leave.” My words come out through gritted teeth.

She gnaws her lower lip and looks right into my eyes. “No, you didn’t.”

“Didn’t get the message last night?”I hiss.

“Well, yes, but...” Her voice is soft.

“Then you are leaving, as soon as the water taxi arrives. I’d go pack if I were you.” I start walking toward my office, hoping that by the time I get to the door, she’ll have left the room. When I look back, over my shoulder, she’s still sitting there, not moving.

But she’s looking at me like I’m a demon: her breath shudders, shallow and uneven; her fingers are curled into the fabric at her lap, white-knuckled like she’s bracing for a blow; and her demeanor is too quiet, trying not to draw attention, like she’s too afraid to move.

Unfortunately, my demon loves it when they’re scared shitless.

But I don’t have time for this. For her. She’s not on my list.

I give her an insidious look, ignoring the devil as he whispers in my ear,But you have all the time in the world to chase her down.

“My father said I had no choice.”

“Well, congratulations. Now you do.”

She stares back, unflinching. “But the contract…the one in your office.”