Page 112 of Queen of Volts

Arabella shook her head, averting Lola’s gaze and staring instead at the floor. “She had brown skin. Short hair. Boots. You know her?”

Lola scowled, remembering a girl who fit that description. She was that Iron. Jac’s replacement. The one who’d kissed her. Why would she be looking for Lola now?

Once Arabella ducked off to another room, Lola wiped her eyes on her sleeve and answered it. She’d been right—it was the Iron girl. Dark circles ringed her eyes like she hadn’t slept.

“What are you doing here?” Lola kept the door cracked.

The girl reached forward and yanked the door open wide. But rather than slip inside, she grabbed Lola by the wrist and tugged her out. Lola—uncoordinated to a fault—nearly fell on top of her as she stumbled over the threshold.

Lola gasped. “What do you think you’re—”

“I want to start off saying that I haven’t forgiven you,” the girl snapped. “A-and I won’t. But of everyone, I’m the best person for you to talk to, and someone obviously needs to talk to you.”

Lola wasn’t surprised to hear that Enne, Levi, and the others had been discussing her, but shewassurprised by the girl’s tone and gesture over Lola’s whole body, as though they’d been discussing her well-being.

“I’m sorry. What exactly is your name again?” Lola asked.

“Tock Ridley,” she gritted out. She looked angry enough to shove Lola against the wall, and judging from her combat boots and leather jacket, Lola thought she actually might.

Lola took out one of her knives from her pocket—a scalpel.

Tock snorted and swatted it out of her hand. It clattered to the carpet of the hallway. “Don’t bother. I know those are all for show.”

“How do you know that?” Lola asked nervously.

“The same way I know where you keep them all,” Tock said. “You were my girlfriend.”

Lola let out a wild laugh. “You must be joking.” Lola’s romantic history was arguably the most tragic part of her life, which was impressive, really.

“Whatever bargain you made—did you really not give a single thought to what you bargained away?” Tock asked. “Or were we worth the price?”

Lola hadn’t—she’d been a bit more preoccupied with the news Arabella had given her. But Lola should’ve considered the price she’d paid. Of course she should’ve.

Tock deserved some sort of explanation, but despite priding herself with being good with words, Lola had no idea what to say.

Instead she could only stand there, openmouthed, staring at the girl who had possibly once been her girlfriend. Tock was far too pretty for her. And confident. And...gangster.

Maybe this was a trick.

Lola stepped away until her back pressed against the door. “So Enne figured out I made a bargain?”

“Ifigured it out, thickhead,” Tock growled, advancing forward. Lola squeezed the door handle in a white-knuckled grip.

“Why are you here?” Lola demanded.

“I’m hereto ask you where she is,” Tock said, jabbing her finger into Lola’s chest. “You were the last to see her.”

Lola didn’t know Tock, but under no circumstances could Tock learn that Arabella was in this apartment. Tock looked capable, but she was no match for Arabella.

Tock narrowed her eyes at Lola’s expression. “Who’s in there?” she asked.

The girl did know her well. “Just...just my brother.”

Her face softened. “And does he talk now? Did he give you an explanation?”

Lola didn’t like this. Someone in the world knew her, knew her secrets, and she didn’t remember telling her any of them. Lola felt self-conscious in a thousand different ways.

“Look, I don’t want to talk to you. Tell Enne—”