Page 69 of Sadistic

He practically runs away once the transaction's done.

"That was weird," Dalla observes, carrying the boxes inside.

"Everything's weird lately." But something eats at me.

The way he'd looked at me, like he recognized me but was trying not to show it. "Dal, did he look familiar to you?"

"Maybe? I don't know. All pizza guys kind of blur together." She's already opening the boxes, cheese stretching as she grabs a slice. "Oh my God, I needed this."

But I can't shake the feeling.

I peek out the window at the parking lot below.

There—a black sedan idling across the street, engine running.

As I watch, the pizza guy gets in the passenger side.

They don't drive away.

"Rev?"

"We're being watched," I say quietly.

Dalla joins me at the window. "The sedan?"

"Yeah. That's not Tony's usual delivery guy either. Tony's guy is like sixty and has a limp from a motorcycle accident."

"So Doran has people watching us." She doesn't seem surprised. "Honestly? After everything with Njal, I'm kind of glad."

We eat in silence for a few minutes, both of us starving.

The familiar routine of pizza and wine on the couch makes everything feel almost normal.

Almost.

"I really don't think I want to do pre-med anymore. I keep thinking about it, and I don’t," Dalla says suddenly.

I nearly choke on my garlic knot. "What?"

"I hate it. The blood, the pressure, the competition. I'm not cut out for it." She stares at her half-eaten slice. "Today, duringthe surgery, all I could think about was the design of the surgical drapes. The way they created this sterile field, the fabric choices, the color psychology of it all. I'm watching them cut someone open and I'm thinking about textiles."

"Oh, Dal."

"Greer's internship offer... I keep thinking about it. Fashion design. It's what I actually love."

"So take it."

"Just like that? Throw away three years of pre-med?"

"It's not throwing it away," I reason, refilling both our glasses. "It's good to have the training, the knowledge. Keep going with the degree but pursue the internship as a... hobby. That way you have something to fall back on."

Dalla stares at me. "Who are you and what have you done with my impulsive sister? Since when are you the voice of reason?"

"What?"

"The Revna I know would be telling me to follow my dreams, fuck the consequences. Not giving me practical advice about backup plans." She narrows her eyes. "Is this because of the sex? Did Doran somehow fuck some sense into you?"

"Oh my gods."