"Nyx Mayer," he says in a deep, gravelly voice. "You're going to be arrested for the murder of Chase Lindson."
My mouth drops open. Chase is dead? The cop didn’t even say anything.
The wave of relief that should come over me is crushed by the fear of losing my freedom over it. For a moment, I wonder if I killed him by accident when I was trying to escape him. Everything happened so quickly last night. Is it my fault? But I know I lost sight of him once the fire started.
"I didn't kill him. I didn't do anything," I cry out.
"The truth doesn't matter. What matters is, you're going to be arrested unless I help you."
"Are you an attorney?" The shock is so great, I can't even cry. "Oh my God…" I'm starting to hyperventilate.
"I'm a special kind of attorney. I’ll make it disappear right here, right now."
Knowing my situation is unsavable, I shake my head.
"I can't pay you. I don't have any money."
God, my head is pounding. I can't process anything. All I know is, I'll never be free again. I'll never find my dad. I'll never play the violin.
He sits down in front of me and places a reassuring hand on mine. "You don't have to pay me. Let's call it a favor, okay?"
My eyes widen as I try to calm down. "W-What?"
"It's a favor," he repeats. "I do this for you, get you out, clear your name. No record of this, no link to Chase's death. And when I call upon you, you'll return that favor. Understood?"
"Yes." I nod eagerly, not thinking for one more second about it. "I will. I'll do anything." Then I pause, a spark of warning tripping my brain. This is too good to be true. "If not money…what's the cost of your favor?"
"For now, it'll be very simple. You follow what I ask of you, and in a few weeks, maybe a few months, we'll settle the other half."
"What's the first half?" I whisper, swallowing roughly.
His dangerous grin is anything but reassuring, but what choice do I have?
"Achilles Duval. You're going to stop pushing him away. It's not so hard to date someone you idolize, is it? Let go of that pride, Nyx."
I blink at him as fear grips my heart with cold, bony hands.
"I don't know if I can do that," I mutter with shame. "I don't know that I can…hurt him."
"Who said anything about hurting him? Date him. See how it feels. That's it." He speaks like it's so simple.
Do something that I've been dying to do anyway? Can't be that hard. But I know that’s not it.
"And the second half?" I ask with a dry throat.
"Ah,that. It'll come later."
"H-How can I accept a favor if I don't know what it'll truly cost?" I rasp.
He shrugs. "I don't know, darling. Do you want to walk out of this room and into a jail cell? Or do you want to go home tonight?"
My breathing stops, sweat covering the back of my neck. "I want to go home," I squeak.
"Then accept my favor."
I have to bite my lower lip not to sob. He stands up, taking a step toward the door, and the words burst out of my mouth.
"Okay! I'll do it. I'll do it. Just get me out of here."
