I read the faded ink. It’s hard to see now, but it’s still there.
The receipt is for a safe deposit box.
“No way,” I whisper, heart hammering.
“That’s the one,” he confirms, already getting to his feet and dressing. “That’s where the Black Book is being kept.”
“The key was here.” I almost choke on the words. “But where? Who took it?” I grab my pants and start dragging them back on.
“Your mother.” His eyes burn with fury. “I should’ve seen it sooner. Fuck, it’s been right there this whole time.”
Once I’m dressed, it hits me fully. The box is empty because my mother probably emptied it.
Which means she knows where the key is.
Hell, she probably has it.
“Let’s go get Prime,” I say, hands shaking as I put the box back into its spot. But I keep the receipt. “We have to go to Florida.”
KIRA
Ipick up Gem from school the next day. I’m tired from being out half the night with Stellan, which is funny, since I used to work overnight all the time and survived. Now that I’m getting normal amounts of sleep, I can see how much of a zombie I was for so long. I don’t know how I managed to get through the day.
“Whose car is this?” Gem asks, climbing into the passenger seat. “It’s kind of fancy.”
“Stellan gave it to me. He says it’s worth more than a house.”
Gem’s eyebrows raise. “A nice house?”
“Knowing him, probably.” The engine hums as I drive back into the city. “I was thinking we could go get some dinner at the diner and say hello to Pam and Harry. How’s that sound?”
“Works for me. Do you miss them? I honestly can’t believe you’re not picking up shifts anymore.”
I frown a little as some guilt nags at the back of my head. “You think I should get back to work? I mean, it’s probably a good idea?—”
She cuts me off right away. “That isnotwhat I meant. I just meant you were working so hard for so long, but this is better. I’m really happy you don’t have to do it anymore.”
“Even if I’m married to Stellan?”
She doesn’t answer and I don’t push her. We reach the diner and I park in a lucky spot out front. Pam’s on shift and she makes a big deal about seeing us. We sit in the same booth Stellan sat in when I first met him. Pam brings coffee on the house and Harry stops over to say a quick hello before quickly lumbering back to the grill to finish cooking some orders.
“Place isn’t the same without you,” Pam says with a tired sigh. “They’re looking to hire a new girl, but you know how that goes.” She makes a face, nose wrinkled.
“Whoever they get, she’ll be great. You’ll make sure of it, just like you did with me.”
“Please, you basically taught yourself.” Pam walks off when more customers enter and leaves us alone.
Gem’s looking over toward the windows. Her expression’s far off and I let her think for a bit. It’s nice being back in the diner. The smell of eggs and coffee never really left me. This place was like a second home, even if it was the kind of home I resented. Now that I don’t have to be here, I can be a little bit more forgiving of this place’s flaws.
“He’s not all that bad,” Gem says suddenly. I’m halfway done with my coffee and it takes a second before I realize she’s picking up our conversation from the car.
“You think so?” I ask casually.
“He’s devoted to you. That’s pretty obvious. I don’t really know what sort of agreement you two made, but it’s more than that to him.”
I wiggle uncomfortably. “I don’t know about that.”
“You’re blind.” She waves a hand at me. “That man’s crazy about you, but he’s dangerous. You know I’m not an idiot, right?”
