So I decided to go straight after my shift. Fix the mistake. In and out.
I punched in the code. The lock disengaged with a soft click. The door swung open into darkness.
I didn't think twice. Just walked in. Headed straight for the living room where the bar cart was.
And found them.
"...The dog days are over…"
Florence sings it like a promise. Like something good is coming. Like the hard part is behind us and all that's left is light.
But standing here, staring at three men whose stillness feels more dangerous than movement, I'm pretty sure she's wrong.
Their postures are too controlled. Too ready. Like they're waiting for a reason to move.
The one closest to me is tall. Older than the other two. Around forty, maybe. Broad through the shoulders. His face is weathered, lined in a way that says he's spent a lifetime outside. Or in places that age you faster. Light brown hair. Stubble along his jaw. His eyes are steady. Watchful. He looks at me like I'm a problem he needs to solve.
The one on the left is the biggest. Tallest. Most physically imposing in a way that makes the room feel smaller. Part of his head is shaved. Tattoos crawl up his neck, dark lines that stopjust below his jawline. Pale blue eyes that cut through the dim light like a blade. He's staring at me with an expression I can't name. Not surprise. Not anger. Something sharper. Something that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
The third man is standing too. But his posture is wrong. Stiff. Like he's bracing for something. Dark hair. Strong features. Sharp jawline. Green eyes that should be looking at me but aren't.
They're focused somewhere past my shoulder. Above my head. He's blind.
They're all intimidating. All dangerous in a way I can't articulate. All unsettlingly attractive, though that feels like the least important thing I should be noticing right now.
The biggest one takes a step forward. His mouth moves.
I can't hear him.
The music is too loud. My heart is too loud. Everything is too loud.
My brain finally catches up to my body. I reach up, yank the earphones out.
The music cuts off.
The silence that replaces it is violent. Oppressive. Like someone turned off all the sound in the world and left me standing in a vacuum.
"Who are you?"
The big one's voice is rough. Amused. Like this is entertaining.
I open my mouth. Nothing comes out. My throat is too tight. My lungs too empty.
He smiles. Slow. Predatory. "You look lost. Should you be here?"
"I'm Lily." The words tumble out too fast. Too high. "I work for the concierge service. I forgot the bottle. I was told that nobody would be home. I'm so sorry. It was a mistake. Please don't get me fired. I was told nobody would be here until tomorrow. That's why I used the code. I wouldn't have come in otherwise. I swear. I was told the apartment would be empty."
I'm repeating myself. I know I'm repeating myself. But my mouth won't stop moving and my brain won't tell it what to say.
The older one steps forward. His voice is calm. Controlled. Final. "We changed our arrival date. You weren't informed."
I nod too fast. Too many times. "I'm sorry. I'll leave. Right now."
The big one moves closer. Too close. The kind of close that invades space without touching.
He reaches out.
For a second, I think he's going to grab my wrist.
