“Three customers have put in complaints.”
“But I didn’t do?—”
“Here,” he cut me off, shoving a hand into his pocket and pulling out a roll of notes. “That’s what you’re owed. Sorry, sweetheart, it is what it is.” He didn’t wait for a reply, just turned and vanished into the crowd.
I stood there for a moment, gripping the money hard as I fought the stupid burn at the back of my eyes.
Shit. Without looking at any of the other girls, I placed the tray on the bar and then immediately grabbed my coat and made my way outside. Roy had given me a little more than the night’s wage, but it wasn’t going to last long. Even with everything I’d saved, it was never enough.
Mum’s medication cost a fortune when it wasn’t through the NHS. We couldn’t risk our names being tracked, so I bought it from back-alley dealers instead. Turns out prescription drugs on the black market cost just as much as regular ones.
Shoving the money deep into my pocket, I pulled out my phone, calling Bug before I could talk myself out of it. She answered on the second ring, and just hearing her voice steadied something in my chest.
“Violet? Is that you?”
“Hi, Bug.”
“Oh my God, are you okay? You don’t usually call this late.”
The night air bit at my bare legs as I walked toward the bus stop. “Yeah,” I said, having to clear my voice. “Just wanted to talk. Has everything been okay?”
Meaning… had there been any more unwanted visitors?
“Lover boy hasn’t shown up, if that’s what you’re asking,”she said, amusement trying to hide the concern in her tone.
Ryder had shown up at the studio within hours of mum and me disappearing, harassing everyone. He’s also turned up at Bug’s flat. But that was ten weeks ago.
I told myself I was relieved he’d left my friends alone, but I didn’t want to also admit I felt disappointment that he hadn’t found me yet. Which was ridiculous, because I didn’t want to be found. It was safer for mum if we stayed hidden. If we pretended everything else didn’t exist, even though I fucking ached to understand everything mum went through. It was always a constant at the back of my mind, keeping me up at night.
I wanted to look into it, to find Mr C just so I could put a shape to the shadows that had followed us for years. But the thought of doing it made my stomach knot with fear. Fear for mum, for what might be dragged back into the light if I accidentally dug too deep. And fear for myself, for what I might uncover.
Still… it was hard.
To have my life come to a standstill when all I wanted wasanswers. Sometimes I swore I could still feel him near me, that subtle heat of being watched. It was unsettling, the way it both scared and comforted me.
But it was easier to believe it was him watching me than someone far worse.
Delusions were my new friends.
“Violet, are you really okay?”Bug asked softly.
“Yes.”No.“I just wanted to let you know I’m thinking about moving again.”
“Again?”Even Bug couldn’t pretend to sound supportive this time. She was the only person I still trustedenough to call, but even she didn’t know where I was.“What happened?”
“Nothing,” I lied. “Just thinking maybe somewhere else would be better for mum.”
“Okay,”she said, almost hesitant.“Then why don’t you come home?”
I stared down the road, praying the bus would come early. “You know I can’t.”
“I miss you. We all do, Vi. Maybe if you just?—”
“I miss you, too,” I said quickly, cutting her off before the words could unravel me. “I’ll call you again soon, I promise.” The lump in my throat burned, and before I could lose what little willpower I had left, I ended the call and stared at the screen.
Running had felt like the best option, but somehow even after all the distance we’d put between us and mum’s past, I’d never felt more trapped.
“You’re heading home early,” a voice grumbled from beneath a blanket, making me jump. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle ya, lass.”
