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Careful to close the door quietly behind me, I hushed my steps as I passed the first door. The landlord had been giving Lola trouble for weeks now, and I had no interest in getting into a screaming match with his scummy ass in the middle of the night.

He’d plastered a ridiculous poster of Rubin’s face on his front door. Every time I saw it, I had to resist the urge to rip his smug smile off the metal.

I made it up two flights before I heard Carl’s door swing open. The cacophony of dogs barking from throughout the building made me jump as his gravelly voice echoed up the steps.

“Hey! You owe me rent!”

Groaning, I hollered down the stone steps. “Fix the heat, then you’ll get your money.”

“You’re not on the lease!” Carl screamed up. “You’re corrupting that young girl, whore!”

I just knew his face was beet red.

At the top of the stairs, I put my key in the lock and went inside. I closed the door behind me, leaning against it as I put the deadbolt in place.

“He’s such a dick.” Lola shook her head as she watched me from the small dining table pressed up against the wall. Opposite the kitchen, it was just big enough to create the illusion of a dining space.

Catching my breath, I set my bag on the coat rack. “What is wrong with these people?”

None of it made sense. They preached kindness, patience, and grace. And all they gave was judgment, violence, and hatred.

Lola rubbed her forehead as she sorted through a towering pile of mail. “How was Paradise?” Running her finger under the flap of an envelope, she groaned as she read the total of the electric bill inside.

“Batshit as always. More fake bills.”

“Fuckers.” Lola lowered her voice when she cursed, knowing that Chrissy was asleep in the neighboring bedroom.

Grabbing a glass and filling it with tap water, I rubbed my eyes. “It’s late, shouldn’t you be asleep?”

Shrugging, Lola gestured to the heap of bills. “I have to go through these at some point.”

Plunging my hand into the pocket of my sweats, I pulled out my tips from the night. “Take these, please.”

“I can’t.” Lola put her hand up in protest.

“Lola…” Lifting a brow to her, I didn’t want to fight.

But she knew the position she was in. Reluctantly, she grabbed the cash from my hands and added it to her pile. “Thank you.”

Ever since that godforsaken Messenger poster went up, Carl had been trying to get Lola and little Chrissy kicked out. But they’d lived here for all of Chrissy’s life. And frankly — it was the only affordable unit left in Valemont.

The only thing that was keeping Lola and her baby in the apartment was Valemont’s renter protection laws and her ability to flirt with Carl’s son, Travis. He was a dirtbag too, but was far more susceptible to the charms of a stripper than his slut-shaming father was.

“You should get some rest. Chrissy will be up in a few hours.” I nudged Lola as I checked the clock over the stove.

“Fair point.” Lola let out a yawn as she stood, giving me a hug. “Thanks for the cash.”

“Thanks for taking me in.” Smiling, I watched her disappear into the bedroom she shared with Chrissy.

Heading over to the living room, I grabbed my pillow from under the coffee table and made up my “bed.” I’d gotten too used to the king-sized mattress in the Freaks loft. A little discomfort on Lola’s ancient couch would do me well.

Before I laid down, I peeked out the window again.

Still there.

Across the street, the Cadillac had a perfect view up to Lola’s apartment. I pushed open the window, just enough to let some air in while I slept.

Whoever was driving the SUV had turned off the headlights, not wanting to draw attention all night. But as I looked down at it, I couldn’t help but feel like the driver was peering back up at me.