and coming with me,” she shouted, whirling on me. “What the fuck is he doing to you? Why won’t you talk to me?”
Because I can’t.
Her hands shook as she strode around the desk to grip my shoulders. “No more, Basil. Tell me now. If you value our friendship, tell me. Or I’ll walk out that door.”
It was the first time I’d considered that I might lose her over this. We were so strong. Our friendship had lasted through every single hurdle along the way. But I’d never heard her speak in that tone.
I’d never seen that look in her eyes.
I had to tell her everything, to leave, to get out. Yet that didn’t mean a thing with the chains Kyros had looped around my mind.
I’d been at Live Right for nearly two weeks and looked like death warmed up. There would be more bruises and more threats in my future. Tommy may forgive me this time. She may take back what she’d said after a few days. But she’d never stand by as I strung her along with lies over months or years.
“Basil? We’ll sort it out together. But I’m dead serious, lovely. I need to know what’s happening right now.”
I met her frantic chestnut gaze. “Or you’ll walk out that door?”
“I swear I will.”
Shoving down the urge to pull her into my arms, I hardened myself to her hurt. I whispered, “You know how I go with ultimatums, Tom.”
It was as though I’d slapped her. She reeled back, her arms falling away from my shoulders.
Her throat worked as tears rushed into her eyes, and I mentally focused on the pain in my hip. I deserved every bit of it.
“That’s all I get after sixteen years of friendship?” Her voice broke.
I tore my gaze away, facing the computer screen. When I could trust my voice, I said, “There’s nothing more to say. We both know where we stand. I guess I’ll see you around.”
A knock sounded.
I glanced up in irritation. If it was Kyros, I’d wring his neck.
Laurel stood there, phone in hand. “Those clients from earlier are on the line. Should I tell them you’re busy?” Her eyes slid to my friend, who’d frozen on the spot. “Oh, hey.”
Tommy reached for her bag and turned from me. She walked to Laurel. “Don’t speak to me as if you know me. You’re part of this too.”
She brushed past the Indebted, and I closed my eyes, hunching as though I’d been punched in the stomach.
My best friend was gone.
And I couldn’t feel a thing because she’d meant too much to me. My body couldn’t feel so much pain and loss on top of everything else, so it just didn’t.
“Thank you, Laurel,” I said quietly.
Her eyes were full of sadness and nearly undid me. The fear of becoming undone made me cling to my cold, empty calm.
“They’re really on the phone?” I asked.
“They are. I can tell them you’ll be free in an hour.”
An hour wouldn’t help me. Not after what I just did to Tommy. “Pass it over, please.”
She surveyed me and crossed the room to obey.
A fake conversation sounded about the nicest place to be right now. “This is Basilia,” I spoke down the line.
“Basilia!” Bess’s relieved voice poured down the phone. “I’m so glad I caught you.”
I glanced at the time on the computer screen. 4:45 p.m. “You sure did.”
“Listen, I know your shift is nearly over. Henry and I didn’t mean to ring you this late, but we wanted to take the contract to a conveyance lawyer and check it was all fine. I’m not sure if I should tell you that, but obviously everything was in order because I’m calling you! If it’s not too late, Henry and I would love to accept your offer.”
A reason to leave the tower and scream? Absolutely. “Bess, of course you needed to make sure everything was up to scratch. It’s no trouble for me to whip down there to get the papers lined up for you and Henry. I can be there in twenty?”
“You can? Where are you right now?”
“Uh, Grey?”
“Peak-hour traffic,” she said. “It will take at least an hour to get here. Oh, that makes me feel terrible! I hate to drag you out on a Monday night.”
I smiled. “It’s not an issue, I promise. There are future babies on the line.”
“Well, how about I cook dinner in return for braving the Bluff City car park to come out here?”
“That would be lovely, Bess. I’ll see you soon.”
I