Spider’s bed, it surprises me how comfortable the mattress is despite its firmness. After being on my feet most of the day, it feels good to relax.
I reach for the book I left on the nightstand, but pause.
What is that humming sound?
I look up at the ceiling. There’s a faint buzzing that sounds like it’s coming from the light fixture, low and steady.
Sitting up slowly, I listen hard. The light isn’t flickering, but maybe there’s something wrong with it.
After a second, the humming stops. I lie back down.
The familiar loneliness sets in, and I shove it away. I reach for the book again, but there’s a knock on the door, a heavy one that I’ve long since learned to recognize as Pip’s.
Crossing the room, I open the door and offer him a smile. It’s impossible not to instantly picture him with more patches on his cut, looking somehow harder and older since that conversation with Monica the other day. Or not to feel a little tug of empathy for her as I wonder what would happen between them if he was patched in.
The young man’s eyes narrow curiously when he sees me, as if he’s trying to figure out why I’m staring at him like I’ve never seen him before. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head, feeling my face heat. “It’s nothing. What’s up?”
“Er, I’m supposed to give you this.” He shrugs and hands me a small package. “It’s from Spider.”
The mention of Spider’s name makes my heart jump. I take the package slowly and examine it. It’s a square box about the size of a deck of cards, and a little thicker. The box is wrapped in silvery wrapping paper. “What is it?”
Pip’s lips quirk and amusement dances in his eyes. That look makes me nervous enough that I almost hand the box back to him.
“Guess you’ll have to open it and see. Oh, and you’re supposed to put this on.” He hands me a Bluetooth earpiece like the one I see Dee wear sometimes when she’s in Snake’s office. “It’s mine. I’ll be back for it in an hour. But first, let me come in and show you how to use it.”
Curious, I move back into the room and slip the device over my ear. Pip follows and shows me how to work the Bluetooth. I turn it on. Then I unwrap the package, a midnight black box. The lid has a gold monogram on it, a fancy S in a circle.
I scowl at the box, equal parts nervous and intrigued. Turning toward the bed to sit, I open the box and blink at the contents. I have no idea what I’m looking at. There is a curious looking silver chain lying on a bed of violently purple silk, but it’s nothing like any jewelry I’ve ever seen.
Taking the chain out slowly, I let it dangle from my hand. It’s in the shape of a Y, three chains that meet together in the middle, each with a metallic clip on the end. I stare, fascinated by the clips, which look like fancy clothes pins. There is a gorgeous black monogram in a ring at the middle where the three sections meet. The monogram is black with a silver spider’s web at the center. The trinket is beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.
The concept of Spider buying me a gift, doing something that implies I mean something to him, is baffling. Something isn’t right.
I turn to Pip, holding up the chain. “What is it?” I mutter.
As soon as Pip sees it, he covers his mouth with a snort. “Oh. Wow. He really is a kinky fucker. Looks like fun.”
Something in the way he says the word fun makes my stomach tighten with dread. The light in his eyes has me dropping the chain in the box and slapping the lid on with the feeling as if I’ve shown him something naughty.
“What is it?” I demand sharply.
“I’m sure he’ll show you when he gets back.” Pip is holding in a laugh now. “Have fun.” He pulls the door shut, and I hear him snickering all the way down the hall.
I drop my arms to my sides, letting the box rest against my thigh. What in God’s name is Spider planning now? What sort of new torment has he dreamed up in which to use that… whatever it is… on me?
There’s a low buzzing in my ear. It’s the Bluetooth ringing in a call.