Chapter 10: The Last Hour Before

We went back to the house on Legare Street because there was nowhere else to go.

The guards sat in a black car at the end of the block.

Manigault's order stood: nobody touches the heir until Sunday.

Winnie hugged me in the diner lot, hard enough to hurt, and said she was calling every human she knew.

"For what?" I asked.

"I don't know yet," she said. "A lot of people owe me money."

Emeric locked the front door behind us and stood in the hall with his back to the wood.

The house was dark except for one lamp.

Three days, I thought.

Then I thought, no, two and a half.

"You're holding something in your mouth," I said. "Say it."

"I'll tell you what I want."

His voice was low and steady.

"I want you to forget the cup. I want you to drive until the road stops and never come back for me."

"No."

"I know it won't work. I wanted you to hear that I asked."

I crossed the hall and put my forehead against his chest.

"You're a terrible liar," I said.

"I can't lie to you."

"Then tell me what else you want."

He was quiet for a long time.

His hand came up and slid under my braid, and he held the back of my neck.

"I want to put you on that staircase," he said, "and go down on you until you forget your own name."

My breath went out of me.

"I want you in my bed, in the dark, with nobody counting hours."

His thumb moved on my skin.

"I want to see you come undone in my hands before they put me on that roof."

"Is any of that the oath?"

"None of it. Not a word."

"Good," I said. "Because I want it too."

I took his hand and pulled him up the stairs.

His bedroom was on the second floor, with heavy velvet drapes and a high old bed with posts.

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