“And you think he would have done that if he wasn’t numbing himself to the pain?”
I look down at my desk and the gold pens, once neatly aligned, now askew thanks to Seven’s feet. Straightening them, I slowly raise my eyes to look at him again.
“Honestly, I hadn’t thought of that. I suppose we need to check the penthouse.”
“You’re thinking too small,” Seven says, leaning back to remove his feet from my desk as he stands.
“Then what do you propose?”
“I think he’s stashing around the city. Why would he keep anything here or in the penthouse if he thought we might find it?”
“Well, I thought there might be signs of him using here. It would have made the most sense.”
“No, even with reminders of her everywhere, this place is just too far out of the way. We’d have figured out he was making trips if he had anything hidden out here.”
“Are you sure you checked everywhere?”
“Everywhere I could think of.”
“Fine. Then we’re going to have to push his limits.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Seven scoffs. “I can hardly keep myself in check, how do you know we won’t be the ones who break?”
“I don’t. All we can do is try. If he is using, we need to know.”
Seven shakes his head as he slowly paces the room.
“I don’t know, Dante. This all feels wrong.”
“I know, but we have no choice.”
“Ah, Luci’s favorite phrase.”
“I’m being serious, Seven.”
“I never said you weren’t,” Seven says running his fingers over the back of one of the chairs. “How’d you like to test him?”
“Well, he’s already treating her right now, isn’t he?”
“What are you saying Dante?”
“How about we give them a little more time than he originally bargained for?”
“Are you sure she’ll be safe?”
“Yes, if he’s using like you suspect him to be.”
“And if he’s not?”
“Then let’s just hope you live up to your reputation.”
Seven turns to look at me, a sneer pulling at his lip.
“Of course, I live up to my reputation. My reputation doesn’t include half the things I’m capable of.”
“Then we have nothing to be worried about, do we?”
“How long?”