Chapter Four
Rylee
“Are you okay?” I smile at the blonde woman seated in my area.
“Yeah. Sorry. I just spaced out for a second.”
“Do you need a refill?” I gesture to her coffee. She looks like she’s been up too long. Dark circles are formed under her eyes, and her skin looks pale and wane.
“Yeah.” She nods. “I’ve been working on a paper, and it’s taking up a lot of my energy.”
“I remember those days. I’ll be right back.” Topping off her cup with the pot I’d been making rounds with.
“College grad?”
“Drop out.” I smile. “Things happen, and our priorities shift, right?”
“I can relate to that. Women are the queens of adapting. We know how to make situations work for us.”
“Exactly.” I grin.
“I can’t help but feel like I’ve seen you elsewhere, too. Do you work at–”
“You really don’t know how to listen, do you?” Lenk whooshes into the room and I blink.
“When did you get here?”
“Not important. Do you remember what I told you, Katherine?”
“Oh my God.” I stumble back. “This is her?”
“Whatever he’s said is a lie. You can’t trust him, Rylee.” She looks at me. “I can help you. Come with me.” She grabs my arm, and I drop the coffee. It lands on the floor, shattering. I look between the two of them. “I know you work here and the Zippy. If I know who else do you think–”
“Enough,” Lenkov roars.
“I bet he didn’t tell you we used to be lovers.” Her words are a sucker punch. I turn to Lenk. His jaw tightens, and he grabs her wrist, snatching her from the bench. I follow behind him them wondering what else she’ll reveal.
“Shut your mouth.”
“Why? You don’t want her to know what a monster you are.”
“You betrayed me. Slipped off in the night and sold our secrets to others.” He shakes her. “So you don’t get to paint me as the villain. I warned you to stay away from my family.”
“They’re in danger.” She screams.
“From you and whatever trouble stalks you,” Lenk seethes. He throws her out of the front door as we make our way down the stairs of the building, where two men are waiting.
“I’m trying to save you.” They grab her arms and drag her away as she continues to fight. “I know things. You need to hear them. Please!”
“Lenkov,” I whisper. He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me to his side.
“I’m sorry you had to see this. I underestimated how unhinged she’d become.”
“Was she your lover?”
“Once. A long time ago. It was never serious, Rylee. She...” he shakes his head. “She hung around a lot of us back then. It was casual. We both understood that. Her disappearing act and what followed made me have doubt because I was the last person people remembered her with.”
“They thought you might have betrayed them?” I whisper.