Rae glanced at her phone for the sixth time, eager for Sam to text her. When Rae returned home from Nightfare, she found Sam asleep, and her sister still engrossed in Jane Austen. Trevor hadn't shared what happening, just that Sam was drunk and needed rest. So, Sam slept. Now, at nearly four o'clock, she hadn't texted.

None of this would have been a problem if Dr. Pina didn't insist Rae come in on a Saturday to finish a filing project. It wouldn't have been a problem if Rae didn't desperately need the money.

Of course, now Sam would wake up, traumatized and her roommate far away. If Sam called and needed her, she could be there in ten minutes, depending on the trains. She took a deep breath and turned back to the files on the floor. Thousands of investment portfolios had been tossed into filing cabinets haphazardly.

"The auditors! The auditors!" Dr. Pina had begged.

Rae grumbled and glanced at his office. "For all his concern, he isn't concerned enough to help." Tetris music continued to filter out of his office. Rae rubbed her eyes and stood to stretch. She eyed the kitchen for a few seconds before relenting to the call of coffee. She hated coffee, but the caffeine fix would give her the energy to finish out the workday.

She slid a coffee pod into the machine and opened a bottom cabinet door to refill the stock. No one would need it until Monday, but she preferred to be over prepared.

Suddenly, someone's hips thrust against her butt, slamming her head into the edge of the cabinet door. She yelped and stood up, grabbing her head as a sharp pain cracked her head. Dr. Pina stood behind her with his hands up innocently.

"I am so sorry!" he squeaked. "I thought I had room to scoot by."

Rae gripped her head, trying to keep her anger under control. Dr. Pina's face burned bright red and he was flushed. If he wasn't so embarrassed, she would have accused him. Torn between wanting to tear his eyes our and wanted to break down into tears, Rae stormed out of the break room toward her desk.

"I'm so sorry, Rae." Dr. Pina chased her to her desk, and she snatched her purse. "You're bleeding. Can I help?"

"No. It's late. I'll see you on Monday." She didn't even try to come up with an excuse but rushed out the door. Finally, she made it into the elevator. The shock of the pain had faded. Her nose was still red and sore from the night before. She moved her hand, and, sure enough, a small trickle of blood fell from her hairline.

As she descended to the first floor, her phone buzzed. He grabbed it, anger fading into concern.

"Can you pick up milk?"

Rae shook her head, trying to dislodge her growing headache and decipher Sam's text. Did she need to drown her pain in milk? Rae adjusted her headband—a black one, thank goodness—to cover her bleeding head.

She stopped by a grocery store on her way back, lugging the gallon back to their apartment. Outside the door of their building, a black SUV waited, humming to keep its occupants warm. The back door opened, and someone stumbled out.

"Dominic?"

He glanced up, smiling broadly. He hurried over, nearly missing the curb. As he got closer, Rae stepped back at the stench of alcohol.

Dominic pointed at her. "I waited a long time for you," he accused. Then, his frown turned into a sloppy smile. "I'm just glad to see you. I'm here," he hiccupped, "to take you out."

Rae gritted her teeth, officially fed up with people getting drunk and being clumsy because while everyone else seemed to get out just fine, she ended up with a swollen nose and bleeding forehead. "Great. Another time."

Dominic stepped back, shocked. "We don't have time."

Rae slid past him and headed toward the front door. "You're right. I don't have time."

Dominic's anger swam through his drunken haze. He pointed his finger again. "You owe me. It's time to pay up."

Rae flinched and resisted the urge to practice her kickboxing on the man. Her mom's haunted voice echoed in her head. Debt will kill you, lead you down a long, winding path of destruction. Don't owe anyone anything. "You know what, I do."

Dominic's face flipped to a grin once more.

Rae reached into her purse and pulled her wallet out. She slid out all her cash and shoved it into his hand. "Consider us even." Her heart twinged as she saw rent money slip from her fingers. It was worth it.

Dominic glanced down at his hand, as if trying to process what was in his hand. Then, he frowned again, eyebrows furrowing in anger. "We don't have time—"

Rae didn't hear the rest of what he said, because she slipped into her apartment building and slammed the door behind her. Her head ached, the milk had long since frozen her hand, and the scent of something she couldn't quite place poked her memories insistently.

She hurried up to their apartment, ready to console Sam, who sat at the island, head in her hands. Rae set the gallon down and went to hug her roommate. Her roommate whirled and hugged her enthusiastically. "Thanks for the milk!"

Sam snatched it and poured it into her cereal.

Rae took a step back. "Uh, you okay?"

Sam turned to her and nodded. "Yeah. I got real hammered last night. Apparently face-planted into the pole a few times," she gestured to her face. "But, other than that, I'm good." Sam grinned. "How was your night?" She raised an eyebrow. "How was Trevor?"

Rae let out a long breath and forced herself to smile. "Good. It was a good night. Late night. Not bad, though."

&&&

Crockett listened through the door as glass shattered and another girl left Dominic's room, disappointed. He sighed. "Next."

The next girl, a platinum blonde with very high heels strolled in, low neckline exhibiting her long neck. Crockett eyed the Great Dane who had stationed himself as far away from his vampire while remaining within earshot. Every time a glass shattered, he growled, clearly annoyed with Dominic.

Iggy glanced down the hallway at the line of girls before walking over to Crockett. "What did that girl say to him?"

Crockett shook his head. "I don't think any of them have had the chance to say anything before he tosses them out."

Iggy smacked Crockett's head, making the six-foot eight bodyguard frown. "Not them, this Raelyn chick. Henry told me something was up with her. She didn't want to go with him, but he insisted I follow her."

Crockett shrugged and set his elbow on the driver's head, reveling in the height difference. "Women are complex creatures."

Iggy ducked to free his head. "You're an idiot. Didn't you hear what she said through your window? I cracked it for you to listen."

Crockett frowned. "I got cold."

"You're insufferable."

Another girl left the room, carrying her high heels in her hand. Crockett nodded. "Next." Then, he turned to Iggy. "You know, for such a little man, you have such tall hatred."