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get out as quickly as possible, just in case Nico does the math and figures out that twenty minutes was a hell of a short amount of time to pay out three years.
    She gives me a barely perceptible nod, so I lift my hand and ease up from the bed.
    “All done,” I say lightly to Pete-the-manager, interrupting his latest pitch to Valac.
    “Really?” Pete frowns at Anna, who Ophelia is helping up from the bed. But she hardly needs it. She’s flying now. The trickle was small, but it was like her body was starving for energy, for life. Whatever Pete gave her to bring her down has been completely counteracted.
    Anna bounces lightly on her toes. “Uncle Pete, you were right. This is just what I needed.”
    Uncle Pete? I have to work to keep the sourness off my face. And I’m still worried there will be some kind of delayed reaction, like there was for the middle-aged socialite. I hope not, but there’s nothing to do about it now. And that’s just more reason to beat a hasty exit.
    “Great!” I say. “Our work is done.” I beckon Ophelia with a wave of my hand, and she leaves Anna’s side to come to mine. Pete and Valac block the doorway, so I look Valac straight in the face and tilt my head slightly. Do we have a problem? I’m asking him.
    He turns to Pete, takes his hand, and shakes it. “It’s been a pleasure discussing business with you. Why don’t you and Anna stay in here for a little while? Take your time before leaving.” He puts his hand on Pete’s shoulder and glances at Anna, who is nose-to-the-wall, inspecting the pattern in the ancient, faded wallpaper. She’s still bouncing on her toes. Valac drops his voice. “She’s going to be a little unstable for a while. Better to keep her in a confined space until she comes down.”
    Pete frowns at Anna. “She’s going to be okay, right?”
    “Absolutely.” Valac gives his shoulder a squeeze. “Just keep an eye on her for a while.”
    Pete nods, strides over to Anna, and guides her back to the bed. I tilt my head toward the doorway, and Ophelia and I step through it. Valac follows us out, closing the door on his way. I shoot Ophelia a look as we walk down the hallway, but her eyes are swept forward, looking for Nico and Larry. They push up from the ratty couch where they had been lounging in the office. Larry looks like a thought hasn’t bothered his brain in a while, but Nico has a stony look that could be a frown. Or could just be his normal asshole expression.
    I ignore it and turn to Valac. “Well, looks like we’re done here.” I hold my hands out, as if I don’t have a care in the world: I’m just checking in with boss-man Valac to see if we’re done.
    He’s playing it cool, too. He turns to Nico and shrugs. “You ready?”
    Nico gives him a slight nod.
    Valac gestures to the door. “After you, Lirium.”
    I smile, but I’m grimacing inside. I don’t want to go first, and I certainly don’t want to be Valac’s boy toy pet this time through the club. I need to be within striking distance of Larry when Ophelia goes for open skin on Nico.
    I’ll just have to find an excuse to fall behind, once we get to the floor.
    I step toward the door. “I think I can handle the bar scene without you draped all over me this time, Valac.” I toss the words over my shoulder and throw a glance at Ophelia. She’s lingering back by Nico and Larry, standing in front of them and examining her nails, like she’s bored of this entire trip and ready to be done. They’re waiting for us, so I reach for the door knob.
    Valac’s on my heels. “Little bird,” he says softly just as I open the door. I almost don’t hear him over the wash of thrumming music that sweeps in from the bar.
    I twist back to him, and I see something out of the corner of my eye. My heart stops before my brain even realizes what it means.
    Nico is pulling on gloves.
    I finish turning to look at Valac. He grabs my face with both hands and kisses me.
    My heart spasms, and I grab for