Page 35 of Because I Killed Him
“Irene.”
Charlotte bends down to grab the case, frowning as if she’s mentally searching through every Irene she’s ever met. “How long have they been dating?”
“Almost a year.” Dickie slides into the seat beside me. “But Ed’s not dating Irene, broad. He’sengagedto her.”
“What? No fucking way. I have so many questions.”
A buzz from my Bond pulls me out of the conversation. I glance at the caller ID, feeling a rush of relief when I see it's Dad.
Before answering, I wave to Dickie. “When’s Edmund coming back?”
“As a betting man, I’d wager any minute,” Dickie says as he accepts a slice of chocolate mousse cake from a passing Pinkie. “Edmund never shacks up with his broad for long.”
That means there’s a good chance Edmund will walk in during the call. Dad will see where I am, and worse, he’ll knowwhoI’m with.
I let the call ring out. As soon as it goes to voicemail, Dad texts me.
“Where are you, Loredana? Are you safe?”
“Yes,”I reply.“Just can’t take a call right now.”
“Are you still on Harrison’s jet?”
“No. On the train to Grandmaster. I wanted to fly home, but as soon as we landed in the Rainbow District, I had to become a Public Person. Illegal entry otherwise.”
Dad doesn’t reply for a long minute. Either he’s been interrupted or he doesn’t know what to say.
“I’m sorry, Loredana,”he finally writes,“for risking so much over this vote, and for putting you and your sisters in danger. I knew most Blues were against the Bliss ban, but I didn’t predict this kind of blowback. None of us did.”
Now it’s my turn to hesitate. He probably thinks I’ll wave it off, maybe even tell him it’s not his fault.
But it is his fault.
“I’d rather talk in person,”I text.“You still at the Capitol Estate?”
“Yeah,”Dad replies.“Coppers can’t secure a ground exit, so we’re getting airlifted. What about you? Any protests on the train?”
“Not exactly. But I could use a bodyguard.”
“Don’t worry. President Reeve ordered full protection for targeted reps and their families. A team’s waiting for you at the university.”
“Are they Coppers?”
“Yeah. Why?”
I twist my Blood Ring nervously. Dad should know what happened, but I can’t explain it all now, especially with Edmund likely to walk in any second.
“Coppers are just as hooked on Bliss as everyone else,”I text.“Better to use Pinkies or drones, ones that’ve been checked for tampering.”
“Fine. I’ll have your Coppers swapped out for Pinkies.”
“Thanks.”I glance out the window into the storm, where rain lashes the exterior shell of the train, and the wind howls like it’s trying to rip off the roof. Still, it’s preferable to the shitstorm I’m in.
“How long’s this going to last?”I text.
“I won’t lie, Loredana,”Dad replies.“Bliss is a kick in the balls. The withdrawal symptoms should ease up in a week or two, but until then, we have to prepare for the worst.”
Two weeks. I’m not even sure I can survive two hours.
