Page 77 of Unlocked

"He's on the floor just above yours."

"Do you happen to know which apartment?"

"Fourth door to your right, I think," Daniela said. "Because he just requested breakfast and I have to bring it up when it's ready."

"Do you mind if I go with you?"

Something flashed in her eyes, but it was gone too fast for Tatum to place it. Maybe it hadn’t happened at all because Daniela said, "That would be wonderful. Just give me a second."

She disappeared into the kitchen and returned a moment later, pushing a cart. She stopped and handed Tatum her coffee. "I imagine you'll be wanting this."

Tatum wrapped both hands around the mug. "More than you can ever know," she said with a grin, then took a sip.

Perfect. Like everything else at the Society. It was one of the things she was going to miss when this was all over.

She and Daniela chatted as they headed up to Kelly's floor. By the time they reached his door, Tatum had heard all about the engagement and the venue situation and was genuinely happy for her. It was a relief to think about something ordinary and good for five minutes.

"Congratulations again, Daniela," Tatum said as they stopped at the door. "I hope you and your fiancé are very happy."

"Thanks." Daniela hit the doorbell.

A ragged voice growled from inside. "Who is it?"

"Your breakfast, Mr. Kelly."

Daniela’s phone pinged, and she pulled it out of her pocket. She bit her lip and then gave a small shrug. She glanced at Tatum again with that weird look and then offered her a smile as she tucked her phone back in her pocket.

Daniela continued, “I’m here with…” Tatum shook her head. Daniela raised an eyebrow but said, “…your food.”

The lock clicked. Daniela reached over and turned the knob. Tatum went around the cart and pushed the door open so Daniela could get through with it, then followed her inside.

She hovered by the doorway as Daniela set up the food on the coffee table. The place reeked of stale booze, rank sweat, and leftover food, the particular smell of someone who'd been sitting in a room too long with too much to drink and too much to think about. As Daniela came back toward the door, she shot Tatum a look, rolled her eyes with the practiced discretion of someone who'd seen worse, and headed out.

Tatum waited until the door was closed, then walked into the apartment.

Vince Kelly sat in a pair of sweatpants and a ripped t-shirt in front of the coffee table, where his breakfast had been laid out. He looked wretched. The flush of a man who'd been drinking too much sat under the pallor of a man who hadn't been sleeping. His eyes were bloodshot and restless, moving to her and then away and then back again like he couldn't decide whether her being here was a threat or a relief. He'd lost weight. His hands weren't entirely steady. He looked like a man who had aged ten years in a matter of weeks and knew it.

Something shifted in Tatum's chest at the sight of him. Not sympathy exactly. Something more complicated than that. He'd made his choices, and other people had paid for them. But he was also scared and alone and clearly falling apart, and she wasn't made of stone.

His eyes were startled when he said, "What are you doing here? How did you get in?"

"I came in with Daniela."

"She's not supposed to⁠—"

"Vince, I'm a member. She's not supposed to what?"

Kelly sighed, a long, deflating sound. "Yeah, yeah, I guess. Still, you could've told me you were coming."

"Would you have dressed up for me?" She softened her tone with a smile.

He managed a small grin that didn't reach his eyes and disappeared almost immediately. "All right. What do you want?"

"First of all, I might steal a piece of your bacon."

Kelly gestured toward the food. "Knock yourself out."

Two eggs over easy with home fries, bacon, and toast, not yet touched. "I only ordered it because I know I should eat," he said, staring at it as if it had personally offended him. "Not because I feel like eating."