“So, what’s up with the asylum?” I whisper, leaning forward with my hands tucked into my lap. I flick my eyes to the side, studying some of the faces that are staring back at me even now. My heart leaps into my throat when I recognize the redheaded girl—Veronica—seated at a table with two people who must be her parents.
Our eyes meet, and she scowls, turning her nose up at me.
I look back to Justin only to see his attention is on Veronica’s family, too, his fingers tightening so hard around the wineglass that they’ve turned a ghostly white. After a long moment, he adjusts his focus back to me.
“She didn’t tell you? Interesting. How did you place the key then?”
“One of my videos that I posted,” I say proudly, happy that at least in this case, the internet had my back. “A comment led me there.”
Justin nods brusquely, swirling his wine with a thoughtful expression on his face. When he does smile again, it’s incredibly disturbing.
“Tess and I had our first intimate encounter together in that room,” he admits with a small, wistful sigh. My blood chills and I blink back at him. “Maybe on that very mattress, I’m not sure.”
“You and Tess … in an abandoned insane asylum?” I choke out, wondering how the hell anyone could get turned on in that damp, creepy place. Then again, that was more than a decade and a half ago. Maybe it wasn’t in such disrepair then? Besides, Maxx was right: that was very clearly a teen hangout, and when you’re our age, you’ll pretty much do it anywhere. I scratch at the side of my head. I have a feeling being judgmental in this situation won’t get me very far. Was Tess happy there? Did she want to do it in that creepy place? “What about the sign that said WARD 14? Seems awfully coincidental.”
Justin grins.
“I put it there for fun; I couldn’t possibly know what that number would mean to me all these years later, now could I?”
I blink at him.
“And how was I supposed to know that you two … you know, got it on in there?” Gross. Not a question I ever thought I’d be asking my bio dad.
“By asking Tess, obviously.” Justin sighs and sets his glass down on the table, placing his elbows beside it and curling his fingers together beneath his chin. “I’m impressed that you found a workaround; you’re a wonderfully creative girl, my sweet daughter.”
“I, um, sense a ‘but’ resting there somewhere?” I query back, forcing a smile as the waiter approaches with fresh bread and butter.
“But you’re still so tightly wound.” Justin cocks his head slightly to one side as he studies me. “You care far too much about what others think. Empathy is a tool the wicked use to control the kind. I won’t allow that fate for you, Dakota.” He sits up and undoes the cuffs on his shirtsleeves, rolling them up, and then happily digging into the bread basket. “You’re still holding back and that upsets me.”
“Chasm and I—” I start, but then the words choke off. He knows. Justin lifts his eyes and smiles at me.
“You and Kwang-seon. I like the pair of you as a couple. He’s my favorite of all your boyfriends.”
I sigh and grab a piece of bread. Guess this is the game we’re playing now.
“Anyway, I wasn’t referring to him. I was talking specifically about Tess. You didn’t push her hard enough. She got emotional with you, told you some half-truths and a few lies, and you allowed your sentimentality to overwhelm you. You’d have your boyfriend back already if you’d pushed her.”
I take a bite of bread, even though it tastes like ash in my mouth.
Am I supposed to ask Tess about the book I found today? Is that what he’s hinting at? What about the house that Tess mentioned, the one Justin bought for her when he was only twenty years old? Is that the final clue?
“Your approach to Maxx Wright is also bothersome. You like him, and he likes you, but you’re both obsessed with the kidnapper’s daughter. What was that monster’s name anyway? Thyme? Rosemary?”
I narrow my eyes; he damn well knows what Saffron’s name is, but okay.
Speaking of, I’m a little concerned for her safety. I’d love to call my grandparents and check in, but as soon as I do, Justin will know. Do I really want to draw his attention to the Banks?
“X told Maxine that we slept together,” I whisper, hating myself all over again.
Justin smiles in a very patronizing way.
“Yes. Admirable, isn’t it? How brutally honest Maxim can be. His parents will be at the launch party on Friday. Have you met them? They’re lovely.” He slathers butter across the bread slice in his hand. “Anyway, I can’t help but feel disappointed. You’re doing everything I ask of you, but your heart isn’t in it. The world is unkind, princess. When you want something …” Justin squeezes the bread in his hand until it’s nothing but a little ball. I lift my eyes up from the ruined slice to his face. He’s staring at my water glass, eyes dark with emotion, mouth in a flat line. “You take it.”
