“What I’m about to tell you—this isn’t me, okay? This isn’t who I am as a person. The stuff that happened . . . I’m still not sure how it happened. It was like . . . The only way I can describe it is like I was possessed or something.”

Sebastian thought about the now late Sixto Ferreria, sweating buckets but looking buff and healthy, as Candice said, “Paul gave me a small transfusion, said that was more than enough.”

“What kind of blood?”

“He didn’t give me a name, just said it was going to change my life.”

“Did you know what was in it?”

“No, I— No, wait. Now I remember. This blood—he said it was some new version of Pandora. Which right away got me excited.”

“That stuff is supposed to be the best.”

“That’s what they say. And when Paul said he’d gotten his hands on this version, I—well, I just believed him.”

“He’s got a supplier?”

“He wouldn’t say, would never get into specifics. But back to your question, no, I didn’t ask what was in it in terms of drugs. He gave it to me at his place—an injection. I thought it was going to be a transfusion, but he said no, this new Pandora was much more powerful. I got a single injection at first, then, as time went on, a series of them.”

He was experimenting on her, Sebastian thought. Trying out different dosages, seeing which one got the maximum benefits.

“The first time was on a Saturday,” Candice said. “That night we went out to a bar and it was . . . All I could think about was Paul. Having him. Right there on the bar, the floor, the bathroom—I didn’t care. And I wasn’t drunk or even buzzed, which I don’t expect you to believe, given what you’re witnessing right now.”

I believe you, Sebastian thought.

“I couldn’t wait to get him home, back to my place,” Candice said. “When we got there . . . I was insatiable. I couldn’t get enough of him. It wasn’t just about the sex, although that was amazing, as much as I hate to admit that. I was somehow, like, super close to him, in a way I’ve never been with anyone before or since. It was like I was seeing into his soul. I know how corny that sounds, but we connected on this really, really deep spiritual level and . . .” She let loose a tittering laugh. “I know I sound like a crazy person.”

“You don’t,” Faye reassured her. “And I appreciate your honesty.”

“Deep down, I knew he was an asshole. He had that smugness about him. But he was a beautiful asshole. A gorgeous asshole with a gorgeous body who made me feel good about myself, made me feel worthy. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Wanting him. I’m talking weeks. He made me chase him, and I did, because that’s what a broken girl like me does. We kept hooking up on and off, and it was great until it wasn’t.”