The doorbell buzzed. I dropped her hands, stepped back, and grabbed my bag. It was eight on the dot, and Asmodeus’s driver was here to collect me. I tried not to think about how weird it was that Asmodeus had his own driver. There were far too many other weird things to comprehend already.

“That means it’s time for me to go.” I slung the bag over my shoulder, smiled. “I’ll text you as soon as I get there.”

“You better.” She rushed forward, sniffling, and threw her arms around my neck. The scent of her lemon body wash swirled into my nose. The same scent I’d smelled every morning for the past three months, every time she took a shower. I’d miss it. “Text me constantly. Let me know what’s going on at all times. If at any point you want to back out of this, call me. You have a place to crash always.”

With a sad smile, I clutched her back. If I had to abort this crazy mission, I didn’t think I would have it in me to call her. If this was only about her future with Noah, I might have felt less firm in my decision. But I would not let her risk her dream career, the one she’d lost sleep, sweat, and blood over the past decade of her life. I’d never seen anyone work harder for what they wanted. I wouldn’t be the thing to knock her down.

“I love you, Serena,” I whispered into her hair. “I don’t want you to worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

* * *

A sleek black sedan with tinted windows stretched out along the curb outside of Serena’s brownstone. I swallowed hard and inched forward as a desperate urge to flee rushed through my stomach. The driver’s side window whirred down to reveal a suited man at the steering wheel. He motioned for me to get inside the car.

“Hello, Mia.” His voice was deep, like the bass notes of a blues song. “I’m Asmodeus’s driver. I’m here to take you home.”

Home.

My gut clenched. Regardless of my new residential status, I would never consider my new boss’s apartment home. A house was not a home, and it had been years since I’d felt like I truly belonged somewhere.

I cracked open the door and braced myself. But Asmodeus wasn’t waiting for me inside. The smooth leather seats were empty. The chilly, air-conditioned air whispered across my bare arms. Before I could change my mind, I slid across the seat and slammed the door behind me.

The driver revved the car and took off through the streets.