I sigh at the worst pet name I’ve ever heard, but he gets this one. That can be a hill I die on at a later date. “Promise you’ll come back.”

“I don’t need to promise. I just will.”

I try to channel his confidence. “You will.”

“And then we’ll tell everyone that we’re boyfriends, and you’ll introduce me to your parents, and I can take you on a date and⁠—”

I kiss him again, more terrified than ever.

Perry is the sweetest man I’ve ever met, and there’s no way that’s going to waste. Not when I’ve only just found him.

I trust his process.

No plans.

Just vibes.

He can do this.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

PERRY

I’m starting to suspect there’s a very high probability that I cannot do this.

The fake handcuffs I’m wearing fakely feel a hell of a lot like real ones. I know they’re not. I’ve practiced with them, but after the Tommy betrayal, I’m not sure I trust Arlie’s word anymore. It’s lucky I met St. Clare because there’s no way I could marry her under these circumstances.

“You good?” Arlie asks, hauling me out of Tommy’s car.

It’s not like I can answer her around my gag, so I make a noise that hopefully translates as “yeah, great, just hoping you don’t double-cross me, but so long as you don’t, I’m fine.” Whatever she gets from the sounds that I’m making must satisfy her because she takes hold of my upper arm and marches us into Lethal Poison.

I flinch instinctively the second we hear those tiny bells announcing us, expecting any one of the people here to shoot me in the head. It doesn’t happen, which feels like a win, but I’m tense the whole time we cross the bar area until we reach the hallway to Luther’s office.

Then I’m even tenser.

Lethal Poison smells like it always smells, looks like it always looks, sounds, and feels like the warmth I always expect it to. Bad things don’t happen to the sound of “Miles on It,” even though I absolutely know that bad things start their happening here every day.

Arlie gives my arm another firm squeeze, and I’m torn between whether it’s supposed to be supportive or a warning. Either way, I’m both supported and warned as we head up the hall and reach Luther’s office. The heavy door is closed, and if he meant to intimidate me more, he’s succeeded.

Arlie casts a quick glance over me before she knocks.