Before I can start my feeble defense, she sits on the side of the bed and pats the place beside her.

I sit and immediately wrap my arm around her. “I’m an idiot. I’m sorry.”

“You’re not an idiot. That’s the frustrating part.”

“I make terrible choices, then.”

That gets a tiny laugh from her. “You really do.”

“You can tell me to fuck off, you know? Make me deal with these issues alone.”

“I don’t want you to do it alone. It’s just … and I …”

“What?”

Her big eyes are sad all the way through when she looks at me. “I wish that I could help you instead of it being Elle all the time. And even more than that, I wish you’d help your damn self.”

“I’m trying.”

“You say that, but I’m yet to see it.”

Unfortunately, that’s fair.

She sighs. “Okay, out with it. What is this not-very-big but medium-big-sized favor?”

“Well … you know how Elle’s brother has that apartment he doesn’t use?”

Margot’s mouth flattens, which isn’t a good sign, but that doesn’t stop me.

“Any chance we could use it for a couple of days? A week, tops. Probably. And we’ll keep it super clean and look after his stuff and⁠—”

“I thought you were going away. Family emergency?”

Dammit, St. Clare. “Look, this doesn’t work very well if you keep asking me questions because I’m not smart enough to answer them all.”

“Are you in some kind of trouble? Because if those men are bad news, all you have to do is give me a sign. We can protect you.”

I know she thinks that, but nothing on fucking Earth will make me put her at risk. I force what’s supposed to be an easy smile. “I’m fine. Nothing to worry about. I promise.”

She doesn’t believe me. “If something happens to you⁠—”

“It won’t. I just … we really need somewhere to go. Just for a little bit.”

She eyes me. “Your apartment finally getting fumigated?”

“Something like that.” There’s extermination going on, but it has nothing to do with bugs.

I can tell it’s completely against everything she wants to say when she gets out, “I’ll see what I can do.”

“You’re the best.” I watch her expectantly.

“Right.” She doesn’t make an attempt to move.

“We’re sort of on a time crunch.”

She gets up to leave, but before she can reach the door, I can’t help but add, “Oh, and if you and Elle could call off work for a few days, maybe lie low, spend some time really reconnecting or whatever, that would be a huge help.”

Margot’s frozen, hand on the doorknob, shoulders pulled up near her ears. “Got it,” she finally says before leaving.

I’m never going to live this one down.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ST. CLARE