Carrigan leaned in to give me a proper kiss again before he left, hustling out of my apartment so quickly it was like he knew there were cameras inside. He made some lame see you soon attempt, but he thought he’d never see me again. I knew better.

I hoped Jackal had gotten shots of Carrigan holding me, too—in some ways, that was worse than the sex pictures. Those might be worth more than $50K.

I heard Jackal creaking his way in tentative steps down the stairs.

“You got all that?” I asked without turning to look at him. Still staring at Lou’s face. God, you’re funny. I could hear her voice from the night of that photograph, bourbon roses in her cheeks. You’re killing me.

“You’re gonna be rich,” he said.

Chapter 26

I was more tired than I’d remembered ever being after a mark, a case—whatever the fuck Lou wanted to call them. Jackal had asked if I’d wanted him to stay, asked if I wanted to review the footage right away. He’d been gentler than normal—didn’t try to touch me, didn’t snap at me—and I wasn’t sure if that was for my sake or for the money. I’m delicate cargo now, I’d thought before telling him to go. I didn’t kiss him goodbye.

When Jackal left, I turned out the lights so I could slither around in the dark for a little while, adjusting to the feel of another man’s hands on my body, the smell of him still on me. God, it had been so long.

I went to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water—found myself reaching for something stronger. But I still had work to do that night.

I was going to get the money from Carrigan—I knew that much. How much was still up for debate. But with the election so close and still undecided, he’d pay anything to keep this scandal quiet. Even with what I’d pay Jackal, it would still be enough to cover my debt and what I owed the police.

But I couldn’t stop thinking of what MacLeish had said and what I knew to be true, deep in my bones: the Lady owned me now, forever. The Lady hadn’t been the one to take down Carrigan—that had been all me. My plan, my work, my seduction. Me. And yet she’d still be the one reaping the cash from it. Taking the money and telling me it still wasn’t enough. She and Lou would always be a little coven of two. Because of what I’d done. Because of what we’d done.