This is getting to be a bad habit. Mercedes passed out in my bed. Me watching her. Making sure she’s breathing. Never wanting to witness another incident like the one in Solana’s shop a few days ago.

I pick up her old phone again. Re-read the texts for the fucking hundredth time. Not that it makes any difference. I saw them when I switched it on after charging it to get her the number she claimed she was looking for when I caught her snooping. Pretty sure that was a lie anyway. It would be easy enough to get the number of her yoga instructor from either Solana or Georgie. The texts had been sent over the past several weeks, so for weeks, she’s been in danger, and what the fuck have I done? Didn’t even know about it.

She was a human being, you fucking cunt. You and your sort fucked her up. Now I’m going to fuck you up.

Cunt, you can’t hide in your rich house with your rich boyfriend forever.

I’m coming for you, cunt. One way or another. I’m going to give you what you deserve.

They were all sent from different numbers, and Ezra’s man hasn’t been able to trace any of them. They couldn’t pick up the slightest trail. Would Santiago be able to find something? I can’t ask him. I can’t tell him any of this. He has enough on his plate with the fates of Ivy and their unborn child unknown. I won’t burden him with my failure to do the one thing he asked of me. Keep his sister safe.

I keep checking for a new text. Whoever sent these must know by now that he or she didn’t succeed in the attack so I expect another one to be sent.

My phone vibrates with a call. I silenced it so as not to wake her. I pocket her phone and step out to answer when I see it’s Ezra, leaving the bedroom door open a crack in case she needs me.

“Judge. How is Mercedes?”

“She’ll be fine. She’s sleeping.” Thanks to the fact that Solana kept an EpiPen at the shop. She’d been doing it since she met Mercedes apparently. Georgie too.

“Good.”

“What did you find?”

“Traces of peanut oil in the bag itself. They would have rubbed off on the pastries. The two in the bag were contaminated as well.”

I try to remember the bag. Plain brown paper. I remember Solana commenting it wasn’t the same kid who usually delivers to her.

“Anything on the man who delivered it?”