I decided to trust him because he hadn’t let me down yet. And because my shoulder was throbbing and my back was both burning from the demon scratches and cold from the air flowing in through the new ventilation in my old coat. I needed a shower and some antiseptic. And some breakfast.

They led me to a door on the first floor, near the back of the complex. Anabelle’s parents still lived one floor up, and maybe two doors over.

“Shhh…” Finn put one finger across his lips while Reese dug a key from his pocket and opened the door. They let me go in first, and I stopped cold after four steps.

“This isn’t an empty unit. This apartment is furnished!” There were still pictures hanging on the walls. Keys on hooks by the pantry. Coats and scarves peeking out of an open closet.

“It’s empty now.” Devi pushed past me into the living room, then into the dining area, where she took off her jacket and draped it over the back of a chair. “Close the door.” She shot a look at Reese over my head, then focused on Finn as she walked backward toward the bathroom. “I’m taking a shower. When I get out, I want to talk to Maddock. Got it?”

Finn nodded and Reese locked the door.

Before I could start demanding explanations, the second of three doors in the tiny rectangle of hallway opened and a girl appeared, young, petite, and fresh-faced. She reminded me of Melanie, and that made my chest ache.

Her light brown curls bounced as she raced across the living area and threw herself at Reese, who actually had to lift her off the floor to give her the kiss she obviously wanted.

I couldn’t help but stare. Kids in New Temperance didn’t kiss in front of people. We kept our sins secret. We stored them in the dark with our hopes and our fears and everything else never meant to see the light of day.

“That’s Grayson,” Finn mock-whispered. “They’re…close.”

“So I see.” I looked away from them as if I saw couples kiss on the mouth every day. As if I weren’t scandalized by the fearless audacity of their affection. “Where’s Maddock?”

Reese set Grayson down, and she studied me for a moment, then looked up at Finn, her brown eyes narrowed in censure. “You didn’t tell her?”

“Come on.” Reese took Grayson’s hand. “Let’s give them a minute.”

“Why?” She frowned. Then her gaze traveled to where my hand was linked with Finn’s, and I dropped it, mortified to realize I’d grown so used to the feel of his hand that I’d forgotten I was holding it. “Ohhh…Uh-oh.”

“Uh-oh? What’s uh-oh?” My chest felt bruised again. Something was wrong. “What’s wrong with Maddock? Is he scary-looking or something?”