Outside the recording studio, the apartment hall had bright, burning fluorescents, illuminating rows of other doorways, each painted fire engine red to contrast the beige walls. They also illuminated Gold, stumbling down the hall on her crutches, her arm in a sling, trying to make an escape.

Nita sighed and closed the door behind her so as not to disturb Kovit, and then patiently walked after Gold.

“Going somewhere?” Nita asked.

Gold froze, and then turned back around. The bandage on her face had come loose in one corner, and it flopped back, exposing the edge of a nasty acid burn Nita had given her.

Gold smiled, a bitter, cruel expression. “Oops. Caught me.”

“Where were you off to?”

“Oh, you know. Out to get a midnight snack.”

Nita gave her a flat look.

Gold rolled her eyes. “What does it matter where I was escaping to? The point is that I was escaping.”

Nita sighed. “Did you even bother to try and save Fabricio in the other room?”

“No. Why the hell would I risk my escape for him?”

Nita wished her younger self had been as wise.

Nita leaned against the wall. She could get rid of Gold now. Kill her, shove her body somewhere, end all this. Kovit would wake, and she’d just be gone. Nita could tell him she must have escaped in the night. It wouldn’t even be a complete lie.

But Kovit would never forgive her if he found out.

Nita considered just . . . letting Gold go. She didn’t want to deal with the black market heiress anymore. But Kovit might still be afraid Nita had disposed of her in the night, and that was the whole point of not murdering Gold in the first place.

And Gold was bound to be a problem. Even if Nita had blackmail to keep Gold in line, like she did with Fabricio, she didn’t think it would work. Gold didn’t really seem to care about the practicalities of what she stood to lose by hurting Kovit. Her hatred ran too deep.

“Thinking about murdering me?” Gold asked, still smiling slightly.

“Considering it.”

“Kovit would know. He’d be very angry.”

“It’s so fascinating that you’re convinced he’s both a soulless monster and that his regret and grief over your death will protect you.” Nita shook her head. “Your hypocrisy is amazing. Truly astounding. You’re literally relying on the humanity you don’t believe he has to save you.”

Gold’s smile fell into a scowl. “Fuck you.”

“And you result to swears because you have no comeback.” Nita tsked. “Childish.”

Gold swung around on her crutches, hissing softly in pain as she did so. She glared at Nita, her eyes cold and angry. “You’re one to talk. You talk about his humanity and then condone . . .” Her face pinched in disgust. “The things that happened in the other room with Fabricio.”