Page 49 of Bottles & Blades

“Thanks,” I murmur as he walks me out to my car, “but I really just want to sleep in my own bed.”

“Text me when you get home so I know you did it safely.”

“Okay, Stefan. I’ll see you soon, yeah?”

He hugs me then tugs open the driver’s side door. “You’re welcome any time.”

“I know,” I say as I climb in.

Then I’m driving home, my stomach gnawing at me in hunger, but the fatigue growing heavier with each passing moment.

I park, grab my stuff, and climb the stairs to my apartment, thumbing out a text to Stefan letting him know I made it home as I go.

STEFAN: Get some rest, kiddo.

Smiling, I shove it away.

But that smile fades because as I reach the top of the stairs, and I realize that Jean-Michel never sent me the code.

And a moment later, I realize why.

Because he’s standing right outside my door.

Sixteen

Jean-Michel

She stops, mouth falling open. “Jean-Mi,”she eventually whispers.

I like that she says it without prompting.

I like the soft way it rolls off her tongue.

And I sit in that for a moment.

But only for a moment because then I get a good look at her face.

She’s pale as fuck and…

“Christ,” I mutter, lunging toward her and catching her when she sways. I tug her backpack from her shoulders, gather her against my side, and turn us, jabbing at the keypad.

Itwhirs, the lock retracting, and I push inside, dropping her bag on the floor and sweeping her into my arms. “You sick?” I ask when she doesn’t fight me.

“No,” she whispers. “Just tired.”

Her stomach rumbles, something that seems to happen far too regularly with her.

“Did you eat today?”

“Yeah,” she says, eyes already slipping closed. “A protein bar for lunch.”

No mention of breakfast.

No mention of dinner.

“What?” I snap. “Barie doesn’t let you eat his food?”

Her eyes fly open. “They’re very generous.” A slight note of tart in her words, but very slight, and I don’t know if it’s just her or the weariness hanging on her frame or her obvious hunger.

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