Page 87 of Never Sleep with the Enemy

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Work faster.

A moment later, a photo appears. A screenshot of a contact labeledAtlanta District Attorney.

You motherfucker!

I force my fingers to slack before I tap out something I’ll regret. Across the room, Tesla hums to herself as she works, little strands of blue hair falling over her eyes. Happy. Content. Not a damn care in the world.

I can’t let anything happen to her. I won’t.

One week. Only one week until the Battle of the Bands. A battle that won’t happen at all if I’m successful.

Successful.Not the word I’d choose.

Is it success to tear your opponents down? To sow chaos in them?

To take a girl’s heart in your hands andbreakit?

What’s Katrina going to think of me when this all comes out? When she finds out I was only with her because...

But I’mnotonly with her because of Monroe’s stupid demands.

Right?

I push off the couch, setting my guitar aside as I stand.

“Where are you going?” Tesla asks.

“Gonna take a walk,” I say, grabbing my bomber jacket.

“Want us to come with?”

“No, you work. Just need to clear my head.”

Tesla watches me, clearly curious, but nods. “Okay.”

I step out into the hallway as a housekeeping cart barrels past. I sidestep it at the last second.

“Oops! Sorry about that!” the young woman piloting it says. “Didn’t see you there.”

“It’s all right,” I reply.

She slows, glancing at me. “Hey, you’re Logan Shock!”

I instantly smile. “Yes, I am.”

She gives me a once-over. “Huh. Thought you’d be taller.”

“Sorry to disappoint you.”

She chuckles and keeps moving, completely unfazed that she almost ran over a celebrity. Though, for all I know, that could be a weekly occurrence in this place.

I continue in the opposite direction and press the elevator call button. Maybe a walk around the lobby or the block will help me clear my head. Let me focus on something other than...her.

She’severywhere.

In my thoughts. On my skin.

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