Chapter 20

A few hours later, I stared down at the piece of bread I was smearing mustard on. It had been several weeks since I had done such an ordinary thing as prepare something to eat.

"You're sure you don't want me to fix my own?" Alex's voice was a gentle rumble in the quiet kitchen.

"I've got it," I said, forcing a smile. "It's good to feel like a normal person for once."

He leaned against the counter, watching me with a knowing look. "You're anything but normal, El," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

The quiet was a welcome respite from the constant tension of the past few days. The club was running smoothly, the guests none the wiser to the storm brewing beneath the surface. We had agreed to take the day off from the investigation, to let our minds rest.

"How about a movie?" Alex suggested, holding up a remote control. "Action or romance?"

I rolled my eyes. "Surprise me," I said, taking a bite of my sandwich as I carried both our plates into the living room.

The TV flickere