16
At first, Paix just stood there, mouth open. Then he recovered, closed the door. "What a surprise."
Lane let out a short laugh. "I had to see this for myself. It's exactly as I pictured."
"Lane's here as a friend," Reina said. "Come, change your clothes, then we can talk."
Paix took everything into their tiny toilet room next to the bed and changed, mind racing.
Why was Lane here? Why visit now? What would she tell Heap? Things were bad enough for Reina already.
Settle yourself, Paix thought. Reina said Lane came as a friend.
He took a deep breath, let it out, and emerged. The two women sat eating dinner as if all were perfectly normal.
Reina glanced up. "I made a plate for you. Come, sit down, my love. All will be well."
Paix sat warily on the edge of the bed. "To what do we o
