But as his laughter faded, a dense sorrow hung in the air, heavier than before. The ring still clung to my finger, cold and stubborn, a constant reminder of the power I lacked and the darkness waiting to take hold.
I glanced up at Zeke. His smile had faltered, his eyes now clouded with concern. We were no closer to a solution, and I couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that time was running out.
eighteen
After a frenetic morning at the diner, where our half-priced pancake special drew in a huge crowd, I finally stole a moment to myself. The lunch rush had subsided, and I saw my chance to slip away unnoticed. My priority was clear: I had to sneak back into Sal’s office and retrieve the pendant. It was a risky move, I knew, but I was willing to take that risk to ensure Zeke’s safety. I owed him that much.
I waited for Sal’s predictable 2:00 PM bathroom break, his ritual as reliable as clockwork. I knew I had a narrow window, just a minuteor two, to grab the serpent. I slipped into his office, my heart racing with anticipation. But when my eyes landed on the familiar spot, my excitement quickly turned to dismay. The pendant was gone. Vanished without a trace.
“What? No…where is it?” I whispered.
My hands swept over the cluttered desk in a frantic search. But nothing. I rapidly scanned the room, my gaze darting from shelf to shelf, but the serpent was nowhere. Anxiety curled around my spine, the fear of getting caught pushing me to retreat quickly back to the front counter.
As Sal exited the restroom, I fought the urge to gag at the thought of him not bothering to wash his hands. My stomach churned, and I couldn’t stop the way my nose scrunched in disgust. My revulsion must have been written all over my face because he suddenly halted in his tracks.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked, a defensive edge creeping into his voice.
I quickly schooled my features, feigning nonchalance. “Sorry, I was just lost in thought,” I lied, attempting to shake off the nervous knot that had settled in my stomach.
He tilted his head, skepticism evident. His brow furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line, but before he could respond, the phone rang, cutting him off.
I stepped forward to answer, snatching the receiver. “Hello?” My voice was clipped and businesslike.
Reggie’s arrogant drawl came through the line. “Brynie girl, how are you? Is Sal behaving today?”
I held Sal’s gaze, locked in a silent challenge. “Oh, he’s being his typical…” My eyes swept over him, “…unappealing self.”
Sal’s nostrils flared, his body stiffened, and I saw his hands ball into fists. A small thrill of satisfaction bubbled up inside me. I'd managed to ruffle his feathers.
A burst of laughter erupted from the other end of the line, followed by Reggie’s booming voice. “Oh, don’t you go getting him all riled up.” He chuckled. “Anyway, I’ll be there in an hour to discuss some business. Can you have some chicken tenders ready for me in a to-go box?”
I pulled the phone away from my ear, exhaling a slow, frustrated sigh before bringing it back to my face. “Yeah, of course,” I muttered, my voice thick with resignation.
“Great. Let Sal know I’m coming,” he said curtly. Then, the line went dead.
I returned the receiver to its cradle with a sharp click and let my hand drop to my side. “Reggie will be here in an hour,” I announced, my tone flat.
Sal’s face twisted into a sneer, his jaw clenched as he took a step forward, his posture stiff with anger. “I really don’t appreciate the way you speak to me,” he spat, before spinning on his heel and stalking off toward his office, his boots striking the floor with each heavy step.
I leaned against the counter, my fingers drumming out a lazy rhythm on the surface. “Since when are you so sensitive?” I asked, examining my nails, pretending not to care. “You really need to relax, Sally.”
Sal froze mid-step, his back to me. His muscles tensed, then, with unsettling slowness, he turned to face me, his eyes narrowing with chilling calmness. “What did you call me?” he asked, his voice quiet but lethal, the air thick with the weight of his unspoken threat.
A sharp sting of realization cut through me, and a wave of panic washed over me. But I tried to keep my cool, brushing it off with a careless tone. “Sal? I called you Sal. That is your name, isn’t it?”
He stared at me for a long, uncomfortable moment, his eyes boring into mine. Then, in a cadence that sent a shiver crawling up my back, he spoke a single, ominous word: “No…” He paused, letting the silence stretch. “You didn’t.” His gaze never wavered. “You know…don’t you?”
I looked down at the floor, my fingers threading through my hair in a nervous attempt to calm the frantic rhythm in my chest. I forced a confused tone, though it came out shakier than I intended. “Know what?”
Before I could blink, he vanished. Then, without warning, he was inches away, his presence crashing into the space between us. I gasped, startled, as he shouted, “I knew it!” His hot breath hit my skin, making it crawl. “How do you know?!”
For a moment, his expression stayed frozen in fury. Then, a flicker of realization crossed his face. “He’s here—isn’t he?” The venomous intensity of his words made my blood run cold.
In that instant, we both knew the charade was over. The fragile fabric of their deceit had been torn to pieces.
I was inseriousdanger. I had to escape before Reggie arrived or it would be curtains. Sal wouldn’t wait for him. He’d try to contact him and push things into motion.
Our eyes locked on the phone simultaneously, and I acted swiftly, dashing over to rip it from the wall. It crashed to the ground, the sound shattering the silence.
