“Suit yourself.”
She was from Sloth? Rusty could count on one hand the number of Sloth District natives he’d met. Technically, Sloth wasn’t even a district; it wasn’t officially considered part of the Pentagram at all. It was too isolated, located on the other side of the Wrath mountains. The train route from Purgatory had been started but never completed, and getting there from the Pentagram itself was hardly an easy feat.
Sloth was insular and closed off, backward in ways even Lust trash like him was leery of. But he wasn’t going to judge her simply from where she’d come from, especially since she’d helped him out of a tight spot.
As the footsteps of his pursuers faded, Rusty sighed in relief and leaned his head back against the peeling wallpaper. “Thanks,” he said, and the Lepid turned just enough to prop herself against the door jamb, her wings open wide so as not to be crushed.
“Don’t mention it.” She released a billow of smoke through her nostrils. “What’d’ya do to them?”
“Called them idiots,” he said. “They didn’t take too kindly to that.”
The Lepid laughed. “Figures.” She glanced down at his bleeding foot. “That don’t look too good. I got a first aid kit in my room. You’ll have to pay to come back, but I won’t suck your dick unless you want me to.”
An awkward chuckle burst from Rusty’s mouth. “Thanks, but I’m good.”
She shrugged and took one last drag from her cigarette before flicking the smoldering butt into the street. “Okay. Well, don’t linger long. Mistress Emyra don’t like strays that don’t pay.”
“Sure thing.” Clumsily climbing to his feet, he tested his cut foot and hissed. “Sorry about the blood on the carpet.”
“Psh, I just work here,” the Lepid said with a blasé wave of her top left hand. “I’m Enfys, by the way.”
“Rusty.”
Enfys hummed and cocked her head, antennas flicking. “You look familiar.”
“I worked Flesh Street once upon a time,” he said as he hobbled toward the open doorway.
“One of Gino’s boys?”
“I was my own boy.”
One of her brows arched. “Lucky you.”
“Thanks again for the save.” Rusty reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, but Enfys waved him off.
“Don’t mention it, precious. Us working gals gotta look out for each other.”
He smiled and tucked his wallet away. “You’re not wrong.”
“Just remember my name, in case you get lonely.” She gave him a seductive onceover. “I’ll do you right.”
Another uncomfortable laugh escaped as he ducked his head. “Uh, how about the next time you’re in Purgatory, stop in at the Passing Through Cafe. Lunch is on me.”
“Is that so? Normally, I like things being onme.” Enfys winked flirtatiously. “But I can’t say no to free food.”
“I can even throw in a coffee,” he added, and she tittered, extending her top right hand.
“You got yourself a deal.”
They shook on it, before he stepped back out into the dreary night. “Have a good night, Enfys.”
“You too, handsome.”
The rain was coming down harder, and Rusty hunkered into himself as he limped toward home. With every step, his foot burned, and after only a few blocks, he had to stop and lean against a wall, vision spotty. His flat was another twenty minutes at least, and his phone had cracked during one of his crash-landings.
“Shit.” He looked around for an open bodega or bar where he might ask to use a phone to call a car, but it was late enough that most places were closed. He probably should have just paid Enfys to use her first aid kit, but he didn’t want to hobble all the way back to the brothel.
Gem’s place was close, though. Oh gods, he’d never hear the end of it if he showed up on the Araknis’s doorstep, soaked to the bone, bleeding profusely. He could already hear Gem’s fussing shrieks, giving him a headache. But with every passing minute, he was feeling more light-headed, and Gem’s flat was closer than his.
