After passing Janine at reception, I laced my fingers through Kendra’s and headed up the stairs.

Holding on to her as tight as I could without cutting off her circulation, I tried to impart what strength I had to keep her strong. Together, we had to keep our wits and courage about us when facing the snake that waited for us at the top.

Passing the spot where I’d first met Kendra, a small grin tugged at my lips.

I must have slowed just enough to get Kendra to tip her head back and share a knowing glance. I liked that we were thinking the same thing, never having to struggle through communicating what it was we were thinking. But that comfort disappeared when we reached the next floor and saw Jerome down the hall standing guard with his legs spread wide.

Kendra hooked her free hand in the crook of my arm, drawing herself closer. And as we approached Jerome, I lifted my hand and lightly tugged on his tie. “Nice suit.”

His eyes bounced between Kendra and me, never once saying anything.

Kendra wasn’t having it, and as if deciding she wanted to get our meeting over with as fast as possible, she brushed past Jerome, rolling her eyes before disappearing into Madam’s office.

Stepping in Jerome’s face, I said, “Next time you lay your dirty hands on me, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

His eyes sparkled as if welcoming the challenge.

Then I slammed my shoulder into his as I walked past.

Where once a visit to Madam’s office filled me with optimism, now it only left a sour taste in my mouth. Her desire for greed at other people’s expense was making me ill. And when I stepped inside her office, I couldn’t believe what it was she was reading.

“How can you stand to be around that man all day?” I tossed my thumb over my shoulder in Jerome’s direction. “He has zero personality.”

Madam kept her head down, her eyes hidden beneath the wide brim of her sun hat, and held up one white-gloved finger as she shushed me.

My brows squished as I turned to look at Kendra.

Kendra shrugged her shoulders just before falling into an empty chair opposite Madam like dead weight. It didn’t take long for her spine to slump, and before I knew it she had her arms folded in annoyance across her chest.

Madam continued reading and I couldn’t believe the nerve she had to make us wait—like she hadn’t already read it.

Taking a seat myself, I didn’t have to look at Kendra to know she was glaring at the Madam as if deciding whether or not Madam had it in her to kill her, too. Or maybe it was the other way around and Kendra was imagining Madam’s head on a plate. Either way, I could feel the tension crackling like loose electricity between them.

We hadn’t gone into specifics on the ride over, but I knew how Kendra was beginning to feel about Madam. She wanted me to end her contract—the one she’d made with Madam—get her out so that we could be together as a couple and decide our own future. And as much as I wanted that myself, it wasn’t as cut and dry as just breaking our ties with Madam and expecting nothing to come of it.

Madam cackled. “Sylvia Neil sure does have an imagination.”

“Let’s talk about why you called us both in,” I said, gripping my armrests tighter.

Madam held up her finger, still needing a moment to finish reading the last of the article.

I rolled my eyes, perturbed.

A moment later she leaned back, fixing her eyes on me. Smoothing her tongue over her front top teeth, she said, “Mr. Black, responsible for Tonya’s death?” Her eyes sparkled with amusement as I watched her brows raise. “So, Kelly dear, is it true?”

“You and I both know who is responsible.” Kendra’s body lurched forward as her mouth burst with blame directed toward Madam.

“Down, girl.” Madam’s expression pinched.

Kendra threw up her hands and growled in frustration as she fell back down onto her seat.

“And to go as far as saying that you’re going to kill her next.” Madam looked to Kendra, “What did you do to piss her off?”

Shifting my weight to one side, I reached inside my sport jacket pocket and pulled out the note Stone had given me. I extended my elbow over Madam’s desk and waited until she lifted her hand and plucked the paper from my fingers. “Any idea who might have given me that?”

When she finished reading it, she asked for more clues.

“That came from the man you want me to convict.”

Her brows raised and a tiny smile sprouted. “Stone?”

I nodded. “We’re in.”

Madam turned to Kendra. “Did you hear that, darling? We’re in.”

Kendra shifted uncomfortably in her seat, not knowing what it was we were talking about. But from the reaction I received, I couldn’t help but wonder if that was old news to Madam. And if she already knew, did she also know Stone had ordered Tonya’s kill?

“How did he do it?” I asked.

Madam rolled her eyes back to me, giving me a questioning look.

“And what did Tonya know that somebody didn’t want her to share with the world?”

More movement from next me was only a small distraction before I felt Kendra’s gaze darting between me and Madam. I could only imagine what it was she was thinking. Maybe that this conversation pertained to her, too, because she was no different than Tonya so she could be the next to go.

Madam squinted her eyes, pretending to play dumb.

“Fine,” I said, nodding my head. “Don’t want to talk about it? Then let me ask you this.” I paused to collect my thoughts. “Are you also responsible for having Mario killed?”

“Sweetie, Mario hung himself. You know it as well as I do,” she said without a hint of remorse.

“We both know that’s bullshit,” I said. “Somebody was behind it. Somebody who knew I was working to revisit his plea deal, knowing that Sylvia was the one to have done Maria in.”

Madam barely looked at Kendra when she said, “I guess you have some research to do, Kelly. Tonya will receive the justice she deserves.” Then she turned her attention to Kendra. “Honey, your time is nearly up.”

Kendra stiffened in her chair but kept her eyes locked with Madam’s.

“But this meeting isn’t about any of that.” Madam’s eyes hardened when she flicked them over to me.

Reaching my arm over to Kendra, I blanketed my hand over hers. She glanced at me at the same time she tipped forward in her chair. “Then what’s this about?” she asked.

“You.” Madam shifted her gaze over to me. “And him.”

My stomach flipped the moment I noticed my foot had stopped tapping on the floor.

“And whether or not you both survive to see this through.” Madam’s words hardened. “If you two want to last beyond your initial thirty-day contract, I’ll need you to assist me with something.”

“Anything,” Kendra said too enthusiastically.

Madam curled her lips into a sharp, knowing grin. “This offer is for Kelly only.”

Feeling my heartrate spike, I said, “I’m at your service.”

Madam smirked. “Find Sylvia.”

“And?”

Her shrill eyes shot daggers at Kendra. “Get me my money back.”

My lungs squeezed inside my chest and soon I felt like I was drowning. Giselle and I were already looking for Sylvia, but I wasn’t sure that we would succeed. Sylvia had gotten a head start on us and knew we would be looking for her. And another part of me wondered if Madam already knew all that and she was purposely rewriting our agreement, knowing that I would fail.

“You want her for Maria’s murder, and I want retribution for lost profits.”

“And if I can’t find her?”

Madam pushed herself back, stood, and came to hover over Kendra. “You have seventy-two hours to bring her to me,” she took Kendra’s long hair and let it fall between her fingers, “otherwise, your sweet Bella is mine and you can kiss your original contract goodbye.”