Madam stared me down as we began driving away from my life with Kelly.

Inside, my stomach flipped and flopped. It felt like this was the beginning of the end. I didn’t know what to think or say to make the situation right. When I rolled my gaze over to Jerome, his look was even less reassuring than Madam’s.

An awkward and uncomfortable silence settled between us.

My fingers kept fidgeting in my lap. I hated that I had to leave Kelly behind. But I knew we had no choice but to part ways. It was for the best. There wasn’t any sense in fighting the inevitable. And I didn’t blame him for not trying harder to stop me from doing this alone. Because, in the end, we both knew who was in control of us. As much as I hated to admit it, Madam owned me and I had to do what she said above all else.

“You did the right thing, baby doll.” Madam’s chin angled to the side. “Your loyalty has been noted.” She glanced to Jerome. “Isn’t that right, Jerome?”

Without taking his eyes off me, he nodded.

I was nervous to know where we were going or how she was going to punish me. To take my mind off my growing anxiety, I studied her clothes.

Madam’s outfits always managed to make a statement, and today was no different. She was wearing a brightly colored blazer over a dark skirt with matching tanzanite earrings—the same ones she instructed I wear, and was wearing. But it was what dangled around her wrist that stole the show—a charm bracelet, the same one I had seen Tonya wearing.

“Where is the package, Kendra?”

My heart leaped in my throat as I jumped. Blinking, I brought my focus back to her eyes. “I already told you, I don’t have it.”

She arched a perfect brow. “Then tell me, who did you give it to?”

An empty feeling in the pit of my stomach kept my voice just above a whisper. “The person you told me to give it to.”

Madam looked to Jerome. He shook his head. And all I could think was that I had unknowingly made a huge mistake. And if it didn’t get sorted out, it would cost me.

“I swear,” I pleaded with round eyes. “You said your person was coming for me. He came for me.”

“It was a man?” Madam narrowed her eyes.

I swallowed. “Yes.”

Madam visibly sighed. “Honey, if you need more money you can just ask.”

My brows pinched. “What? No. I don’t need more money. My bank account is doing just fine, thanks.”

Madam held out her hand. “Then cough it up, sweetie.”

“Cough what up?” My eyes darted between her and Jerome.

“The money you owe me.”

Glancing to my purse, I knew I didn’t have close to enough for what I assumed was stuffed inside each delivery she forced me in to making.

“My dear, if you don’t give back what is mine, then Jerome here,” her eyes moved over to him, “will have to do whatever is necessary to get it back.”

Heat fanned across my chest. “What, like kill me like you did Tonya?” I barked, suddenly feeling threatened.

“Darling, I understand why you’re upset about her death.” Madam’s voice loosened. “I am, too. But this is business and you’re interrupting it.”

Shaking my head, a lump formed in my throat. I didn’t know the name of the man who’d come for the money. I had never seen him before in my life. And the fact that Madam was losing her cool had me worried about what she might do next to get me to confess.

“Like I said, your person came for me and I handed him the package. Just like the time before, and the times before that. I didn’t do anything differently.”

Madam eyed me suspiciously.

“I swear,” I said, telling her about the diner. Then I described what he looked like and how he knew exactly what I had. “And as soon as I handed it over, he relayed your message to me.”

Madam’s body tipped forward as she gave me a questioning look. “Honey, there was no other message. That was it.”

Frowning, I bit my lip. Glancing over Madam’s shoulder, I knew we were in the neighborhood of Kelly’s office.

“Tell me, dear, what was the message you received?”

Thinking back to that day, I said, “There was a second envelope with an address in Laguna Beach.”

Jerome leaned over and whispered something into Madam’s ear. Madam turned back to face me. “My dear, did you see Sylvia Neil?”

My lips snapped shut. I suddenly knew something wasn’t right. My heartrate spiked and I thought it might explode as my hands began to sweat. Madam didn’t need me to answer because I couldn’t hide the guilty look filling my face. She knew that I had and, suddenly, the entire mood in the car grew darker than before.

“She works for you, right?” I asked.

Rolling the partition down, Madam instructed the driver to drop me off at Kelly’s office.

“Madam.” I reached over and set my fingers on her knee. “Please tell me Sylvia works for you.”

Madam’s lips tightened as she shook her head. “I’m afraid this isn’t good for you.”

“Oh, shit.” I leaned back, pressing my palm flat on my head. “I can explain,” I protested.

“You already did.” Madam’s tone was clipped.

“I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You did.” She couldn’t look me in the eye. “And it might have jeopardized my entire operation.”