Page 52 of The Devil's Dilemma

I was still trying to wrap my head around what he’d said about the casino chip and angel mark. If only he’d let me go home so I could visit Grandpa. He must have been beside himself with worry.

Lists usually helped me, but I had no pen and paper and didn’t fancy rummaging around Dante’s apartment looking for some.

I had some standards, unlike some people, it seemed.

From Momma’s story, I gathered Dante was the dark prince, and I was the boy with the light in his heart.

Did that make him the devil? I remembered little from Mass and Sunday school, and if they’d mentioned the devil, I hadn't heard it.

I knew the names Lucifer, Satan, and Beelzebub. Another was Old Nick. Ironic, as that was the name of Joel’s uncle.

But what was I supposed to do?

I walked over to the window. It was dreary and wet outside. I hated winter, preferring the summer months and feeling the sun on my face.

Was Grandpa warm enough? Were they looking after him?

I needed to get out of here. I couldn’t sit and wait for Dante to let me go.

I made my own luck.

I put on my shoes and jacket and headed to the door. I jiggled the handle.

Definitely locked. I looked around for the key, but of course no one would be stupid enough to leave it lying around.

Maybe a knife would work?

I found one in the kitchen and went back to the lock. No amount of jamming it in and wiggling it around made it spring open.

Goddamn fucking knife. How dare it not work? I threw it onto the floor.

“Stupid fucking door.” I kicked it again and again. Frustrated didn’t cover it. I had to get out of here.

I sat on the floor, my back resting against the offending door, and ran my hands through my hair. How the fuck could I get out of here without the key?

I elbowed the door, and a sharp pain shot through my elbow… and there it was. A subtle click.

Ignoring the pain, I jumped up and turned the handle.

It opened onto an empty lobby. I crept out and closed the door softly behind me, trying not to make a sound.

There was no one about, and the lift looked miles away.

A sign caught my eye. Emergency Exit. Well, thiswasan emergency.

I peered through the small round window. A set of stairs led down. I’d be less likely to be discovered.

I ran as quietly as possible to the bottom, where another door opened to the casino’s foyer. I carefully looked through the window. Other than a woman at the reception desk looking at her computer, no one was about.

I pulled the door open and sneaked through it, keeping my back to the wall.

“Don’t see me. Don’t look this way,” I mumbled. “Nothing to see here.”

As luck would have it, she turned away and I crept out the door into the fresh air and freedom.

I pulled up my collar, dug my hands into my jacket pocket, and walked away. No one shouted; no one stopped me.

Hard to believe I’d got away so easily.