Page 166 of The Sinner's Sanctuary
“I know where the fucker lives. Don’t worry about it.”
I nod, taking the washcloth off my neck and leaving the bathroom. Gibson’s already halfway across the living room. He frowns when he sees me and grabs me by the face the second I’m within reach. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head. “How’d it go? What happened?”
“I ended it. It was better and worse than I expected. It’s gonna be fine. Were you worried?”
“Yes, but…” I glance past his shoulder, and it’s like realizing I’m on a stage. Literally everyone is watching us.
Gibson looks around. “I—uh…know of an empty unit one floor down. It’s Monday, right?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s probably not there. Worth a try?”
I nod, not quite understanding what I’m agreeing to. I lowkey need to freak out, and one floor down sounds a hell of a lot easier than two blocks up.
We make our mumbled, half-assed excuses and leave together. A few minutes later, Gibson uses a key from his wallet to unlock the door to 1107. “Whose apartment is this?”
“Fischer’s. Anybody home?” he calls out to the pitch black apartment. “Fischer? Hey—I’m coming in so if you’re here let me know.”
After a few long seconds with no response, Gibson flips on a light to a gallery hallway. “Let me text him real quick,” he says.
“I’m gonna get some water,” I tell him, walking to the living area, satisfied enough that we’re alone. The apartment is nice, if kind of boring. A classic six, with a kid’s bedroom and anotherone at the end of the hall. The living, dining and kitchen are all open to each other with French doors behind the dining table. It doesn’t seem like anyone lives here, but the fridge is stocked. I grab a bottled water, assuming that’s okay.
Gibson gets to me in the kitchen while I’m chugging the cold liquid. He puts his hands on my waist and waits for me to finish the whole thing. Afterward, he presses his mouth to mine in a gentle kiss. “Talk to me.”
“The video—the one with Silas—it’s out. Larry was watching it just before you came in.”
“What?”
“Tell me that wasn’t you.” I genuinely don’t think he would have done it—he knows who Silas is to me, but if he was forced to in some sort of negotiation with his wife?—
“I’m trying not the let that question hurt my feelings, but of course it wasn’t.”
I put a hand on his face and look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry. If I didn’t ask…”
“No, I get it. Is this what Drew was talking about? Getting in touch with Silas?”
I nod.
A pained look crosses his face, and it puts a stab in my heart. As if I needed more proof that I’ve got it bad for this guy. “If you need to go…” he begins.
“Drew can handle it. You said it was better and worse. Are you all right?”
“I’m…” He lets go of me and paces away. “I know she did this. She and Avery are probably the only other people who had that video, and I can’t imagine Avery would blast it out after talking with her today. Marianne, though…”
“Pissed at you and lashing out?” I guess.
“Pissed at Averyandme.”
“The video doesn’t hurtyouthough.”
“No. But it takes away Avery’s leverage over Lawther,” he says.
“I take it Avery screwed her over pretty bad.”
“More like broke her heart. I wasn’t sure she still had one.”