Page 9 of Grave Secrets

“How about this?” I say cautiously. “You tell me facts about yourself, and I will tell you something about myself.”

“Okay,” he says. “How about a show of good faith? Might I remind you that I cried for you on day one?”

“Mhmm,” I say with a smile. “My boyfriend also stole my parents’ wedding bands. They were the last things I had left of them, and now he is holding them over my head.”

“Why?” he asks. “What does he gain?”

“He knows I won’t walk away until I have them back,” I say. “He’s manipulative.”

“Clearly,” he says. “What if he pawned them?”

“I… didn’t think of that,” I say. “I guess I could look around at shops and see if I can find them.”

“How would you know if it’s theirs?”

“It has their anniversary engraved on the inside of the band,” I explain. “Since I was late, I won’t make you stay the full hour.”

“Okay,” he says. “So five?”

“Yes. If you want to join group, it’s on Tuesday and Thursday at four,” I tell him.

“What number do I call if I need to call you?” he asks.

“The phone number they listed on the paperwork is my personal number. You can call or text anytime you need,” I say. “And I mean that. No one is immune to needing someone to talk to when they’re in a low spot. I have no problem driving out to meet or talk to you.”

“Don’t tempt me. I’ll trick you into having dinner with me,” he laughs.

“If you feel the need to trick me into dinner, it’s either because you actually want me around or because you don’t want to feel alone. Either way, I pay for myself. I mean it when I say I am available to help.”

“Do you offer that to all of your clients, Ada?”

“The ones I’m not afraid will stuff me into a trunk, yeah,” I laugh. “If someone makes me uncomfortable, I will only see them here and during business hours so that I am not the only one in here.”

“But you feel safe with me?” he asks.

“Is this a genuine question?” I ask.

“Yes,” he laughs.

“I do feel safe with you. Andre and Archer are weirdly protective of me and have gotten more intense in the last six months. I don’t think they would let you be alone with me if you weren’t safe.”

“Well, I’ll be good,” he says. “For now.”

“For now,” I parrot with a laugh.

Chapter Four

Viktor

I’m sitting in my car staring at the therapy building, considering what to do next. Ada is still here, but now she is alone. I’m not sure how I feel about that.

I am trying not to get too hooked on her, but I am realizing that I am already obsessing over her, which will only lead to chaos. I should just go home, but I move my car to the parking lot and wait for her to leave. In the meantime, I call Carlo.

“Hey, man,” Carlo answers.

“She made me cry,” I say. “She had me opening up and telling her things I have never told anyone before.”

“I assume you want information about something?” he asks.