TouchNode | Complete

10 | Like Glass

Your obsession and your demands, love, they create bonds I don't want to hold me.

Tucked in two different safe spots, I hid the contracts from Ballarina and Carter just in case they changed their minds about "gifting" me the nights. Carter hadn't uttered more than three words to me, simply re-reading the contract aloud, sending me an annoyed look and brushing his outlandish signature at the bottom of the contract. Ballarina followed suit and so do I, before disappearing out of Ballarina's office and heading back to my suite.

It had been four days officially since Arabella's death, but blue and red flowers still doted the hallways in remembrance. I scowled at them, touching the petals with disgust as I hurried to avoid the others. A few of the TouchNodes had come to my suite the last few days, asking to see if I was alright. Quickly I figured out that almost no information was offered as to why Arabella was dead.

And being the only TouchNode in the room at the time of her demise, they all figured that I would eat the attention up and offer answers. Stubbornly, I refused to say anything beyond the fact that she was dead. What other answers could I offer with the same situation hanging over my head like a guillotine?

"See you tonight, Dev." Ballarina's voice cut through my nearly closed door, "there's a party and you are invited."

I froze, cracking the door open wider to let her back inside. She sauntered to my couch and sat down, sliding one leg across the other as she relaxed. A secretive smile was on her lips for a split second before she motioned for me to join her.

"Who's the party for?" I asked, bored.

"A certain gentleman by the name of Andres Esparza." I stiffened. Andres Esparza. That name stood out like a sore thumb in our world. The man was the leader of a notorious Mexican cartel.

He was wildly attractive. With his light green eyes, black hair and golden skin - he put me in the mind of Euphrates. But Andres was not like Euphrates. They weren't even in the same hemisphere.

Andres did anything and everything he could think of to get his hands on me. He, too, offered to pay back my debt and when I refused, went as far as to offer the money to Carter and Ballarina against my consent. The man kidnapped me from MPD headquarters and almost had me sentenced to the Pleasure House. His threatening letters took almost a year to stop coming and then, mercifully, I seemed to drop off his radar.

"I can't go."

Ballarina sighed, and leaned backwards against the couch. "We just gifted you three nights, Dev. The least you can do is go to this party with no arguments."

"Is that why you gifted them, Ballarina?" I spit, spinning to face her. "Was that all just a show because you knew you'd be sending me back into the lion's den?"

Another heavy sigh raised her delicate shoulders, "maybe."

"The least you could do is be honest with me," I grumbled, "all this sneaking and lying - for what?"

"We weren't sneaking and lying," she attempted to clarify, "Carter told me about the party the night of the shooting. He kept asking if I had told you yet and I suggested we gift you the nights since it's his fault anyway."

"How is this party Carter's fault?"

"Andres was required to do what all patrons do whenever they make a mistake. Appease us." She straightened the hem of her dress, "he completed the task that Carter demanded and then, quickly requested your attendance at his upcoming soiree."

"Keep him away from me!"

She looked away, staring determinedly out into the yard. "I can't do that. Andres has returned to full-patron status which means that he can touch you as you are a TouchNode, Devani. We are dispatching additional security, especially where you are hosting, to make sure everything goes as planned."