ONE WEEK LATER
Lucy sat curled up on Julia’s bed, playing with the hem of her blouse while Julia packed up some files. The late afternoon light streamed through the tall curtains, and the air smelled faintly of lavender from Julia’s perfume.
“You’ll be fine here,” Julia said lightly as she closed her folder. “I’ll be out with the guards for a while.”
Lucy’s head snapped up. “Where are you going?”
“Barry has another meeting. I have to handle a few things before then, and also attend the meeting with him.” Julia smoothed her skirt, moving to the door.
Lucy bit her lip. The thought of being alone with Jessica made her stomach twist. The other woman always had something sharp to say, and Lucy didn’t have the strength to deal with her moods today. “Wait,” she blurted. “Can I… can I come wi
