Page 214 of His Reckoning

She studies my face for a second longer, then nods toward the hallway. “Walk with me.”

We head past the elevators, out of the main flow of people. She pushes open a side door that leads to a little staff corridor with vending machines and a row of chairs against the wall.

She turns to face me fully. “All right, start talking.”

“I need you to get Kayla somewhere for me.”

Her expression changes instantly. “You talked to her?”

“No.”

“Good start,” she says flatly.

“I’m fixing it.”

Her mouth twitches, like she’s deciding whether or not to believe that. “How?”

“I’m not telling you yet.”

She laughs once. “You drove all the way here to ask for help, and you’re giving memystery billionairebullshit?”

“It has to be a surprise.”

Melissa narrows her eyes. “For who?”

“Kayla.”

“No kidding.”

I resist the urge to pace, barely. “I just need you to make sure she gets to a certain place at a certain time.”

“And if I say no?”

I look at her. “Then I’ll stand outside your house until you reconsider.”

She actually smiles at that. Small but real. “That sounds annoying enough to be true.”

Melissa folds her arms tighter and studies me in silence while I wait. Whatever she sees seems to satisfy her because after a few seconds, her expression eases just enough to stop looking actively hostile.

“She hasn’t been herself.”

I nod once. “I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do,” she says quietly. “She’s trying very hard to act like she’s okay.”

Something cold and ugly twists low in my chest.

Melissa watches my face for a beat before she sighs. “All right.”

I blink once. “All right?”

“I’ll help,” she says, then points a finger at me. “But if this turns into something stupid, I’ll ruin your life. She may have made a mistake, but she’s a good person.”

“That seems dramatic.”

“It’s not.”

I almost smile. “It won’t be stupid.”