The Heart System

Chapter 663: Chapter 663

I didn’t waste a second. Time Stop always felt like a temporary miracle, and I knew I only had a limited window before it ran out. I slipped through the doorway and into the office area without making a sound.

Well, well, well.

So this was what Dakota was doing when Brok wasn’t around.

Hookers and drugs. The American dream.

Dakota was stretched out across the desk while some Asian woman was frozen mid-movement on top of him. Two other guys were collapsed on the floor, while an older man had passed out behind the desk with a cigarette still burning beside him.

"Wow," I muttered to myself. "Look at this."

I stepped around a spoon on the floor and moved deeper into the room.

My phone was already in my hand. I took a photo of Dakota first, then another one of the whole office. I never thought I’d be blackmailing people with evidence of their own stupid behavior, but here I was. I didn’t want to do any of this, but I had been forced into it, and that made it easier to justify in my head.

At least a little.

Once I’d gotten enough photos, I exhaled and started heading back toward the entrance. There was still time left on the ability, but the air inside the room was thick and stale enough that I could practically feel it messing with my head. Maybe it was the drugs in the room, or maybe it was just paranoia setting in. Either way, I didn’t want to stay there any longer than I had to.

"That’s enough," I muttered.

I stopped behind the man who had opened the door for me, then bent down and lifted him by the waist. He was heavier than I expected, but thanks to the Strength points I’d put into my stats, I could manage him without much trouble.

I carried him back to the office area, set him down, and wiped sweat off my brow.

Then I stepped back out through the front door, closed it behind me, and let Time Stop end.

Time snapped back into motion.

Cora blinked in surprise and looked around, clearly expecting to see something.

"There was someone just there," she said, frowning.

"What?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. "No, there wasn’t. Come on, let’s go. I’ll figure out another way."

"But... I swear—" She hesitated, still confused, then shook her head slightly. "Yeah. Okay."

"I’ll drop you home," I said. "Come on."

"Mm... yes."

I gave her a small nod and motioned for her to follow me back to the car. The first part was done. Now I had the photos, and that meant I finally had something I could use.

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

Cora unlocked the door and stepped inside. As soon as she did, Esme got up from the couch and came over to greet us with a slight smile. She looked as vulnerable as ever, wearing a tank top with one strap slipping off her shoulder and a pair of hotpants that left very little to the imagination. There was no underwear underneath, and the fit made it impossible not to notice. I really hoped she only dressed like that at home, because the idea of anyone else seeing her like this was making me feel something between nervous and jealous, and I was not sure which one bothered me more.

"Thanks for dropping me off," Cora said with an awkward smile. "Um... w-would you like to come inside?"

"Evan!" Esme smiled brightly. "Hey!"

"Hey," I answered, nodding at Esme before turning back to Cora. "I shouldn’t. I’ve got to get back home."

"Come in!" Esme insisted. "Please?"

I stood there for a moment in the doorway and considered it. Honestly, why not? I was not in a rush, and since Brok was not at the pawnshop today, I was planning to go there tomorrow anyway. I had some free time, and maybe this would be a decent way to spend it.

"Alright," I said. "But I didn’t bring pizza. You’re not going to attack me, right?"

Esme gave me a lazy little smirk. "No promises."

I stepped inside while Cora closed the door behind me. Then I walked into the living room and dropped onto the double couch. Esme immediately sat beside me and leaned her head against my shoulder. A little surprised, I rested a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her.

Cora was still by the door, hanging her coat on the rack. She was staring at Esme without any expression at all, which for some reason made the whole room feel a little colder. But then again, Cora was not exactly normal herself, so maybe that was just how she always was.

"Aren’t you a little too close, Es?" Cora asked calmly as she walked toward the bathroom and switched the light on. "You should give Evan some space. He looks tired."

"It’s fine," I said with a small smile. "I’m not tired."

Cora did not answer. She simply washed her hands at the sink, switched the light off, and came back into the living room. She sat down on the couch beside me, keeping a little distance this time.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Cora asked. Then she looked at Esme. "Esme, go pour some orange juice for Evan."

"Aww, why me?" Esmeslumped her shoulders. "You do it, sis."

"Esme," Cora said in that same calm voice. "Do it."

Her sister looked at her for a second, then got up with a sigh. "Fine..."

"I wouldn’t want to bother you," I started to say.

"No," Cora cut in. "You wouldn’t."

I blinked at her.

Okay. That was a little awkward. Cora was always a little strange and a little hard to read, but this felt different, even for her. Maybe she was tired from all the time I’d had her following Dakota around the city. If that was the case, then I probably needed to stop asking her to do so much.

A few seconds later, Esme came back with a glass of orange juice and handed it to me. Just as she was about to sit down again, Cora looked at her once more.

"What about us?" Cora asked.

Esme let out a long breath. "Right, sis..."