ie

following Marcus's crude display

den. The night air was crisp and cool, a merciful r

to remind myself that his crue

a tall hedge of hydrangeas and sank

ad looked at me. Like he wanted to dest

drifted from the ot

fr

r in there," a male voice said. It

a game, David. Ellie is manipulative. She's playing the vi

was always a

ice cut in, sh

she said. "The bet was for nine

od ran

t?" Dav

I could make you leave her nine times before

ng heavy i

Izzy. The gallery investment is yours. Conside

ped br

eglect. It wasn'

s a w

The funeral. The r

st points on

ice in my chest didn't melt; it hardened

don't cry over a transaction

I had been grieving a marriage that never

, taking the service eleva

ite. It felt em

on the desk. My d

r click

urn

ding there. He

s hand. My blueprints. The ones I ha

said, tossing them on

ng me a peace offering, or perhaps just

e for a studio in Ma

ut, as if to

t," I

ie. I defended you to David. I t

g. I had ju

eprints. That was m

ain in my ankle. I grabbed the blueprints f

m to my chest

ut," I

Or what? You'

him dead

Marcus. Not with a gam