xia

ld air. It smelled faintly of

ised. I peeled mountains of potatoes. With my left

w who my husband was. In this part of I

had lost. I had no pain medication. Jacob controlled the accounts, an

el when you skip lunch. It was the kind of

skip meals so I could have piano les

Money saves you. Art just make

ing the nig

A convoy of black SUVs cutting through the darkness lik

from the downpour while I stood exposed. He strode toward the mai

didn't want him inside. I didn

observed, his voic

box wrapped in

he said. "P

awl. Cashmere. Embroider

the bitterness rotted us, he had brought me a ros

d, my voice stiff.

ome home?" he asked

does he miss having so

have news. I pulled some strings. There is a position at the Vienn

h hitche

r, invading my space. "You told me once

ewriting

said, the old wound tearing open. "I wanted to play

antic mask slipped for

. "Well. The position is yours. If y

e was always

, his ph

He pulled it out. His face changed instant

into the phone. "Slow

knuckles turned whi

he said. "I'

ked at me, but he

e said. "The rival fa

say goodbye. He didn't mention Vienna. He left the cashm

A burner phone I had bought

?" I a

he show?" a dist

is

said, cold and metallic. "Cassandra is

ha

behind

masks were standing

he chooses when the timer starts. You are in a warehouse. There

t as rough ha

answer to

o he woul