a ghost draped i

n most people's entire education, and he didn

red millions of dollars in untraceable cryptocurrency. He simply tapped

traight, my hands folded demurely in my lap

let across the polishe

olitary speck of green l

st chart. It was utilized for smuggling operations in the eighties, which works to your advan

t," I w

en glance a

ize the transfer. The money-years of skimming off the top

ing pretty pictures in my room while they discussed 'bus

ell company," Abernathy said, his e

ded strange o

ea

you,"

agging the weight of my past, but my che

-eight hours," Abernathy

the city, the nois

-eight hour

evator opened directly into the living room

as in the

al the dark ink of tattoos wrapping around his forearms. H

cooked. N

swinging her legs like a teenager.

eatic cancer. A m

watching her with rapt attention, as if she we

the moment I cro

knife in his hand paused, ho

e you been

. It was the tone he used se

I said

he hallway, inten

e marble counter. "Don't walk away

owly, I turne

anymore, Derrick. I

went de

into slits. He set the

aid, his voice deceptively calm. "Yo

e was smirking behind t

on?" I asked, my voice steady. "Or was I just

nd. He stopped inches fr

l on his hands, clashing with the metal

he said coldly. "Ha

space in my chest, but I

once. "Un

to go t

oom," Blake

he laundry room. "We moved your things. Haleigh needs th

m. The room m

," I

ed haphazardly against the wall. My paintings were stacked in the co

he narrow,

er, the door

de, clutching a smal

he door soft

a peace offer

s sweet. Sic

want it,"

ser, invading my sanctuary. She pressed the box in

to mine. Her eyes were dead,

what I want,"

her finger, she

tle across my fingers

in my chest.

ssive and terrifying, leap

rely on the ba

cre

ross the room. A sharp, stinging pain pierced

herself onto t

ing, her voice shr

n! She's tryi

or bur

s rushed in, a wall of

standing o

practiced fea

shadows under the bed. They didn't see the b

w what they

r attackin