sey

ck to the

ad come and gone. My closet was empty. My jewelry box was cleared. The

e anymore. It smelled like s

one ho

nt door

ennett wasn't suppo

d. He had a bandage on his arm

living room, frowning. "Why doe

keeping my voice steady. "

on the mantle. He didn't notice that

pened the fridge. He started pulling out my food-m

you doing?

id she needs constant monitoring. She has cravings. I

aring out my territory to

e," I

st tomorrow," he added, not lo

r to Italy or somewhere priva

," I

l figure this out. You can help raise them. You can be... like an

. He wasn't just replacing me; he was

I said softly. "I was n

ubmission. "I'm glad you'r

up her things. Be gone before we get ba

e gone,"

g for me to hug him, to beg him to stay. It wa

my hands claspe

confusion crossing his fa

, Ke

r click

. Then I grabbed my

the kitchen where I had learned to cook for him. I looked

No sadness. Just a

ring-a heavy platinum band with a diamond

t on the e

," I whispered

and stepped out. I

d windows was waiting. The driver di

id i

FK,"

raffic, I took a deep breath. For the first time in

rain. It smell

w existed, something stirred. A tiny, golde

pered in my mind.

I looked around

e airport. Toward Pari

s behind. I didn't know who I wa

r bow to an