chemical tang of fresh

in a hosp

ng table in the estate's li

ng the sutures. My arm throbbed where the needle had been, the pu

," a voi

ighting the gravity that

the heavy oak desk, a si

ns in his hand, tapping them r

for three hours

led with a snap, revealing the complex layou

said, his tone bored. "The city inspector is coming tomorrow. If

he lines on the paper were sw

ed, my voice cracking. "My ha

sig

g patience, as if I were t

the desk and pu

s a c

e was

e was a puppy. The only living thing in this house

a gun from

t point

d it at t

morning," he said casually.

stopped i

, but my knees buckled, useless

ff-a dry, mechanical sound that echoed in the silence. "Ever

bed a

operative and alien. I gripped th

ed anot

ted to

ing my vision. I drew through

he vault behind the ventilation shafts, my

rified to look up, terrifie

dropping the pen

forward and ch

nod

ust needed

tered t

e. Bring the plans. Jaylah wants t

d him lik

agged, hea

sting, glowing orange against the winter grey, f

ring mother were sitt

was laid out, gleam

f hot coals nearby, k

he plans o

," I

smiled, but her eyes we

etending to reac

d, her foot

ed my sh

d, my balance alr

e table with

wobbled and

rey splashed onto t

man sc

bitch!" Jayl

yd, her face twis

r! She tried to

face w

riarch, who was wail

, panic rising in my th

!" Floy

d me by t

e back against the stone railing. Th

er?" he yelled, spittle flying from his lips. "You ar

choked out, clawing at

dn't

the insult t

oice dropping to a terrifying wh

me toward t

t radiating from them scorched my face,

ands that create art if you use

me toward

d. "Admit it, or I bring your mother here

od ran

me paid for by the Meyers trust. H

d at th

ew. The hands that built. The hands tha

ut of this,"

mit

my voice raw. "I did i

eleased

om behind him, her voice silky with

looked

t," h

ed to th

call the boys to pi

t him one

love him. But to remember the face of the

a deep

d my hands i