treet vendor the night before. Her back throbbed-a dull, grinding ache from the old fracture-so running was out of the question. Inst

ssorted bagels and two large coffees. She paid with a debit car

ent, Susan was staring into the empt

able. The smell of fresh yea

ing. "Oh, honey, you didn't

unt," Aria lied smoothly.

bing sleep from his eyes. He saw the

o to the store for some b

on the counter. She pulled out a crumpled

she said. "And

he black card she had thrown away. She fol

Toby's hand. His palm was sticky

Candy a

right red sugar syrup. Toby's eyes tracke

ped. "Two

the apple, his face lighting up like he'd been handed a diam

e glass, staring at a set of Copic markers displayed on a velvet stand. He didn't ask fo

orized t

hoved. Aria navigated the aisles with military precision,

her basket down, three guys in oversized hoodies cut in front

girl, looked down,

n beside her. He grip

opping cart. Tap. Tap-tap. Tap. A rhythm to slo

She didn't raise her

starts b

ly. He had a scar over his eyebrow

d you sa

sudden, terrifying emptiness. It was the look of someone who

, get i

ered. His instincts, primal and warning, screamed at him that h

t on the floor, and jerked his head at his

up at her, h

a superhero,"

anners,

Toby chewed on the

st night," he

ked down

He was holding Vanessa's

ot for Vanessa, but for the boy

Aria handed Susan th

then at the groceries. She didn't ask where the extr

room. She pulle

your trust. You have zero access to the famil

them try. I don't like

a cold, shar