agne glass down with a sharp clin

i said coolly. "Bu

lled out a black velvet box. "Whatever. Just appraise thi

e box acros

loved fingers brushed t

left h

. It was shaped like a fern,

piece Cailin's mother had worn on her wedding day. It was supposed to be

rgeous, isn't it? A gift from my fiancé. Well, technically,

remble. She clenched th

ot this. Which meant Charla had taken it, looting her home

her eye. She knew exactly what to look for-a tiny chip on the eme

rned i

t was.

as r

ce was ice. "Mid-century. Clunky. Not very

ge. It belonged to Hilliard'

so hard the metal dug

ental instability. She killed her own baby, you know. Terminated it at seven mont

Cali's vision. Killed her baby? Is that wh

brooch back int

praise this,

"Excuse me? Do yo

double meaning hung heavy in the air. "This

turned red. "H

to the su

He looked annoyed,

mething happened to the c

. The anger vanished, replaced by a

. "This woman! She insulted me! S

la. He looked past her, stra

tood f

The way she held her hands.

ain. That sen

d. He stepped closer, ignori

d against her ribs.

lloway," she said. "Not

rned t