The Silent Trophy Wife's Lethal Comeback

nder of black resin and gold. It hovered over the signature lin

the bridge of his nose. He didn't look at her. He was looking at his watch. "Two years. The confid

y for breach of contract had jumped fro

ions went to die. She pressed the nib to the paper. The ink flowed smooth and dark, turning Denn

his eyes-pity? Contempt? It didn't matter. To him, she was the trophy wife who s

room burst open. The temperature in

ilson wa

ead of the massive redwood table, a shark cutting through water, followed b

w baritone that vibrated in the quiet room. He sat d

he carpet. She smoothed the front of her cream-color

epping forward. "The

grunted. He

s side, she paused. The scent of him-sandalwood and cold rain-hit her. It was a

d ignore. Her voice was a liability, locked away by contract

ime." He waved a hand, a dismiss

er eyes. She performed the disappointment

head down until the elevator doors sli

snapped straight. The sad, submissive

nd keyed in a sequence into the calcu

own: 2

e triggered. One more day until she could take her settlement

ight? The usual spot? Celebrat

le smiley face. Her fing

s. Higgins was there, her hands clasped in front of her apron. She wat

repared, Mad

," Dennie said,

went into the walk-in closet, pushed aside the rows of desig

grade encryption on a server in Iceland. This drive was merely the key, the biometrically-locked handshake required for her weekly check-in.

ing on her knees. She plugged it in. Th

he screen. Green text

nch of gravel on

ed. He never came

ped the panel shut. She threw the laptop onto the vanity and st

nity, wiping off her lips

disheveled. His tie was loosen

cles to liquefy. She stood up, reachi

ept the room. They were predatory, sharp. He was

hat smell?

hought. Overhe

he said. "It smells

grabbed her chin, his fingers digging into her jaw. He til

you today?

ed, keeping her eyes wide and innoc

conds. It felt like five yea

e said. "G