te

reaching

silk sheets, f

mi

in her sleep and rolled over, taking

ing, trying to clear

expected the sharp, comforting

a's

ying perfume of roses, a sweet, che

with my hands, a knot of

e low hum of the coffee grinder. The hiss of the g

house wa

absolut

lder, maybe harder than nece

face deeper into the pill

maid on Sundays

bled, her voice muffled, d

ned, the musc

ants, and stepped into the hallway where the si

ng felt

he hall toward

Serra to make the eg

I'd ask her how

ay flashed through my

as hurting more than she let on. I sho

door open wit

a, ge

died in

was imm

he mattress a stark white

, my heart givin

et door

pt

e dresser. The

l, no tactical vest

e room, my footsteps lo

as cold.

had lived he

ed the

pt

open th

pt

wrapped around my chest, st

n the stairs, taking

udy and went straig

ock wa

ves wer

ce of her

!" I y

h the cavernous hall,

wn voice

oom, my fingers fumbling clu

ack through

n, she wouldn't lea