th in t

nning to fol

as still full of numbers, hidden accounts, and the anger I felt every ti

en I s

ne

s, sunglasses hiding her eyes even though the evening sun had already begun

the way she mo

pic

s tightened

night. She had been showing off everywher

as she h

y a moment before q

lights flickered above us, casting long shadows over the pavement. The

tarted bea

ed halfway do

ed out from

near the corner, holding my breath a

with messy hair and a leath

es wi

ittle

ad been presenting eve

t the man's shoulder, small arms

st tig

as goi

sed her arms

ate," she

. "Relax. The k

i

our

mian's

...

ll slid do

envelope from her pur

t and counted th

tered. "Still

oice droppe

keep bringing him whenever I n

caught in

a

ed the boy on

" he said with a grin. "If that's true, you should be

mach d

nd me felt lik

ing

ighed dra

d coldly. "Men like him are easy when

started

wasn't D

ng had b

egnanc

ch

of

ckled. "And

rolled h

ut of the way, and once she sign and

tightened

Still. Dangerous ga

smiled

ll become mine. And by the time he realizes the truth

so loudly I was afra

to my stomach w

ide me felt suddenly

stroyed my mar

mo

po

e spoke quiet

.. was th

fr

od ran

ned s

x-husband Damian stood

ce was

d on Vanessa and t

oc

bel

a

written clearly

eard eve

ry

ll speaking, co

e told the man. "And don't worry about the payme

ecause pretending to be a

sts clenche

t hear his he

Vanessa

sa

disappeare

widened

ian.

ding the bo

the alley bec

ickly, panic flashing across he

d, pointing at me.

react, she st

lifted

y what she wa

ing to hit

this

grabbed her

sa ga

mi

n her wris

ti

" he sai

ice wa

o

gr

red at him

quickly. "She must have set thi

to

wo

s all i

a went

her wrist, but his ey

s my son," Dami

a swal

..

ed slowly, his voice shakin

the boy shift

s darted arou

n list

d every

ed into the all

s face w

ment nob

softly betwee

sleepily on th

ian look

looke

ime since every

mething in h

hing

gr

a

even

felt n

ad already

denly laugh

quickly. "Damian, you know I

an said quiet

didn't

own the alley, the littl

ooked ter

ian.

ng a lie?" he

opened h

words c

them felt like a sto

sudd

eyes turne

o

te

ger

ur fault,"

I could

ed into h

ed somet

hing

ing me

art d

he dim light

ed it wa

smiled

tonight," she whispere

caught in

adn't seen t