ports car faded into t

ling windows. She yanked the heavy blackout c

her handbag and pulled out a thick, un

entering a dynamic, rotating passcod

ing against the Long Island shore filled her ear,

am

rang out, flawlessly reciting the

built around her heart cracked. A sharp ache sei

ered, forcing her voice to stay

ingly perceptive. "You sound sad, Maman." A loud k

oo, baby," El

ayden, go look at Jupiter through th

tantly. "What happen

ersion. The hospital. The blood. T

el hissed. "Thank god we hid Kayden

said, her voice turning to st

," Jewe

rom her eyes. The vulnerability vanishe

hed open the doors to the two-hu

chandelier illuminated rows of haute c

d silk gown-August's favorite

ses, skirts, and blouses off their velvet hange

nst the hardwood. The closet looke

k corner. She pulled out a s

s of faded sweatpants, a few plain cott

a military-grade encrypted solid-state module. She carefully slid the biometric-locked hardware into the hidden, padded lining o

ull. Seven years of marriage, and

er reflection. Her long, perfectly styled hair hung do

and pulled out a pair

a fistful of hair at the nape of he

r fell onto the pristin

new, jagged bob.

agement ring off her finger. She t

oor with a sharp clink a

her suitcase and walked