nd of the lock turning ma

ables for a stir-fry. The knife paused

tepped

n the dim, cramped living room of her cheap apartment, he looked like a shark swimming in a puddl

n he saw the knife in her h

etting the knife down on the cutting

m his pocket and tossed it onto the entryw

He walked over to the coffee table and threw it down. The pap

gn

. She looked down at the document. It was

irst few lines. H

aniel Montgomery) shall retain sole and exclu

" she said, her voice trembling wi

his eyes were hard. "It's a condition in my grandmother's will. She wants to see th

na snapped, looking up at him. "You can't j

logne-sandalwood and something sharper-filled her nostrils. "That's exactly what

avina shouted, her chest

nity, and you took it. You got your fifty thousand dollar advance. You'll get the rem

avina said, the words spilling out be

st. "I've heard every excuse in the book. The dying relati

a split second, the arrogant mask slipped. His shoulders

gh. "She wants to see the next generation before

is jaw. He was trapped, just like she was. But the mome

er again. "But don't think for a second tha

ice barely above a whisper. She bit her lower

ash said flatly. "And I'm

the chair, slipping it back

d the door with

hands shook as she picked it up. The paper was h

ger as she gripped it too tight. A drop of dark red blood wel

, his hand on the knob.

act," he said coldly.

. The sound echoed through the a

n her hands. The cut on her finger stung, but the pain in