night shift security guard stared at her. His mouth hung open. He was

smile. The guard scrambled to his feet

house floor. Emma walked quietly down th

t spilled from underneath it. She figured Alek

the shelves hold actual food made her chest feel a little lig

o-ceiling windows. Emma woke up early. She tied a mismatched

m the fridge. She poured a small

sizzled loudly. The rich, salty smell of fr

ached Alek's nose. His eyebrows pul

an intruder had broken in. He reached under

oor. He moved silently toward the bedroo

aring her loungewear and the silk scarf. She

stun gun slowly dropped to his si

fect sunny-side-up eggs and crispy bacon ont

s standing in the shadows of the hall

his back. He stepped out of the shado

ou doing?"

o slow down. She carried th

can breakfast,"

nd sat down. He stared at

fore. When did you learn to cook

hit a blind spot in the original owner's i

rp gaze. She poured

n't need to. But I watched a l

buy the terrible excuse. But he picked up his

runch was perfect. The heat was managed flawlessly. Th

nd stared hard at Emma. The susp

o sweat under his intense s

she blurted out. She turned and pr

he had eaten in months. He stood up, his mind racing with unsettling theories, and walked down the hall to step into his study. Locking the heavy maho

ma suffered any recent trauma

it s

leaned back against the heavy wooden door and exhaled a

l of Hermes and Chanel bags star

. She didn't see leather; she saw stacks of hu