d air of the small living room,

Aimee stared at Cameron as if he had just sprouted a second head. H

nd took a slow, deliberate bite. The thick, dark barbecue sa

ock, but the deep wrinkles around his eyes crinkled with undeniable pleasure. H

to Cameron's hand, her eyes wide with panic. Under the cover of the low coffee table, sh

e hooked his calf around Aimee's ankle and pressed her leg firmly against the sofa frame, trapping her foot completely. The heat of h

a six-pack of cheap, generic-brand beer. He popped the cap off a bo

into her throat. "Dad

he sweating glass bottle. He clinked it against Burt's bo

roat. He suppressed a grimace, forcing his facial muscles to remai

antly thawed. Burt wiped his hands on a towel, his expression suddenly t

dropping an octave. "About

nds began to sweat profusely. She stared at her father, terrified

eron's eyes. "But I need you to understand something. I am not selling m

d from his posture. "That money is a loan to the Berry Custom Workshop. I w

hadn't been able to crush. He dropped the fake, accommodating son-in-law persona. His

urances. He picked up his b

al reports by next month, Mr. Berry," Cameron sai

ter. He slammed his bottle against Cameron

relief washed over her, followed quickly by a profound sense of

oom window. Less than a second later, a deafening crack of thunder

thunderstorm slammed into Brooklyn without war

alert. The screen flashed red: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - SEVE

to call his driver, but the screen showed "No Servi

street, which was already turning into a rushing river of m

urt announced, his tone leaving

y. "Dad, no! Cameron has... he has insomnia. He can only

be ridiculous, Aimee. You want your husband to drown on the ex

leep in Aimee's room tonight. It'

were wide, silently screaming at him to refuse. She needed

nst the window. He looked at Aimee's terrified, pleading fac

horror, Cameron gave

ron said smoothly. "So

he shoulder before heading to the h

ality of the situation crashed down on her. She was going to have to spend the entire nig