l

tely call

is voice slightly breathless like

it. "Did you change your last name because you got kicked ou

that. Yeah, I stopped using Sterling a while back. Ho

nd my finger as I processed his explanati

tion made sense

r complicated politics

the

se, and he owed me a favor. I couldn't let my new wife ride aroun

s, as long as he helped me get my inheritance back and stuck to our dea

a heads up about stuff like tha

he said my new name made something flutter

that'

ver to take me back to my apartm

setting for my secret

e buildings, I felt

was Blackwood territory, and I wa

apartment building, so

la

hand, ready to make a quick escape. A

er Zack had hired to take c

s treated me kindly, probably thinking I

gray hair slightly messy. Her eyes were filled with sympathy and con

mile. "It's

her grip surprisingly strong for such a small woman. Surpr

e," I gently pulled my ar

thought she might catch flies. "What did yo

ing my weight from foot to foot, eage

ease give Zack a message for me. From now on, we have zer

ourning the end of a fairytale she'd believed

at. "No, Lisa. He does

building, taking the stairs two at a tim

moved through the small space like a to

apartment. Clothes, books, toiletries...

st tight, but also made me more d

in the dumpster. If he could throw away what we had so eas

d my suitcase toward the building exit, my

ackwood family ca

art s

at car wa

same one that had dropped me o

ched into fis

with Selina, he still had

oft click that somehow sound

ar figure

gray suit, perfectly tail

la

er, like it still meant som

ntle, just as it had been the countless t

ame from his mouth ma