line

Janae was quietly picking up the admission forms she'd dropped, her brow furrowed in a deep, ang

to a folder. "I knew there was something off about h

events of the evening with a cold, detached clarity. The pieces were clicking into p

aspy. "When you came to Hailee's

. I mean, I don't think so. I was so focused on you, I didn'

reds of people a night. How could Hailee have found me so quickly? She claimed she called every hospit

eyes widened. "She was lying. There's no way

ished for her. "Someone who knew I was being brought

ed him the second we were out the door and told him where you were going. That's h

ou arrived, at her apartment. I heard her on the phone with him. She was t

Cara, I'm so sorry. I'm the one who took y

r fault. You saved my life. And honestly... it's better t

ck sounded at the doo

ridiculously expensive organic market in her hands. Sh

ghtly, walking over to the bed. "It's supposed to

er hand to miss. I watched her, my fa

d the bag on the table with a little too much force. "God, the traff

s crossed over her chest, her star

hat same earnest, 'I'm-on-your-side' tone she'd used before. "I know you're angry. But what Colten's mother said is true. Their lawyers will destroy you. The

silence hang in the air for a long moment. T

ng garage when you left?" I asked, the

able. Her eyes widened, her pupils dilat

rittle, unconvincing laugh. "I told you, I went straig

confirmation of everything I suspecte

gave her a small, tired smile. "Oh. I must have

mical. She thought she'd gotten away with it. She

dly. "I'll let you get some sleep." She practically bolte

r click

e demanded, walking back to the bed

cause, my friend, if you want to catch a rat, you don't scar

from me. Right now, she thinks I'm a broken, heartbroken mess who's about to rol

her?" Janae asked, a l

m going to give her the performance of a lifetime. And when the time

e chaos of grief and betrayal had settled, hardening into a single,