lot of the hotel and into the rain-soaked streets of Manhattan. Every red l

ove far, the mobile ph

th a name she never

Beau

on. A part of her screamed to press it, to

d for the basic facility fees, but the mounting "incidental" medical costs and h

he was sti

dering breath, sh

cutting through the line. "I need you to come to the apartment on 72nd S

at. "You cannot be serious. Let me help you take care of your mistress and her illeg

s voice was laced with steel. "The payment for your mother's facility is d

s shame washed over Beryl. He had her, and he knew it. Her

lastic creaked. She squeezed her eyes shut,

t out, the words tastin

ss the bridge again, and return to th

-rise overlooking the East River, a world awa

r had handed her after the wedding, the one

On the plush white sofa sat a little girl with dark pigtails, clutching a plush unicorn to her chest. Chloe. She watche

something hard and calculating flickered in those young eyes-a flash of territorial

" Katlin sniffled, casting a venomous glance at B

, his expression a mixture of concern and guilt. "Go to your a

oice softening. "Be good for Miss Bery

eally, really good." She hugged her unicorn

pausing only to give Beryl a cold,

rated from her face as if it had never existed. The sweet, angelic Chloe vanished, replaced by a glowerin

all face twisted in a scowl. "Mommy says

a nub. She picked it up and placed it back on the white

e scribbled on the walls with a purple crayon. She upended a pot of orchids, sending dirt and petals scatt

r, and this child was her warden. Every spill, every tantrum, was a turn of the

used the grilled cheese Beryl made

led. "Mommy gives me snac

nic, healthy options. But on the very top shelf, almost out of reach, w

eryl asked, her nurse's instinct

those!" Chloe pointed

ly Katlin wouldn't keep deadly a

nd handed it to the sulking child on the co

and began eating greedily, cho

er sticky hands. She had just turned on the faucet when

harsh, wh

er heart instantly

wing at her throat. Her face was turning a terrifying shade of red, her breaths comi

lactic

to a roaring in Ber

o her arms. Chloe's body was rigid with panic. She couldn'

ely operate her phone. She fumbled, dropped it

r, forcing herself to recite the address. "A

Pen?" the operat

a small pink backpack. She laid the struggling child on the floor, as sh

ns, and glitter. No medicine. N

allergy not pack an EpiPen? Why would she

out by the rising shriek of

They took one look at Chloe and moved with swift, practiced efficiency. One o

gurney, fitting a tiny oxyg

ther?" one of t

" she whispered, the words feel

into the back of the waiting ambulance. The doors slammed shut, se

evocably stained. She had just tried to buy five minutes of peac