nd bag. She deliberately chose a few pieces she knew were Harris's favorites, including a s

from behind. "Looking forward to our weeken

cing a small, hes

The caller ID read Kevin

His brow furrowed. "I understand," he said, his voice all

cticed regret. "Baby, I'm so sorry. There's an emergency

then crumbled into a mask of deep disap

trip?" she asked, her

gesture. "I'll make it up to you when I get

bag from his side of the closet and was gone. A moment later, sh

er face melted away, replaced by a look of cold, hard certainty. "Lo

utes later, her phon

d commanding. "You're all alone in that big house. Come to th

o a bitter smile. A coor

hortly, Margo,"

ss. Simple, elegant, armor. She drove herself to the Byrd family's s

approached, she could hear laughter through the partially open

and intimate. Harris's. "I ha

t in the hallway. She peered

ho was preening in the white sundress. His hand rested possessiv

early referring to Kasie. He gave her one last kiss, then str

ath, smoothed her expression into a neutral mask, and w

n the glass do

ipping tea. Across from her, laughing at so

e face. But the true humil

. The one Kasie had just packed. The o

r house to Janiyah, handing over the d

g surprise. "Oh, Kasie.

bric of the dress over her hips. "Kasie," she cooed, her voice dripping with

of war. A public br

iyah will be moving in soon," she announce

o's imperious one. They expected her to screa

not give

d herself a cup of tea, her hand perfectly steady. She raised the cu

sm

unsettling smile that made the