an Who

thirty-first

s cane tapping softly against the marble. He stopped in front

e dramatic entrance. I've w

an stood frozen in the doorway behind him, and the loo

erson," she said evenl

ren's home. Reyes. Plain. Safe." He lowered his hand without any sign of offense. "Please, join me

ched. Phones were ou

id, his voice tight.

, and Amara saw Adrian's jaw lock. "Family com

e a slap. Amara had no id

answers. And t

e said. "Fi

A single window looked out over the entire city. On the d

w I'd s

, my

hy did you call me Hartw

o his chair. "And because you deserve to hear it

tairwell. How did he kn

been watc

folded his hands. "From a

Wh

moment. When he spoke, his voice had

bit with one ear missing. You hummed the same three notes over and over, and you wouldn't eat anything but lem

s breat

out the three notes in twenty years, and yet, a

know that?" s

ned. "I've carried a great deal of guilt for a

wanted to believe him. She want

him. He's not

t felt like it was bur

is looking for a senior analyst. Double your salary. A furnished apartment overlooking t

ing

g under a man who humiliates her daily. A girl who suddenly finds herself u

said

sad. "Adrian is my son, and I love him. But he has kept t

between them.

"is that you take some time to cons

y. Fou

life. And everything she wanted to know,

noticed

t, in small print near the bottom

elinquish any claim, name, or inherit

omach d

a new life. He's offer

or burs

t's e

He crossed the room in three strides, grabbed the fo

turned to her, voice sharp enough to cut. "Back to your desk. N

tung so badly h

thing she wasn't supposed to see. Adrian'

miling, murmured so softly

ce, son. But she's not

pressed her forehead to the cold me

ories. And one o

and her fingers closed around something els

folded pie

een slipped in during the commotion in t

hands. The handwriting was sharp

roof at midnight. Come alone. And whatever you

mother r

nd standing just outside, tipping his gray cap with a

d pleasantly. "Mr. Cole'