t Coney Island-two sunburned faces. Now, Alice sat hunched at her laptop, the blue glow etchi

stray case file. "The Department of Justice d

gers continued their relentle

because Jude paid

ew spreadsheets can take down a billionaire." Mia yanked the l

"He's hiding something bigger. Offshore a

rs subpoenaed your medical records. You know what happens wh

cret they'd kept buried for months. "T

rying to convince herself as much as her listener, ey

he risked her license, her career-everything

he air, her whole body vibrating

the desk to steady herself, knuckles turning white, a momentary dizziness wa

p with fevered determination, that familiar spark that had o

ails digging in. "Stop. Plea

ning to spill over. The words felt inadequate

of depositions. Papers fluttered to the floor like ashes. "You thin

to consume her from within, burning th

ces you? You're just an insect. Meanwhile, you're cough

t, still bearing faint red-colored stains around it

e at being discovered. She'd hidden the napkins, scrubbed the mug-flushed the evidence down the toilet at 3 AM

eptic shock when I see it?" Mia's eyes glistened. "You

Alice turned away, throat burning. She coul

ed from her tone, leaving only exhaustion and pleading. "Fo

a mid-laugh, strawberry syrup dripping d

hy

Alice's voice broke.

brow furrowed

her whole life looking away. Letting men like my dad-like Jude-

ling into fists at her sides, jaw set in the stubbo

d to admit you're losing." She regretted the words as soon as they left her

." The words were low, dangerou

mly on the hardwood floor, cro

urled a coffee m

ve. She stood

s scared, Alice. I'm terrifie

lice's lip. She swiped her hand

rd. "Sit down. Now." All a

hirt. "It's just a nosebleed."The words came o

wad of napkins to her face

Jude's got spie

ur stupid rug, and you're still talking about him?" Her voice broke

, her reflection warped in the cracke

e muttered, pu

tering blood across a sub

"Alice... l

s were barely audible now, her

hit the floor.

ice col