stood on

night, even for Manh

around his face, but

oked

ghts. So m

them m

anym

r y

married to

er. God, h

tupid, pai

EO of Sterlin

she was faili

ping would mak

did

. His family' s n

t

him only cold

ething she scra

his hear

did, think

surfaced,

at that tech confere

e the

e had bee

y was just ash

ed his

had t

ness. The knowing h

d onto th

a long

below, a distant

sed hi

a b

teppe

ll was

a scream caught

, no

d, then

rfect pavement of his lu

of Lia

er. Ava' s

pent two d

favorite dish

earned

a stupid lit

ctive. Lines of code blooming i

e. Candles. Her

wai

lock

Ten. E

od gre

looped on his

their huge, si

ock was a small ham

ss trip. Supposed t

nig

her key i

ve a stupid

walk

ed tired

anced at the

ll this?"

ice wa

ying to keep the tremor out of his

red to t

ooked at the anima

ip cu

ic," sh

hit him l

va

encompassing him, the dinner, their marria

s were

endured it for fam

thing inside

?" he w

r me?" he asked, the words tor

to know. E

. A short,

re for a stra

d him up

this was

h one a perfec

est tighten, h

ray

ded, s

then. Raw

de

ike it was yesterd

unger sis

said. A rare

d gene therapy. A

research division could g

Cutting-edg

g Innovations, her family

ptcy l

ed with Ava since t

n. Her fear for Lily.

red a s

ife

ly make sure Lily

artnership. Hayes Corp

her company. S

cond

to mar

naive. So stup

ude would grow in

d see hi

er eyes hard,

im for it, he

her weak. For having

rappi

night, after her word

ch. A

ven know wha

? A ret

away like he

uch me," s

in her voice

pped h

voice hoarse. "Say you love me.

thetic. H

flicker of something

replaced by that

ow," she said, her voice soft, dangerou

ared

ty was br

It was a deep, se

ject to her.

lly und

her for so

hat fir

whole fantas

sacrifices, would

deceivi

it wa

d kil

arrived a few days

ous encry

deleted

ing made h

ot

ughing.

Charismati

t

. Her colleg

he' d died years ago. A

But Liam knew. He' d r

wasn' t ju

as t

st

treatment. The m

t for Lil

inor condition.

he email claimed

s younge

pula

ortly after

grief, had moved heaven

ction to Marcus

used

urces. His family'

ave Lily. Or even Sterlin

e her dead lo

d it all out.

had played him

as just a c

ike a foo

rifice. His n

e. Built

a tool. A me

who mourned

the last, fragile fou

that finally push

t made the fa