en felt like care. Now, I knew it was the touch of a jailer, a manipulator, leading me to the slaughter. How could she covet this s

laughter, Liam' s deeper tones. The sound twisted something inside m

yelled, m

silk robes, Chloe' s ha

Alex?" Chloe aske

aid. "For Mr. Hen

s? Why would you need money? Plann

," I said, trying to

e said coolly. "Everything you had is part of

. She was a stranger, a monster. "He needs

ot you a few credits." He reached into his pocket, then "tripped,"

ck, my arm hitting a coffee pot on the counter. Scalding liquid splas

pointing at Liam, who was clutching his a

echless.

Apologize to Liam. Publicly. Here. Now.

eyes, his gentle smile. I needed that mone

t good enough. On your knees, Alex. Per

I sank to my knees. I pressed my forehead to the cool, simulated floor. The h

the floor in front of me. "Crawl for

s already shattered. I crawled. My

hloe spat, look