g with, dear?-looping in her head like a chant meant to curse her. Even now, brushing her teeth, staring at her reflection, she didn't r
ecoming a shadow in her bloodstream. But she knew Evelyn had seen it, and worse, recognized it. Like s
the kitchen, muffled by cereal a
in her hair, mascara smudged in pla
oaned. "Jesus. You didn't sleep.
sle
dad or the son hau
gers around the too-hot mug Z
d frost like she was headed to court, not your crusty
ike maybe it would offer
ws what,
thing's...
e word out of the air. "Babe. That man's hand has been on your spine. His
mouth. Closed it.
ible. That man is older. Powerful. Dangerous. And let's not forget-y
ed. "She said somet
inked.
e're repeat
worked for them, right
Just on weekends. I was only there once. Ev
ask what
epping. I thought she broke something. Or maybe took so
raile
l abandoned. "You th
He said her name. Like he'd bee
fu
ea
n between them,
to get out
can
hy
e when he looks at me, I don't feel small. I feel... seen. Like he al
remember that when everythin
-
hame. Tessa moved like glass-cracked but functional, sharp at the edges, moments
ri
the department head like he wasn't poison in a tailored jacket. He d
rned. Thei
ept w
e fol
thing at first-just leaned against the wall lik
pposed to be h
a mee
the
head. "With
mile. "That'
dn't bl
houl
n do
di
oser. "Tell m
N
re sh
m n
ice dropped. "Is
eyes flashing. "Why ar
, soft but firm. "You're the one
e whispered, the words slipping o
tself. "Maybe I'm just trying to see
and sure, like he already
-
idn't wa
. There was no subtlety anymore, no silk over the blade. Just hee
our mother's
ine straight. "Y
I knew how she cried when we let her go. I
breath
mething she was never mea
not
g. "But you're making the same
at a t
your place here... walk away. Now. Before what little future you'
way thick with pe
-
s off dusty plastic bins like they might hold answers. At the bottom, bene
e, a
ars ago. Half-ri
have let it go that fa
ed into water
it, the words ri
a c
it away, ha
didn't come until
r barefoot, expecting Zara o
got was a
e bl
n
si
otog
r, younge
ide her
His hand resting at her hi
rned i
in cle
n't repeat. I
reath lef
e stopped pretending t
was l
was