k, but Cayla barely felt

ash over her, until she heard the sliding doo

his voice filled with concern. He draped

matter,"sh

, so no one else could hear. "Tomorrow

sten's death. A fitting day to

pulling the jacket tighter aro

raight to her small office at the back of the venue to retrieve her per

the doorway. His suit was impeccable, his hair perfect

you doing?

she said, not

e night, or lea

r g

ted anger, or at least surprise. Inst

her place while the new house is being built. I won't be at th

she was already leaving. It was a

stand,"s

one last thing to do. One fi

to face him. "Before I go, c

eyebrow, impa

e together."It was the one tradition she had insisted upon, the one thing that connected them to

hared humanity. A final acknow

ened. He let out a

engagement. I'm starting my future. Why would I wa

ing to a low, menacing tone. "The past

The last th

d slowly.

but he grabbed her ar

He was drunker than she'd realized. The smel

ammed the door shut. He pinned her ag

hers. His eyes were unfocused, filled with a confusing mix

ainst hers. It wasn't a kiss. It was an a

, a statue of

er lips. A name that was not he

e you,

a gunshot in

d the last

is moment, this violent, terrifying moment, to say t

e ice in her veins spread, fr

nothing le