Gibso

of my soul. "He was your son, Dexter. Why are you trying to erase

unreadable mask. "I am trying to move forward,

desperate to salvage anything. The heat was excruciating, but the pain in my heart was infinitely worse. I pulled out the melted plastic of th

f!" Dexter strode forward, gr

ered animal. "Let go of me

hite foam erupted, smothering the flames and coating the precious, ruined relics in a

her aside. His voice was dangerously calm. "A lesson in letting

t. Was there anything left of the man I had married? Any love, any shared history that co

the scorched, broken pieces of Leo's life. I took them inside, washed them tende

fire of vengeance. Dexter wanted me to let go. Fine. I would let go. I would let go of him,

. A venture capitalist who was sharp, principled, and had once tried to hire me, telling me that my

cies. I sent him a single, encrypted message: I need to talk.

ake you pay for this. I will make you suffer as I have suffered. I will take everything from you, and I w

hands. He worked in silence, applying salve and banda

d, once the doctor had left. "She's cravin

less hands. "Dexter, our son has

s we have to starve ourselves

quiet but firm. "Of abstaining from... indulgence. From rich f

mental nonsense. She's pregn

her voice soft and sweet. "I can just have some soup. I wouldn't want to trouble Aliana, not when s

napped. "She is carrying my child, Aliana. The least you can do is cook

chest roared

n the air, smal

darkened. "Wha

cook for your mistress

took a step toward me, his voice a low gr

yed mine," I retorte

ed to the two bodyguards who were always stationed by the door. "Take her to the glas

h exotic, flowering plants from all over the world. Dexter had it built for Leo, who loved the colors and the light. But

nerability. And he was g

beautiful sanctuary he had built for our son was no