ssa

om of The Ritz-Carlton draped in an opulence as

with a possessive hand on the small of my bac

r, his breath warm against my skin.

unnerve him. He didn't know that just an hour ago, t

s room. He was adjusting his tie in the mirror,

father and I were to ever part ways,

sitate. He didn't

his voice flat. "You'd probably

ore than a puff of air. The last flick

el smirk twisting his young face. "Don'

myself to my full height,

ng her son. I was an executione

ayed my part. I smiled

lor in the sea of muted evening wear. Around her neck

our anniversary-the one he'd claimed the jeweler

rimp cocktail and rushed over, giving her a hug that was

azing! Dad, doesn't

going pale as he tried

dly to the group, using Lorenzo's first name like a c

s fingers biting into my skin. "Alessa

y meet you. That's a stunning necklace. It's almost iden

hand flew to her throat protectively.

ouple-arrived with Principal Thompson in tow. Katia blanch

n excuse, followed he

y were going and what he was doing. Pla

n a service corridor behind the s

to leave me, to start their new life tomorrow, right a

the conversation was captured, the audio com

m and cold as a winter sea, and waited f