suddenly too heavy to move. She looked like a corpse dragged out of a shallow

nstantly. The cruel sneer vanished, replaced by wide, tear-filled eyes. She scrambl

oulder. "She broke in! She smashed my phone and tr

d Candy and the little girl, pulling them flush against his chest.

ted a rusty blade deep into Deanna's gut. It shatter

g blood across her cheek. She dragged her injured leg forward, her boots

c mess of guilt and panic. He tried to soften his face, attemp

mbling slightly. "Let's just calm down.

g a shaking finger at the five-year-old girl hiding against his leg.

idge of his nose-his telltale sign of lying. "It was a mistake. I w

ic of his expensive tie, wrapping it around her fist, and y

ice vibrating with a terrifying intensity. "And

pinpricks. A bead of cold sweat rolled down his temple. He gr

es turned white. Her fingernails dug through

the driveway, reaching for Dea

to maintain his image. He couldn't have his ex

out his features, replacing the panic

your first year missing, your father made a terrible investment on Wa

ently. "No. My father was conservative. He nev

"They couldn't handle the shame of the bankruptcy. Th

stretch for a fraction of a secon

dle of the night. They both died in thei

in a

roaring flames filled her ears, entirely deafening

, her boots slipping on the gravel. "No," she m

with malice. "Joseph even paid for their funeral out of his ow

re. The murder

system all at once. It was too much. The human brai

st, as if her heart had literally split in two. H

ngers twisting the material. Her knees buckled. S

ward, his hand reaching out

cep like claws, jerking him back. She shot him

ndifferent moon. A horrific, animalistic scream tore

of hot, dark blood poured from her mouth, dr

dropping forward like a severed marionette. Her forehead cracked ag

lly broke through his composed mask. He ripped his phone from his pocket a