ine in the darkness. "Are you oka

I said, the words com

low and angry. "A random attack? Bullshit.

' t have to confirm

?" I asked, thinking of the burner ph

I just... I hoped I was wrong. For your sake." He sighed. "And because I

different path, flashed before my eyes. A life of simple

omance," I said, my voice har

d. "Good. Because romance is messy.

said. "I need to

his supposed best friend, he was on the inside. He was the one pe

return. The numbness began to recede, replace

im. Franco was a constant presence, showering me with gifts and affection. Flowers, je

his voice a soothing balm that now made my skin crawl. He woul

oman's perfume on his clothes. A cheap, cl

was filled with the scent of my favorite meal, roast chicken with rosemar

s! Find them! I want them to suffer for what they did to her!" He was talki

ls on my phone. Doze

ished, replaced by a look of pure relief and love

your phone." He buried his face in my hair,

y in his arms.

ed, his voice soft, but wi

apy," I said,

e colder than I intended. "Your

A flicker of panic in his eye

voice wounded. He cupped my face in his han

i

d, his voice dropping to a whi

ked about our future, about all the things we would do together. He was a

stomach was a tig

. He glanced at it, a

mergency at the office. A server is down. I h

iss that tasted of ash. "I'll be

ed, the mask of the loving husband fell away,

meras throughout the house. A parting gift from

ked his location to a sleek, modern condo

asey had managed to get ins

igh B

mane of expensive blonde highlights. Her body was toned and sculpted by personal trainers. She wore a silk rob

ing for him

g her arms around his neck. "Did y

his hand sliding down her back. "Don't talk about

his jaw. "Afraid I'll taint her with my wildness? Is that it,

r, a hungry, brutal kiss that was nothin

into Franco's arms. "Daddy! Mommy sa

nguarded smile I hadn't see

ted-edition gaming console. The same one I had mentio

you more, you see," she whispered to the boy,

sound echoed in the empty, silent house. My house. Th

arallel existence. He loved her wildness. He loved my purity. He was a c

knocking the air from my lungs

rried to him. No, not even that. I was just a conveni

money. I had

his world t