xia

he death of my career w

between us like surgical tools. He pointed to the light box, showing me X-rays wher

sat on the edge of the hospital bed and stared at the sterile

arrive

ensive cologne, crisp linen, and the c

the best

e window, checking his watch as if my t

a was... shaken. She has important connections

ce sounded rusty, like a hinge

a question; it was a verdict. "You ar

rif

d. It was encased in a heavy

oing home

o

tress.

d, twisted claw where my hand used to be. I practiced with my left hand in the dead

ration of a new smuggling rou

. I ghosted through the periphery of the ballroom, ho

m, wearing a red dress that looked like spilled blood. She was laughin

ecklace that cost more than

radiant, do

e. He didn't look at me with pity. He looked at me with the e

aid, my vo

d-but absolute. I walked towards them, and the crowd parted. They lo

n't reach his eyes; it stopped at his teeth. "Cassandra

Jacob's bicep as if she were fragile. "I thought

Her eyes were bright

en meaning to ask. That brooch yo

ctively. It was pinned there, h

out it?"

said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Jac

ew thin. This wasn't about jewe

me. "Give it t

ly. Like he was a

rooch was the last thing my mother gave me before she died-be

" I

ched. It became h

ed, a nervous, tinkling soun

my voice frighteningly steady. "It

aying the victim perfectly. She whispered something

, Jacob. Why do you

e looked at me with cold

announced to the room. "Alexia is

me. Sending the

is gaze. "I'm going to the mona

me. He was already pouri

ning his back. "Pr

yes on my back. I felt the se

took the brooch off my dress and pinned it

the calendar

s our an

ye

n't even r