ana

ntil the n

not

urrounded by his three-thousand-dollar

ly clicked open at six in

droom, reeking of stale w

looking exhausted yet

on the ottoman in the

t, clutching his chest. "You sc

the clear

ink nail polish and the printout of

she, D

s if I were a petulant child

dismissive hand. "That is a mentee. I am h

" My voice

sit on your lap while you

at photo is fake. You know how technolog

gasligh

me, assuming I would doubt the evidence o

too

apartment in the

that followe

oxygen right o

w tigh

his voice dropping an octave, becomin

t ret

"I laundered your money so clean the IRS practically thanked y

s preg

y mouth before I

prenatal vitamins in his jacket

in f

not d

fe hidden behind the mirror and s

d out a

hastily and tore the pa

it out

housand

"Go buy yourself something pretty. Stop making

d at th

hush

pay me off like I

t a di

n lau

sound that echoed o

re thirty-five. You have no assets. Yo

ve my

closer, loo

sat here in the luxury I provided.

y. "Come to the living room.

lowed

me a bank statement, or

d, I s

on my white Ita

ite dress that strained ag

er was a di

as h

ud

up at me

I love what you have done with the place.

t Dustin,

sis? A club girl who think

clutched her sto

d on me, his

your

a finger

to leave, you leave with nothing

then down at the

the check

ripped

tter onto the Persia

t your dirty

his

nt fr

n sne

get

to Jami and put h

his shoulder, looking a

nd and walked

vy wood echoed behi