moved slowly, telegraphing every motion, like Ar

aid. "Soy milk

e mug. Then she l

index finger. A callus. It looked out of place on a man whose supposed life of leisure consisted of reading and going to the gym. It was hard, worn skin. The kind you got fr

uldn't. The phantom taste of bitter

didn't come closer. He stayed

swer, the main door

ning, Mrs

, the spy Chloe had planted

contained her gala dress. She was smiling, that brig

e hook. She turned to Aria, her eyes scanning Aria's face. "D

oison that had weakened Aria fo

, flooded Aria's syste

, Bella?" Aria asked. Her

.. I went home, ma

ia

and picked up her iPad. She didn'

. And you didn't use the service elevator. You used th

floor except an empty unit ow

k. "I don't know what

"Get out. Now. Leave your

ed at Kane. "Mr. Holt,

ked at K

ria why she was firing their staff on th

k one step

a. He crossed his arms. His biceps bulged against the cotton of his sh

d her," K

e had lost whatever game she was playing, and threw the

ence re

th fifty thousand dollars, shimmered in the light. It was the dress Jordan

esk and grabbed the

to stop her. He leaned back aga

queezed the shears. The sound of expensive fabric tearing

p.

e cut until the dress was st

issors. They clatt

he ground today," Aria said, turnin

ed dress, then at Aria'

iption?" he asked. His t

d and something sharp, like metal. She reached up and fixed the collar o

," Aria whispered. "Your

uch. He went rigid for a second,

e softer now, a careful performance. "Not the limo. The Ma

we going? T

id. "The secu

the corner of his mouth twitched upward. I

nutes,"

d and wa

he code. She took out the digital recorder she now kn

t put on the white dress. She put on a

or and applied a coat

bach, Kane tapped a message into

awake. Sta

ger door and slid in.