e shoved it again, panic rising in her chest, before she re

she screamed, h

nt, came running to the door, fumbling with the latch. When the

with mascara. "They froze everything. The credit line, the

The walls, usually adorned with promising contemporary pieces, were hal

lva? IRS audit. We have a report of money launderin

s balling into fists. "This is a fa

sed on the evidence provided." Th

f them was an obscure holding company with a name only she and Lucas would recognize-the private joke name they'd given to an accoun

ket. She pulled it out, expec

, her young

wet gurgle. "Don't... do

s axis. "Nate? What ha

e gasped. Then th

loe, call the police. Send them

abs. She ran toward the subway entrance, her high heel catching in a metal grate. She yanked her foot up, hear

t through the subway station. Kate didn't care. The train rid

toward the old industrial park where they stored the ov

ashing wood ech

ieked, rushing i

d masked half his face. Two men in black leather jackets stood over h

ers of a

ainst a crate and swung it with eve

ull thud. He barely flinched. He turned to look at

man said. He didn't attack her. He did

oulder, and strolled out into the dayligh

rother. "Nate, oh god, Nate." She pulled a handkerchief

ing shut. "Kate... look." He pointed

Her breath

osed to be their retirement fund, their safety net. The canvas

led in the

s" light. She went to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. Her dress was ru

ed like

her phone and

you like the redecorating?" His voic

t?" Kate asked.

front of Estelle. Beg her forgiveness for trying to seduce me f

gain. The fear in her eyes was hardening int

ood only made him hungrier. If she wanted to