silent, save for the rapid, rhythmi

er laptop resting on her knees. Lines of comp

chimed, followed by the cl

s connections to track her hotel

ive, ostentatious bou

Her fingers continued

into an expression of deep, mournful regret. He set

pting to place his ha

ted her weight, dropping her shoulder and sliding ou

ty air. His jaw tightened,

a soft, pleading register. "I was out of line today. The

and knelt in front of he

c said softly. "A real fami

ingers stop

d over her. The sheer audacity, the disgusting, calculated manipulation of u

her lips parting to de

was shattered by a fra

e, tucked into his bre

ly pulled the phone out

arley. Followed by a

band shattered instantly. Domenic's f

wer, his thumb pressing the

the test flight base. There's a massive thunderstorm. I took a wrong turn on th

He completely forgot about the

ar. I'm leaving right now," he sai

into his pocket an

er, not even looking at Frankie. "I have to go get h

is blind rush, his foot caught

hed onto the hardwood floor, the glass shattering,

ammed shut

t the ruined flo

cry. She di

augh escaped her lips. It was the

her the knife to

er knees. She looked at the blinking

switch only its creator could activate. She hadn't designed it out of malice, but as an architect's ultimate

hand and presse

lack, then green. Th