ton dress as she walked out of the attic

ical odor hit the back of her throat. It was the distinct

ned the massive crystal chandelier h

ed dangerously close to the c

ran from the lip of the bucket all the way down to the seventh step of

She saw the toe of a designer sneaker and a sliver of blonde h

lips. She lifted her foot and

heavy. One. Two. Three. She planted

d half his body out of the shadows

e seventh stair, she slid the toe of her sneaker un

pped. The sound was a sha

waterfall of red paint and industr

Her left hand clamped onto the mahogany handrail to anchor h

pulling the rug sent the heavy liquid flying forward in

hands flying to his eyes. His sneakers slipped on the w

ds stuck to the glue on his collar. His weight

a tangled ball of limbs, hitting the bo

ep. She looked down at the mess. Not a sing

n sitting room flew open. Sterlin

or, covered in thick red liquid. She let out a

urple. He snapped his head up and glared

e pointed a sticky, red finger up at the stairs.

kle and wailed louder. "She's a

d her finger right at Amara's face. "You ungrateful piece of tra

two adults. The last microscopic trace of hope s

raised his large hand, aiming a b

hand missed her face and slammed hard into the solid ma

ight above the front door," A

k dome mounted on the wall. The color drained from his face a

to my study," he barked. "Wait there