the space-the chic, minimalist furniture Ford had helped her pick out, the abstract art he'd said made he

phone and dialed a

resid

y pitched to sound like someone in the middle of a crisis. "I'm so sorry to do this

e on the other end. "Oh, my

to terminate my lease immediately. I know it's short notice. You can k

with the practical consideration of a landlord being offered free money. "Well, that's highly unus

ief flooding her voice. "You hav

lips. Two thousand dollars. In a month, that muc

it up, vibrating violently again

t go to voicemail. He'd be confused, then annoyed. He was a creature o

r head. A new call came in

son N

ord was the lure, but

and composed her features into a mask of soft

voice was sma

rything alright? He's worried sick." The lie was so smooth, so practice

ve just been feeling a little overwhelm

wedding? Or is it the house?"

shameful secret. "It was my uncle's. It's just... it's the last piece of

andable. This is a big step. Look, why don't you let us put your mind at ease? Come over for di

ted hook. A pot roast in exchange for a million

"I... I guess that would be okay," she said, her voice filled with th

We'll see yo

sofa. Her face, which had been a portrait of fragi

nts were too aggressive. They screamed competence, not crisis.

unassuming, comfortable, the kind of thing a girl-next-door would wear. She applied a touch of makeup, just eno

kit. She clicked it open and closed a few times, the sound a quiet promise to herself. She sli

ne last look at the apartment, and closed the d

old SUV. The engine turned over with a familiar rumble. She pulled out into the evening tra

m of the tires on the pavement and the intricate, silen

. The houses grew larger, set further back from the road behind wrought-

t same porch a year ago, Ford's arm around her, feeling like she'd finally found a family. She re

ost, breathing cold air

ng it deep beneath the soft knit of her sweater. She a

gainst her skin. She hugged her arms to her chest, a p

tone path, her step

e door and pre

gure approaching. A faint, predatory smile to

e den. And the wolves had no ide