. The lab report had arrived. Asha's blood was clean. Not a trace of any illicit substance. The knowledge sat like a lead

ing down the ivy, the way Reyes had described her saving Harris with nothing but her bare hands, the

e out how he was going to fa

a mask of theatrical indignation. "Darien, you h

is expression darke

n, launching into her well-rehearsed performance. "She wen

nsley herself had pinched into the woman's skin moments before. "Look wha

perfection, cowered and so

e's a monster! You have to send her away, Darien,

ntic face to the crisp lab report in his hand. His own face grew co

ediately. He simply a

ent, sniffed disdainfully. "Locked in he

head of security, who was standing

Darien's phone buzzed. A singl

heck the audio log from your office. 11

ood ra

y had arrived. Before she had burst in with her accusations. Someone had known this confr

play it out loud-not in front of Kinsley. Inst

and distorted through

tchen cabinet. She's weak today.

s voice

you leave marks. We need evidence

rding cl

ing there, waiting for him to erupt at Asha-and felt something he rarely allowed him

nded on the g

mple white sundress. Her long dark hair was down, and her face wa

s a single porcelain bowl with a lid, a

on Darien. She completely ignored Kinsley's presence. She walked

e soft and warm. "I made you some soup. F

at odds with the raving lunatic Kinsley had just describ

ly shade of red. "You bitch! How dare you

surface of a deep, dark lake. "Kinsley," she said, her voice filled wi

one of hurt innocence and complete trust. "Darien, I

d, furious face. The scales in his mind-already tipped by the lab r

rrifying. "Kinsley. I'm going to ask you one question. A

faltered. "Of

u last speak

arsed script collapsed. She opened her mouth, closed it, then

the qu

ng, let out a small,

a cold dread began to creep up her spine. She realized, too late, that som

ncing at the report. "Is that my blo

re was the final nail in Kinsle

s, who had known exactly when Kinsley would arrive, exactly what accusation she would

insley to my office. We have a

-Uncle Darien-you can't believe her over

assed every drug test I've thrown at her, and somehow managed to make soup that actually settles my stomach." He looked at Kinsle

stepped forward and took her arm-firmly, but not roug

ous hatred. Asha met her gaze with the same calm, unread

inning, that look sa

studied her for a long moment, his eyes searching for

e steam from the soup curling b

nally. "The anonymous messa

g her lips. "I don't know what you're talking about, D

ieces refused to fit-and that

porcelain bowl, and the rich, herbal aro

he said softly. "You still ha

e had no idea

up the bowl an