fi

all Ended" message on my screen for a few sec

idn't wait for him to agree. I wa

He looked like he had been briefed on exactly how this would go. I hurried down the long, quiet hallway, my heart thumping

ho talked until you had to force her off the phone. That s

et," I told

again. If something was wrong, I would know soon enough. When the cab finally pulled up to my house, ev

en and stepped

e ans

in

and checked the kitchen. It was spotless. There were no knocked-over chairs or broken plates. That didn

m door. She was sitting on her bed, leaning against the headboa

leaning agains

trand of hair behind her e

d you c

n my voice and frowne

st call me two

er phone. "I've been watchin

ght there at the top. She shrugged, looking back down at her screen. "

om. Everything w

didn't leave th

What is wro

eath. "Nothing. Jus

ide," she

standing by the sink, looking out the wind

t out?"

es

de and followed her gaze. A black sedan was idling at the curb. The windows were tinted, and the

nte didn't have to hurt Nina to win. He just had to show me that he could get

ow?" my mother asked a

sh this,

top me. She just ke

er held the door. When I walked back into the office, Dante was i

e back,"

sig

up the pen and opened the contract to the signature page. I didn't read the rules again. I already

u're right," I said,

're practical

manent on the white paper. I set the pen down

rious. He just looked satisfied, the way a man does

first time. "Go home

t's

need. My staff wi

d. "The call, the car out

" he

and walked out. No on

rowing clothes and basic necessities into a duffel bag. I didn't take any

, watching me zip the bag shut

e said. Her voice was

face fell, but she didn't ask the questions I was afr

es

she wh

already waiting at the curb. I got into the backseat and looked at the driver

didn't look back at me. He put

rned the corner. I wasn't a daughter

SUV trailing us. It stayed three car lengths back, matching

ng followed

mine in the mirror, then

at a p

ression unchanging. "That