ter

– Pre

on never stopped-not

led from the latest financial case. Fraud, laundering, and shell corporations stacked like domin

rc

't ready. My gut told me to keep thin

zzed in my

gst

for d

despite

e

money for pizza on the c

gst

"reas

e

our p

gst

thr

ead, smirkin

e case. We were getting close-too close. My captain already warned me to tread caref

n't afrai

anym

was told I didn't belong in this world. And now, I was standin

frame. Ruby leaned in, s

or should I set Kingsto

twenty," I said.

ted tonight. Quiet. But I think it's ju

g, slinging it over my sho

y begged me to bake a cake with him, then abandoned

ed off the lights. "

kitchen were still on. The front door was unlocked-because

hocolate and something

to the kitch

in the sink. A half-eaten, lopsided cake on

friends, Wes and Jace, were gathered around the TV, co

couch, Jace raiding the f

t the doorframe

life. Messy

peac

r

hout looking up. "We saved you a pi

ly what I look for i

held up the cake like

d grabbed a bite. It was a little dry, definitel

aying the ni

Kingston said,

ust clean up

that second that my breath caught. That

efore the ache

orrow was a

ow fast the past wa