ound Damien's files,

use I ha

didn't trust

He simply watched me across the long, wooden dining

y fork, glancing at my phone under the table.

in this house. And Da

to the city today

even bli

l again. See people.

d like a blade. "

o

be dr

her. On Luca. You've been ten steps ahead of me sinc

ow and deliberate. "If I wanted to con

d like ice wate

ou keep them?"

," he said, "you learn that knowing so

-

That M

and flung myself onto

Every message I'd sent. Every social media post I though

ail Luca had helped me create back in unive

to ta

E

it

s later, I saw three

all. Bugg

usual place.

d it under my pillow just as

out?" she aske

"Damien sa

he? Or did you just assu

her. "Are yo

rinkle in the sheets. "I'm reminding you. Your last name

her d

ed. "Let's hop

-

Coffe

e of the few places untouch

priced latte and tapping my foot und

g late.

cal

minute

twe

o leave, someone slid int

wasn'

was

bones. Sunglasses too expen

ti

iv

ked. "

oice cool and detac

. "Does Damien k

thinks I'm buried in some forgo

hell is

he's charming. Powerful. Distant in a

n't r

. "That's his whole thing.

racing. "Why are y

e the rings, played the role, swallowed the lies. And when I f

bled. "Why co

" she said. "And because someone

appeared behin

tia

rned.

re you

ly. "Because I

-

t the

think. Coul

p every file I could find on Damien's laptop. I bypassed his w

ere rec

ze

One of my father, begging for a deal. Another of Luc

en...

, raw and

is up, Damien, th

em," he

audio, sick

d still, he let the world

ut and paced the room.

I found so

ht. Files. Offshore account

ed to m

-

t N

er dark, his coat s

iskey and asphalt.

the couch, pre

ay?" he asked casua

ut

it

sel

me. "You've

have

slowly. "You looke

ze. "

stamp. You're not as

"You li

laimed to

es on me bef

es

hy

e I had to know if you

ot pro

id. "You're

racked some

I asked. "You think this

you," he said. "I w

ho? You

ho'd tear you apar

t pounding. "Then tel

htly in his hand. "Whe

na's a

le

rutal s

I added. "She to

d tired. "She doesn

enligh

was a project. One my father started. It wasn't legal

kept th

I needed

inst

ery

-

a

sleep t

ause I

eam of Damien's face and wo

ceiling, trying to remembe

zzed again

ng watched.

u