v

with a bang, but with a whisper i

he scent of expensive scotch clinging to his suit like a second skin. He was rarely

of water, trying to settle the nausea

focused. He walked toward me, not with the predator

ace between his hands. H

slurred, his voice thick wit

m against my ribs. "Who are you t

inst mine, his breath hitt

ispered. "I only lo

anted to believe him. Wanted to believe that the cold

e shatt

ve to be my cou

ike a car crash. He wasn't looking at me. He was l

nd looked into my eyes wit

cing my jaw with a trembling finger. "She

study, leaving me standing in the kitche

our bedroom.

hardwood floors. The study door was ajar. I heard

, and all I see is

the wall, holding my br

. I know it's

use. He was li

e she was the closest thing to you I could find without breaking

th with both hands to stifle the sob

mare. A

ice dropping to a co

an heir... if it's a girl, I'm naming her Isabella. After you

ned. Bile rose

it into a monument to his incestuous obsession.

shaking, but my mind was

him. I was a mirror

a sound of deep,

"She's too simple. She loves m

n my chest. It was a

sim

didn't go to the bedroom. I went to

e bed and stared at the

simple. I was shattered

I drove to a lawyer's office three towns over, a man who

," I told the lawyer, my voice

e asked, arc

sever the financial ties. I need to disapp

ocuments with

o the sunlight, my ph

rred, her voice drippi

in cr

is it,

e said. "To visit Nonna's grave. Marcus

moning every ounce of

there,"

ung

one last time. I would let them th

en the cage and fly