ssi

a silent war

pregnancy. Luca accepted the lie without question. He was too busy finalizing

a? Clara

predator's gaze, scanning for a exposed artery. She didn't see a

tanding by the window, watching

errible, Av

round. "I'm jus

perfume. It was heavy, floral, and cloying-

ice dripping with faux sympathy. "Luca doesn't need you anymore. You'll be luc

er. Her eyes were

at you thin

rsonal space. "I think you're a ra

er. She shoved my shoulder, then threw herself backward, cra

scre

oom a second later, f

er arm. "She tried to kill me, Luca! She s

been laughable. But in this house, the

is face was a mask o

e," h

t me as a daughter. He looked at me as a pr

bruising grip. He dragged

d, his voice devoid of emotion.

poker. It was heavy, co

st looked at Luca. I wanted him to se

n the table," my

My painting hand. The hand that had created

aised t

der than one might expect. It crack

. I fell to my knees, cradling my ruined hand a

He walked over to Cl

t of my sig

looked back one last time. Clara was s

rs were twisted at unnatural angles

They had taken my child.

t to take. Which mean