door was slightly ajar. A knot of dread tigh

laughter drifted f

oper. Ignatz was sitting on the coffee table in front of her, fee

, intimate moment. And I

mile faltered for a second

idening. She immediately shrank back against th

his voice low, as if I were an intruder. "Everleigh

m? Ignatz, this is my apartment. My name is on

ust for tonight. You know how she is. We grew up togethe

of me that had always made excuses

promise," he said, his voice a l

turned and walked to the spare b

d their laughter again, louder this time, mixed with the sou

hange. The tears I had held back all day f

droom door creak open. A s

It was Ignatz, his v

weight making the mattress dip. H

It's just a lot to deal with. The baby... we'll have

ne through with it. He was apologizing for the inconvenience, not the mon

ame from the living room.

e bed as if he'd been

are!" she waile

ther glance at me, he bolted from the

w, soothing voice drifted down the hallway as

bed. The smell of coffee and bacon filled the air. Fo

ked into t

ool, wearing one of his expensive silk shirts, her bare legs dangling. Sh

le in a coffee commercial. I

She instantly adopted her frightened-doe look, c

ough for me to hear. "I want o

Ignatz said, turning to the fridge wi

tire demeanor changed. The fear melted away, replaced

e said, her voice a syrupy poison. "He told me he never wanted

er. My head snapped up to loo

. "I'm Everleigh Hooper. My uncle is one of the most powerful producers

how much. That's why Ignatz was so desperate to protect her. It wasn'

stool, collapsing onto the floor. "Ahh! My ankle!" she

me standing near her, saw her on the floor, and di

is wrong with y

ner of the kitchen island. A sharp, searing pain

the floor, cradling Everleigh in his arms

ith a cold, terrifying hatred. "She's

r," I stammered, the pa

ice low and dangerous. "Don't you ever to

arried her out of the kitchen, leaving me s

to my stomach, a silent pra

nd I had just been