. The lab report had arrived. Asha's blood was clean. Not a trace of any illicit substance. The knowledge sat like a lead
ing down the ivy, the way Reyes had described her saving Harris with nothing but her bare hands, the
e out how he was going to fa
a mask of theatrical indignation. "Darien, you h
is expression darke
n, launching into her well-rehearsed performance. "She wen
nsley herself had pinched into the woman's skin moments before. "Look wha
perfection, cowered and so
e's a monster! You have to send her away, Darien,
ntic face to the crisp lab report in his hand. His own face grew co
ediately. He simply a
ent, sniffed disdainfully. "Locked in he
head of security, who was standing
Darien's phone buzzed. A singl
heck the audio log from your office. 11
ood ra
y had arrived. Before she had burst in with her accusations. Someone had known this confr
play it out loud-not in front of Kinsley. Inst
and distorted through
tchen cabinet. She's weak today.
s voice
you leave marks. We need evidence
rding cl
ing there, waiting for him to erupt at Asha-and felt something he rarely allowed him
nded on the g
mple white sundress. Her long dark hair was down, and her face wa
s a single porcelain bowl with a lid, a
on Darien. She completely ignored Kinsley's presence. She walked
e soft and warm. "I made you some soup. F
at odds with the raving lunatic Kinsley had just describ
ly shade of red. "You bitch! How dare you
surface of a deep, dark lake. "Kinsley," she said, her voice filled wi
one of hurt innocence and complete trust. "Darien, I
d, furious face. The scales in his mind-already tipped by the lab r
rrifying. "Kinsley. I'm going to ask you one question. A
faltered. "Of
u last speak
arsed script collapsed. She opened her mouth, closed it, then
the qu
ng, let out a small,
a cold dread began to creep up her spine. She realized, too late, that som
ncing at the report. "Is that my blo
re was the final nail in Kinsle
s, who had known exactly when Kinsley would arrive, exactly what accusation she would
insley to my office. We have a
-Uncle Darien-you can't believe her over
assed every drug test I've thrown at her, and somehow managed to make soup that actually settles my stomach." He looked at Kinsle
stepped forward and took her arm-firmly, but not roug
ous hatred. Asha met her gaze with the same calm, unread
inning, that look sa
studied her for a long moment, his eyes searching for
e steam from the soup curling b
nally. "The anonymous messa
g her lips. "I don't know what you're talking about, D
ieces refused to fit-and that
porcelain bowl, and the rich, herbal aro
he said softly. "You still ha
e had no idea
up the bowl an
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