The Glass Rose

Valen

an who looks at you like she'

t to know where

o said as soon as th

loosened my tie and walked

hates me

eans it. Like. D

kes thing

fireplace. His suit jacket was open, tie undone, l

st walk around here like a queen?"

my wi

cotch once. Doesn't mean I trusted

ey and turned to face him. "Did you

hat, you thoug

imes I

to the table. "There. The golden princess. Clean record. Educated.

I lifted

so refused to take any of the Moretti operations afte

ink she's s

at do yo

. But I could feel her presence inside it. A spark

married h

as the

this. None of this. She's not here

ink in one swall

toward the east wing. No guards followed

ething

e corner, I felt it. A

was cra

guard i

d strai

r robe half-open, her feet bare, hair loose aroun

dn't l

that?"

walk into roo

wn the ho

like it weighed something

anned the front. One word wr

n

fr

id you g

t told

n't there

mine. "You checked m

k every

you did," s

velope, but s

N

ess

"This is my brother's name. Th

o idea what

you

hreat when

ybe you don't want me to

my jaw. "H

the only person who ev

closer.

down. "Why? Will

between us. T

said, "

d. Just a fl

e tore

anned the words. As she read, her expression ch

it to me wi

the m

ands than mine. He betrayed his own. F

ature.

od wen

the handwriti

d once.

ed at me

who shoul

wered. "So t

es

e the ground benea

l him," she said quietly

did

u know

her. Really

bout to. She wasn't unraveling. She was calculati

e plant this here

use di

ween

en fam

and bitter. "There

forward.

but I didn't give

? Then stop playing house and start watching t

u dare tw

ything. You're just

nothing happened and place

me "If I find out y

'll

bury

ed. "P

et with

d out into the night. Her spine w

sn't b

s waki

to sleep tonight,

N

oo

way. "The guard outside your room. He

turned.

I'm going t

ker than before. Heavier. Like something ha

called the only person I

aid when the

s,

rd outside my wife's d

pa

eck the

't find

ause. Tig

erst

ed th

a painting on the wall. A classic oil pi

esse

screen

ity f

back to an

here

hrough the east hall. Reac

rd walk

epped into Al

y sec

bac

the frame on the face that lifted

od wen

I had buried

I had wa

ho should

as a

s inside