The Betrayal Of Blood

ia's

***

tant-a single moment, a single

ot

s. Move by move. Step by step. Until you realize t

-

ng, something

wake before

she was already dressed, standing by the counter in a crisp white blouse and a black pencil skirt that fit her like it had been made ju

in surprise. "Seren

cup of coffee. "I figured I'd g

g early-if anything, she always took her time, strolling into the office whe

someone t

aware of the tension building in the room. "That's good to hear,"

faltered, jus

w tha

being comp

, grabbed her keys, and turned to

ng?" my mother a

erena said, b

ke that, sh

window as she pulled

happening. I

n't sure

-

p breakfast when

st the doorframe with his hands in his pockets. His dark curls were sl

ed. "Mo

What are you

d give you a

"That's...

's not a big deal,

na would suddenly appear, demanding an

ing about thi

did h

ce, or was he playin

r answers, but Danny w

ning on us

t let tha

ed a smil

g and followed

n, a quiet voice in

y what she did

-

ing at her desk, flipping through docu

d was e

as wa

aw him-saw us-her stom

nn

g in w

ghtened aro

e she saw him first. To make s

stolen the moment

ing she hated f

as we got out. Watched every singl

ed every se

-

walked in, Ser

't waste

th a bright smile. "Good morning. Y

th, her tone dripp

fr

obvious. To

ying to ma

ks, Serena. You're l

carefully. Wha

endly? Or was this ano

e for this. I had

ed and wa

test whisper from Serena-so sof

always ha

iffe

weren't

were

-

I tried to shake off th

been competitive

th

as dif

just envi

as fi

at, ex

nn

osit

rying to prove so

my desk, staring at the ci

s up to s

ed to find

-

ed out for a meeting, I gl

asn't

ther wa

tightened

t to be the

sn't paranoia i

the truth waitin

-

alousy that lingers in the shadows, or j