er

ve transf

, my therapist, Alan advised me to, and

t, more lik

my office, breathing in my space, and

stop wanting her, I'll burn the want out

let it stay soft, so I'll make

omething I can use.

rings me coffee lik

er waist too well, and when she leans forward to set the cup down, the top button tugs,

ing is in an hour, but all I can think is that if that button gives

brea

she gasped when I pushed inside her. T

ke a

k w

ked for," I scowl, bu

, one sugar," she says,

her. "Then you w

This time, u

cks and I want to put a bu

ves aga

trying to get the blood out o

doesn

same fucking button. It's hanging on by thread

her ears. It's neat and polished, and all I can pict

touch th

ll be making my own coffee from now on,

's c

hich is good. L

maybe I won't end up pinn

eaves

d roast. She got help, I know she did. She probably cornered some employee

eting - the first step in

ld go

ble to think if

ng. "Meeting.

s. "But I

walk out, because if I don'

ll beg to to

*

the res

an talk to Gavin about the next step in saving

Gavin says as he stand

the seat. I scan the room. "Where's Jake?" I ask, rememb

thing about a depos

Jake's al

on the table between us. "You sure you

ghtly. "Besides, I wanted a neutral setting. Somewhere w

s. "Because

y no

internal leak again, and it's surgical. No timestamps, no metadata

the p

in. Someone's

m in

a sewer system. It could be one of the

Xyren-4 was their trial, their dos

your father's name is

drops be

efore the stroke, he just... stared.

think he'

I think he was protecting

her

oat," Gavin says. "They want someone to bury, an

exing my jaw. "They'll get s

es me. "And

ks in, late and unapologetic

ing his sleeves as he takes

like an eighty-year-old in

s. "I like

... Did you hear? Hermes got a new secretary.

t tell me it's the brunet

ree

hing, loud, and wearing a shir

into a fist ag

. "Wait...

there, smiling like nothing happened, like I didn't spend th

ings open u

in the hallway just said, standing too clos

I say, v

rd me, and she blin

ntering inside the room, and s

ere another second, I migh

" Jake hoots, adjusting his c

she says shyly, eyes

t bite," Gavin says, pushing back

e was outside. I've just drag

some cue to sit. I don't look at her. I keep my

ur name?"

June Al

l. This wasn't how she sounded

peats. "Huh. So

under my

ying to

y head a

the damn folder

holding on for dear life-has finally given up. Popped open. Jus

wrong fuck

ng, but she... she'

crawl up my neck

. Let's go." I stand so

inks. "W

like I just

ng to her feet, bag in han

scussion," Gavin calls, but his

nt, I can't bring my

opening the back door ju

here's no way I'm sitting in th

back to the offi

. "What-ar

of the day off," I cut

er your

estions. He's seen it too

one b

. Her face drops, and a small gasp slips out. Then s

didn't realize

can't hear that voice r

oldly, "wear somethi

he car, and I l

tter th