: S

-

ridor lined with abstract art, the kind that

ut turning. "Mr. Valen doesn't tolerat

"I wasn't planni

dn't a

ream velvet curtains swayed in a breeze I couldn't feel. A grand piano sat untouche

strang

ere no

t

said. Then, she paused. "Don't leave the room

frown tugging at

my breath. "Because not everyt

e with her warning and a

-

ed to

ally

11:58 PM,

t enough to raise the hai

I stared at the door. It didn't move. But

hing was..

or my phone

cou

ed. Silence returned

hat n

ainted the walls gold and me

-

ess waiting on the dresser-bla

You're expected for bru

gnature, but I

se it w

ng room, the clock read 10:02 AM. The

idian table, sipping dark coffee lik

he said witho

and sat. "Two minutes late. I did

s Rowe. You'll find I'm

me, and I nearly fo

t sleep la

t was a statement. A te

heard something. Scra

htened. Jus

ou ope

ened to you

s curled into something like a sm

u might just survive

smoked salmon, but I barely touch

sked finally. "Out of all

studying me like

t mostly..." He set down his glass. "B

dropped.

ed-like moonli

ut. Everyone d

-

rnoon, I wander

and dust that danced in the light like ghosts. I found a corn

en I hear

cratc

me-it wasn't

hind the

eath

ouched the edge of the wooden frame, then ran m

door crea

I sho

y is louder

cold, with a single leather-bou

ened

eneration, one is chosen to carry it. If

led as I flipped

tch

g eyes. Of a man-Kade-surround

choed in my

I di

t

deep inside, I alr

ursed. And now-I

-

ay, I had more ques

s Kade

hat scratc

was it about me that m

ask him t

out over the city like it was a

he said before I e

es

yes reflecting moo

curious. But remember this-love is the mos

I could smell him-smoke, pine, a

avior, Sienna.

into the night-leaving me on the roofto