Edward, thin beneath a hospital blanket, had looked at her with those severe gray eyes. “Because by then, sweetheart, you’ll know the difference between people who love you and people...
“Do you want to know the sex when we can tell?” “Yes.” Months later, she learned she was having a boy. She named him Noah. He arrived three weeks early...
He was thirty-eight, an insurance broker reviewing commercial policies for several companies connected to the estate. Daniel had a calm voice, a neat haircut and the kind of navy overcoat...
He pressed his lips together. “Because you would have said no before you understood the situation.” Nina lowered the dentist packet in her lap. I felt something inside me go...
“Because Nate would have stopped me.” I could already see it. Security guards uncertain where to look. Children screaming. Nate standing in the foyer ordering people not to let me...
“Dominic Vale.” The name struck harder than she expected. She had heard Nolan whisper it two nights earlier. Dominic Vale. Thirty-six. Capo. Senior lieutenant to Victor Marlowe, the elusive head...
Owen blinked. “Fine?” “I’ll go.” He smiled. “Say the rest.” Willa sighed. “You can come to Melissa’s party.” Something softened in Owen’s face. “Deal.” Neither understood yet how expensive that...
Maya found her twenty minutes later. “I’m sorry.” Damian didn’t look up from his papers. “She wasn’t bothering me.” “You’re conducting business.” “She’s asleep.” “That’s still bothering you.” “No.” Maya...
She laughed once, but there was no humor in it. “Of course you did.” “Briar—” “Grant Ellison. Thirty-four. Financial analyst. Back Bay office. Portland before Boston. Volunteers twice a month....
“Don’t tell me what to do.” He stopped. Then, to her surprise, he nodded. “You’re right.” Camille stared. Men like Marcus never admitted they were wrong. Daniel moved a chair...
“Our final project,” he announced, “began with one question. What if safety didn’t have to feel like confinement?” Maya’s smile disappeared. The screen changed. She stopped breathing. A restored brick...
Every relative who told her she would be beautiful if she lost weight. Every time she had made herself smaller so somebody else could feel bigger. She stared directly into...
“You think I didn’t pay attention before?” “I think you paid attention to everything except what I was saying.” “I protected you.” “I know.” “I gave you everything.” “I know.”...
“Where?” “Eight accounts. Offshore holding companies. The money was moved through Northstar over twenty-two months.” “Who authorized it?” “Vanessa.” Dominic’s hand stopped beside his glass. Abby noticed. “You recognize the...
“How long did it take you to find that?” She checked the time automatically. “About six minutes.” Ethan leaned back. Then he asked the question that changed her life. “Why...
“Was the dentist any good?” “That is not the point.” August lowered his eyes toward the cat. “Let him stay.” “Fair warning. He charges rent in tuna.” “Send the invoice.”...
“What?” Nobody else dared speak. Declan continued as though she had said nothing. “She gets every ledger, password, access report, payroll file, expense statement, and routing history she requests. Anyone...
“If I remain beside you, they can use me.” “No one uses you.” “They already did.” Adrian leaned closer, stopping before entering the space that would make her retreat. “They...
He stopped dropping Bruno off. He stayed. Sometimes he answered calls quietly from a chair in the corner. Sometimes he watched Sophie work. Sometimes he simply sat there. One afternoon...
“I helped prepare the church all week. There’s an old service tunnel beneath the sacristy. The groundskeeper said it was used decades ago when priests lived in the rectory.” “How...