LOGINThe auctioneer's cadence moved through the wall. I had built something without him. That was still true. It would stay true. Whatever I said next didn't touch it. "I don't know," I said. "That's the honest answer. Not the managed version." I met his gaze. "I don't know if what's left is enough to
Alicia's POV The older man was still talking. "Seven years," he said. "Four jurisdictions. We moved water infrastructure across borders that hadn't spoken to each other in a generation." His hands traced corridors in the air between us. "The archive is the proof it happened. That it worked." He tu
“You entered without cause,” I said. “You stayed without one.” “I don’t know what this is between you two but—” “My wife.” No variation in tone. No additional weight needed. Alicia’s hand lifted a little, then halted mid-motion and settled again without completing the gesture. The woman exhaled
Edward’s POV “Forty thousand. Do I have forty-five?” The paddle was already raised. Alicia’s hand remained under mine, unchanged in position, as though neither of us had adjusted to its presence since it settled there. “Forty-five.” I raised. “Fifty. Fifty-five.” On the left, a man leaned forw
The fifth lot began. Edward moved to speak to someone at the side of the room. I watched the auctioneer. She crossed the room toward him. He turned when she spoke. She laughed. It had worked before, that laugh. I scanned the sixth lot. Mixed media, authenticated 2019, provenance verified. Her h
Alicia's POV Volkov was already at the door when we came in. His eyes went to my dress and came back up. Lazily. He turned to Edward, and they shook hands. It ran a half-second longer than it needed. "You both came," he said. "You invited us," Edward said. "I invite many people. They don't alwa
The kitchen was dark except for the light above the sink. I flipped on the overhead. The sudden brightness made me squint. Edward's empty glass sat on the counter. He must have brought it in after I went upstairs. Rinsed it. Left it in the dish rack. Like nothing had happened. Like tonight had b
Lucy arrived like a storm disguised as sunlight. Late, of course—fashionably late. "I'm so sorry I'm late!" Her voice landed on the terrace, breathy and practiced. She wore a blue that photographed like grace and cost more than a week in Paris. Even the wind seemed to slow for her. "Traffic," sh
Alicia’s POV The hospital smelled like antiseptic and bad coffee. I’d been here too many times before to count, long enough to know which elevator was faster, which nurse worked which shift, which vending machine actually worked. I was familiar with the pattern of the polished linoleum tiles. Th
Alicia's POV Vivienne’s pearls caught the light as she reappeared, every inch of her radiating quiet authority. I rose before she reached the table. “I’m so sorry, Vivienne,” I said smoothly, my voice faking all sophistication, just how Lucy would have sounded, misted with honey. “You’d stepped aw







