ont door of the apa
ed his keys onto the scratched console tablep collar of his uniform, exha
denim jacket. She didn't
room rug. She turned around, crossed her arms t
aightened his spine, his jaw tightening into that familiar,
demanded. Her voice was flat, c
ely dropped to the breast pocket of his u
d, his voice a low
gaze without blinking. "I am the woman o
ces? You just spent the last three months before t
hot back. Her eyes flashed with fresh anger. "I cut th
finger. "Rule number one. From today on
comes directly to me. I will buy the groceries. I will make sure Leo ha
lowly. He was analyzing her, trying to find t
le cent unaccounted for, if you find out I gave a penny to Creola or D
The only sound was the ticking of
n front of him at the trailer park, shielding him from her mother's demands. H
red his hand f
the edges remained white-knuckled. He walked across the living room. He stopped inches away from
but didn't let go wh
d it to be this easy. She had prepared a d
e blue book. As she pulled it toward her, her knuckles briefl
ectricity sh
week, I'll bring the cash home to you. But hear me now-I will check the ledger every single week. If I find one penny unaccounted for, if I find
asn't just money. This was his life savings. This was a massive, t
losed up. He
hispered, her voic
nic flashed across his stoic features. He was a man
ck, tactical
hop wood," h
ly fled toward the back door. The s
own at the blue book in her hands. She pressed it
e in two lifetime
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