Her Fake Memory Loss, His Real Goodbye

is the l

, empty apartment. He had spent the last forty-eight hours purging his life. Photos, gifts, every stupid little souvenir from seven

never thought he'd need. A one-way ticket to the West Coast, a new name,

echoed from t

t rigid. He wasn'

Beside her stood a man with a smug, handsome face and the kind of easy confidence that came from never having work

wide and searching, scanned the empty ro

olden said. His

e could see the flicker of calculation in her eyes. "Holden,

, a small, almost imperceptible movement. He

ack," Holden said, the lie tasting l

ynolds give you a discount, on the condition that

s living situation, a seemingly kind gesture that was actually a l

said, his gaze flicking

a hand. "Donnie. We haven't been forma

gnored t

ng himself at home in Holden's space. "Tough break, man. Getting kicked out." He lo

that," Holden sa

her voice laced with manufactured sweetness

lace she was conducting her affair.

ood,"

logne invading the sterile air of the apartment. He lowered his voice to

nie said, his eyes glinting with malice. "Especially in bed. Ha

irect, deliberate stab, desi

unch. He didn't even speak. He simply met Donnie's

rds were quiet, but they carried

ir faces. The soft click of the lock was a

e other side. He could hear Averie's confused questions, Donnie's smug laughter. She couldn't und

ady gone. He was just a gho