The first man came through the corridor before we reached the outer door. He wore a dark work jacket and carried no box. That told me enough. Anton moved in front of Bianca. Mikhail caught my arm.

"Car. Now."

I pulled free on instinct. His eyes flashed. Then I heard

The next morning, Mikhail's bandage was still visible under the cuff of his shirt. I noticed. I did not comment. He noticed me noticing. He did not comment either. That was probably the healthiest interaction we'd had since getting married. We sat at the ba

The creditor's conference room had no flowers. I noticed because I had spent the last year delivering arrangements to places exactly like it. Glass table. Gray carpet. Water nobody drank. People who called panic a "risk profile." My attorney sat on my right. Mikh