“Hey, calm down.” Cody filled my mug with coffee and handed it to me. “Nothing is irreplaceable, Marin. Whatever it was that got misplaced, I’ll get you a new one. Unless it’s those expensive boots you own. Unfortunately we can’t afford to replace those.” He poured himself a cup of coffee and sipped. Slurped. I cringed at the sound.

“Not this—this I can’t replace. It was something my mother gave me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. What are we looking for? I’ll help you find it.”

I couldn’t involve him. He could never find out. Unless he already knew but wasn’t telling me.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s gone.”

“I’m sure whatever it is will turn up.”

“I hope so.”

“Even if you don’t find it, nothing meaningful is ever really gone because it stays right here.” He patted my heart, lifted my hand, pressed his lips to my knuckles.

But some things could be torn out of there too. My mother made sure of that before she died.

My pocket beeped, and I pulled out my phone. I recognized the fake name that dropped down from the edge of my screen, then pressed the phone against my thigh.

“Everything okay?” Cody asked. “You don’t look so good.”

I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath until the room swayed. I could only imagine what kind of shock passed over my face right now.

“Um, yeah. Just the boss texting me about something I forgot to do.”

Cody huffed. “That man has too much time on his hands.”

“That’s how rich people are, so bored they need to make up stuff to do.” I leaned toward the dining room, looking for an escape. “I’ve got to make a quick call, then I’ll make breakfast. Western omelet okay with you?”

“Sounds great.” Cody slid a scrutinizing glance over me. “You sure you’re okay?”

I grinned, but I didn’t know if he was buying it. As he walked out of the kitchen, I swiped to read the text message, and my heart stalled:

Vera isn’t coming back.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Felicity

The moon and stars were hiding tonight, sweeping the porch in a cosmic blackness. I could barely make out the figure of Brutus lying at my feet, his beefy black body absorbed into the shadow. The night felt bitter, circling my legs, nipping at my lips and ears. I wrapped my blanket tighter around my shoulders, but the air snuck through the folds, drugged with cold.