“I found her in here. Graceful as ever.”
Natalya was vaguely aware of someone speaking. She cracked open one eyelid and saw her mother silhouetted in the doorway, with two faces looking over her shoulders. Two men. It was—
Someone flipped on the bedroom light.
Natalya yelped and covered her eyes but it was too late, the image of Cal’s evil grin was seared into her retina.
It took her a moment to get oriented. It was evening, darkness had fallen and the storm still raged against the glass doors to the balcony. Her mother’s bed. She’d fallen asleep; didn’t even remember curling up and hauling a corner of the quilt over herself.
When she dared squint her eyes open again, her mother and Cal Sr. were gone, but Cal Jr. still leaned lazily against the door jamb.
“Get out. Just give me a min
