Chapter 1 - THE GLASS ON THE FLOOR
The crystal glass hit the marble floor and exploded.
Natalie Collins did not look down.
She kept staring at Ryan.
For the first time since he had known her, the woman who always seemed to have the perfect answer had none.
Four-year-old Ava stood several feet away.
Barefoot.
Trembling.
Her cheeks were wet with tears.
Ryan moved between his daughter and Natalie.
“I know how Daniel really died.”
Natalie’s face went white.
“You don’t know anything.”
“I know enough.”
“You’ve been investigating me?”
Ryan’s voice remained quiet.
“I’ve been protecting my daughter.”
Natalie laughed.
It was short and brittle.
“Protecting her from what?”
Ava whispered from behind him.
“From you.”
Natalie looked at the little girl.
Something flashed across her face.
Hatred.
It lasted less than a second.
Ryan saw it.
And once he saw it, he wondered how many times he had missed it before.
Natalie pointed toward Ava.
“She lies constantly.”
Ryan turned.
Ava instantly stepped closer to him.
That tiny movement nearly broke him.
His daughter was afraid of his wife.
Not nervous around her.
Not uncomfortable.
Afraid.
Ryan crouched.
“Ava, sweetheart, come here.”
She hurried into his arms.
He lifted her carefully.
Her hands immediately locked around his neck.
Natalie folded her arms.
“This is ridiculous.”
Ryan looked at her.
“What happened Monday?”
“What?”
“The bruise on her shoulder.”
“She fell.”
“Tuesday?”
Natalie’s expression changed.
“Ryan—”
“The marks around her wrist.”
“She has sensitive skin.”
“And Thursday?”
Natalie remained silent.
Ryan pulled his phone from his pocket.
He opened a photograph.
Natalie looked at it.
Her confidence cracked again.
It showed Ava’s upper arm.
Four distinct finger-shaped bruises.
“Dr. Hannah Price documented them yesterday.”
Natalie stepped backward.
“You took her to a doctor behind my back?”
“I’m her father.”
“I’m your wife.”
“Not for much longer.”
Natalie stared at him.
Then her expression softened.
Almost instantly.
The transformation was extraordinary.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Her shoulders dropped.
“Ryan.”
He had seen that face before.
At their wedding.
At his mother’s funeral.
Whenever Natalie needed someone to believe her.
“I love Ava.”
“No.”
“You know I do.”
“No.”
“She’s been struggling since Emily died.”
Ryan’s jaw tightened.
“Do not use her mother.”
“I’m trying to explain.”
“You’ve spent fourteen months explaining every bruise.”
Natalie’s tears disappeared.
Ryan watched them vanish.
Then Natalie noticed the small red light above the hallway.
Her eyes narrowed.
“The security cameras.”
Ryan said nothing.
“You were recording me?”
“Not tonight.”
A strange smile touched her lips.
“Then you have nothing.”
Ryan’s stomach turned.
Natalie took one careful step toward the hallway.
“Move.”
“No.”
“This is my house too.”
“Detectives are already coming.”
She stopped.
“What detectives?”
“Daniel Kerr’s case was reopened this morning.”
That frightened her.
Ryan saw it immediately.
Five years earlier, Natalie’s first husband, Daniel Kerr, had died after falling from the balcony of a vacation house near Santa Barbara.
Police ruled it accidental.
Daniel had alcohol in his blood.
Natalie told investigators they argued.
She claimed Daniel went outside alone.
Ten minutes later, he was dead.
Ryan had believed her.
Until three weeks ago.
That was when Ava began refusing to sleep.
She woke screaming.
One night, Ryan asked why.
Ava whispered something he initially dismissed as a nightmare.
Natalie said Daddy will fall like Daniel if I tell.
Ryan had never told Ava about Daniel.
She should not have known his name.
That sentence changed everything.
Ryan hired private investigator Marcus Reed.
Within seventy-two hours, Marcus found problems with Daniel’s death.
A missing witness.
Deleted phone records.
A life insurance policy changed eleven days before he died.
And one photograph.
Daniel standing beside a man outside the Santa Barbara house.
Ryan knew the man.
His younger brother.
Evan Collins.
Natalie looked toward the front door.
Blue lights suddenly flashed beyond the windows.
Ava tightened her arms around Ryan.
Natalie watched the police cars arrive.
Then she smiled.
Not nervously.
Not desperately.
She smiled as though she had been expecting this moment.
Ryan felt a chill.
“What?”
Natalie looked at him.
“You really should have spoken to your brother before you called the police.”
Ryan’s expression hardened.
“Why?”
Natalie stepped closer.
“Because Evan was there when Daniel died.”
The doorbell rang.
Ryan said nothing.
Natalie leaned toward him.
“And if I go down for murder…”
May you like
Her smile widened.
“…your brother goes down with me.”
