And your way is better. I agree.

Callie’s eyes go vacant. Her voice goes flat. “Think again, Kathleen. Because when you’re gone, I’ll have Creed manipulate the system.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“He and I will gain full custody of Addie, regardless of your wishes. And guess who’ll spend the most time with her? Me. I’ll teach her everything I know about guns, poisons, and fighting. I’ll introduce her to my world, and teach her to kill.”

“That is utter bullshit. Donovan would never allow it.”

“No? Ask me what his daughter’s doing for a living these days.”

“Kimberly?”

“She’s in the business now. Except that she goes by the code name Maybe Taylor.”

Kathleen’s eyes go wide.

Callie says, “Don’t fuck with me, Kathleen. Because I not only will kill you, I want to. Now give me your cell phone.”

Kathleen’s face goes red. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been recording this entire discussion.”

Kathleen pauses, then produces her cell phone. Callie clicks rewind, and listens to their conversation.

“I should kill you now and get it over with.”

“I won’t call Donovan. You have my word.”

Callie erases the recording, then gives her a long, hard look. “And if he contacts you?”

“I’ll tell him to never call again.”

Callie says, “I know what you’re thinking. You should have left well enough alone. You shouldn’t have met him for dinner. That’s right, you shouldn’t have. But you did. And now you’ve got me in your life and I bet you wish there was something you could do to make me go away.”

“Yes.”

“Not going to happen. It’s a near certainty that the last face you’ll see on this earth before dying is mine. Because we can’t trust each other. It might eventually cross your mind to run away, quit your job, change your identity, try to find a safe place to raise Addie. But deep down you know that won’t work because you know what I’m capable of.”

“Yes.”

“Except you don’t.”

“Excuse me?”

“You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

Callie reaches into her handbag, removes a folded sheet of paper, hands it to Kathleen.

She reads it silently, then says, “Addie’s school would never allow you to pick her up. Not in a million years. Especially after I warn them.”

“But you signed it, yes?”

Kathleen studies the signature. “How did you do that?”

“Think about what I can do with your signature. Your last will and testament? Addie’s inheritance? By this time tomorrow I’ll own your identity, which means I can destroy your credit in a matter of minutes. Sell your house without your knowledge.