The sharp click of dress shoes echoed through the room as the woman bundled in blankets shivered violently. Carlos's lips thinned into a razor's edge—this uncharacteristic silence was nothing like Alicia's usual fiery defiance.
"Are you coming out of there, or do I need to drag you out?"
A voice like Arctic wind cut through the space. Rita instinctively bit her lip, eyes squeezed shut, fingers turning white-knuckled on the blanket.
Three heartbeats later, he ripped away the covers in one brutal motion. Rita flinched, arms flying up to shield herself.
"Rita?" His voice dropped dangerously. "Where the hell is Alicia?"
Her limbs locked in terror. She hadn't expected him to discover the deception so soon.
"Mrs. Radiance... she—she snuck out!"
Words tumbled out in panicked fragments as s
