My throat dried up.
The words stuck in my mouth.
Panic rose in my chest.
I couldn’t answer.
Not without risking everything.
If I slipped up—even a little—he’d start connecting the dots. He’d start looking at the kids, their faces, their eyes...
So I dodged.
I folded my arms and gave him a cold look.
“Is that why you’re here?” I said sharply, my voice rising. “To find another girl you can play your hotel trick with, just like you did to me?”
His face changed.
For a second, he looked like I’d slapped him.
“Mannie, I will keep asking you this question because once I do my investigations, you wouldn’t like the result. Also Mannie—”
“Don’t,” I cut in. “Don’t you dare say my name like it means something to you.”
“I’m not trying to fight you,” he said, stepping forward.
“Well, you’r
