“Jana...?" Araneae asked, more terror in her brown suede eyes than I wanted to see.
I was sure she was imagining horrible things—and more than likely they didn't even come close to the horror of the reality. I inhaled. “Not my story to tell."
“Oh my God, Sterling, that makes sense. She was so young when you employed her...Oh my."
I reached for Araneae's hand and pulled it to my lips, kissing the tip of her Band-Aid. “Sunshine, she doesn't like to talk about it..."
Her head was shaking. “No, I wouldn't. I never would. It's that the clues were all there and yet I never imagined."
I tilted my head. “Do you know why you never imagined, why the thought never occurred to you?"
More tears came to her eyes. “Because...how could I?"
My finger went to her cheek as I shook my head. “Because y
