Ava's POV
A visible shiver ran through Nora. I knew how cruel it sounded, and I also knew I did not care.
Victor and Laura had taken a soft-hearted woman and ground her against stone until only sharp edges remained.
Nora sighed heavily and motioned for Richard to sit down and eat. Neither of them argued further. They chose, wisely, to ignore the boy outside.
So did I… at first.
*****
By ten o’clock, the outside remained quiet. At last, Nora could not hold herself back.
“Ava... what if the kid gets abducted?”
I leaned back calmly, wiping my hands with a napkin.
“If he gets kidnapped,” I said evenly, “then the kidnappers can demand ransom from the Smith family.” I met Nora’s eyes. “What does that have to do with me?”
I felt the old ache stir in my chest, but I kept my face unreadab
