LYRA

" This has to be a trap," Vincent said as I stared at Vanessa's message.

She wanted to hold a family meeting and was inviting me to come. She was trying to use our lifelong friendship to force me into a corner, to make me look like the petty ex-wife who refused peace.

My thumb hovered over the screen, but I didn’t reply. “She’s desperate," I murmured. “Too desperate. That means she’s planning something.”

Vincent leaned closer, his shoulder brushing mine. The quiet strength in his presence steadied the whirl of anger building inside me. He smelled faintly of cedar and clean soap, his arms wrapping me from behind....