The Maybach idled outside the brownstone like a spaceship that had landed in the wrong century.
"You have one hour," August said, not looking up from his tablet. "Take only what matters. I will replace the rest."
Colette stepped out. The cool night air hit her face, but for the first time in years, she didn't feel cold. She felt armored.
She unlocked the front door. Laughter drifted from the living room. Meredith and Tiffany were clinking glasses.
"Did Gorsky like the dress?" Meredith called out, not even turning around.
Colette walked into the room. She stood in the center of the Persian rug. "He didn't see it. He was arrested."
Meredith spun around, her glass sloshing wine onto the floor. "What?"
"I'm moving out," Colette said calmly. "I'm here for my things."
Tiffany jumped up. "You can't leave! Who's going to pay the bills? If you leave, Dad dies!"
"Dad is paid for," Colette said. "In full. His treatment is covered for the next year. You don't have to worry about him. Or me."
Meredith narrowed her eyes. "Where did you get that kind of money? You stole it. You stole the silver!"
"I didn't steal anything."
"I'm calling the police!" Meredith shrieked, reaching for her phone.
The front door opened. Two men walked in. They were massive, wearing earpieces and suits that strained against their shoulders.
"Mrs. Sanders," one of them said, nodding to Colette. "We are here to assist with your luggage."
Silence crashed into the room.
"Sanders?" Tiffany whispered. "Like... the Sanders?"
Colette didn't answer. She turned and walked up the stairs. She packed quickly. Her mother's photo albums. Her restoration tools. A few sweaters. She left the silk dresses, the heels, the things that belonged to this life.
When she came back down, the bodyguards took the bags from her hands.
Meredith was standing at the bottom of the stairs, her face pale. "Colette... honey. If you're... if you're married... we're family. We should celebrate."
Colette stopped. She looked at the woman who had made her life a living hell.
"You stopped being family the moment you put a price tag on my father's life," Colette said.
She walked out the door.
Tiffany ran to the doorway. "You can't just leave us! We have debts!"
Colette got into the car. The heavy door thudded shut, sealing out the noise, the demands, the toxicity.
She slumped against the leather seat. She felt drained, hollowed out.
August glanced at her. "Done?"
"Done," she whispered.
"Good." He handed her a black card. It was metal, heavy and cold. "Buy clothes. Tomorrow. I don't want my wife looking like a refugee."
Colette took the card. She looked at him. He was cruel, transactional, and cold. But he had just saved her life.
"Thank you," she said softly.
August didn't respond. He just signaled the driver. The car pulled away, leaving the brownstone-and her past-in the rearview mirror.
