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Des

You’re not going to give up on this, are you?

Sof

Nope.

Mer

Okay. I’m in. I’ll do it!

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

MEREDITH

Day three since Josef left.

Sof

Does anyone know if your starter is supposed to smell like bananas?

Des

Yeah, I read that’s normal. Mine smells like feet.

Sof

That is so gross.

Mer

Mine doesn’t smell like anything. But let’s keep trying, ladies!

The promise of homemade carbs was a poor substitute for my man. I was making a mess out of our kitchen. Wasting flour by the pound. And I was pretty sure the housekeeper was a second away from quitting.

God, I missed my husband.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

MEREDITH

Day six since Josef left.

My phone buzzed as I rode the elevator up to the condo with Mario, and I cringed.

Every day since Josef left, my bodyguard escorted me to and from work, insisting on door-to-door delivery.

I felt a little bit like a parcel, but I understood.

Josef was a powerful man. He had powerful connections. And powerful enemies.

It had been a while, but I wasn’t a stranger to that kind of life.

After all, the only reason I met Josef was because my stepfather had similar enemies.

Ugh.

I hated thinking about him. Franklin Gray. That fucking monster.