Chapter 3

The sun climbed. The temperature rose. A sharp crack appeared at the edge of one window where the glass had been stressed by heat.

An awful smell escaped.

Wes wrinkled his nose. "What the hell? Maya, did you seriously mess yourself in my new car?"

Jade called the bystanders over, pointing and laughing about how far I would go to win an argument.

I knew what they didn't. After death, the body loses control of its muscles. The smell was not a tantrum. It was evidence that I'd died.

Two security officers arrived on a golf cart.

"Why's that vehicle covered up?" the younger one asked. "Is somebody inside?"

"My girlfriend's asleep," Wes replied quickly. "The AC is running. She's fine."

The officer tried to look closer. Jade offered him a cold bottle of water and said I'd become furious if I was woken.

After warning Wes to keep an eye on me, the officers moved along.

Wes exhaled and pulled out his phone.

"You know what? My family should see what I deal with."

He started a live video in the family group chat, describing me as a woman who would go to any length to make him apologize.

He uncovered part of the window to prove his point.

"Look at her."