Stolen Solace

Seventy-two hours had dragged by since the dining room fiasco, and each day left me too exhausted to even think straight. Trying to make sense of Vera’s twisted games was impossible; she was the cat, and I was very much the cornered mouse. I knew I wouldn’t walk away from that meal unscathed, yet lately I could swear the woman was actively trying to work me to death.

This went far beyond simple p