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“You think I don’t know that face?” Cleo tapped a finger to Sonya’s cheek. “You were way more mad. I really think she’s used herself up tonight, so we’ll get some sleep.” Cleo faked a yawn and grinned with it. “That’s a nice insult right there.”

In full agreement, Sonya gave Cleo another hug before they rose. “Thanks for the assist.”

“Anytime. See you in the morning.”

Yoda curled up in his bed, and Sonya did the same in hers.

Volume low, her phone played James Taylor’s quiet ballad “You’ve Got a Friend.”

“I know I do.”

And Sonya slipped into sleep before the song ended.

She woke early and energized—and determined to stick with routine. Since she’d skipped a workout for a few days, she decided to start with one.

A quick coffee first while she let Yoda out to start his day. She stepped out with him, breathed in as she looked out to the woods.

Maybe later, she considered, on a work break, she’d venture into the woods.

She gave Yoda his breakfast, added a quick pat.

“Gonna work out.”

And she considered it another insult to open the hidden door on the landing and go alone down to the gym Collin had set up in part of the old servants’ quarters.

She streamed a cardio session, then, thinking of the night before, chose another with weights.

Stronger’s better, she thought.

Twice she heard one of the servant bells ring, and ignored it. The Gold Room, she had no doubt.

She hoped Dobbs considered it another insult.

When she came up, she heard the bounce of the ball on the main floor, and smiled at the idea of her built-in dog sitter.

A young boy playing with a dog—another insult.

She showered, changed, then called down from the top of the stairs.

“I’m coming down for coffee and a bagel.”

When she walked down, Yoda sat waiting in the kitchen. And the cabinet doors were all neatly closed.

“Thanks, Jack.”

While she ate, she answered early texts from her mother, another from Trey, then scanned her emails.

Nothing yet from Gigi’s, but since it was still early, she didn’t worry.

“Let’s go to work, Yoda.”

With her water bottle in hand, and the dog at her heels, she headed up to the library. At eight-forty-five, she sat at her desk.

“We’re going to pick up where we left off on Ryder. One hour only.” To make sure of it, she set an alarm on her tablet before booting up the computer.

She opened the file, rolled her shoulders.

Pleased with her progress, Sonya got right to it.