Your mother couldn’t see the bigger picture.”
There it was.
The motive.
Not a cartoon villain’s confession.
Not pride.
Survival dressed up as murder.
Money dressed up as community.
Power dressed up as protection.
Buck’s voice came next, breathless and angry.
“Lily, just give us the tapes. We can make this right. I can get you a place. Money. Your mama would want you safe.”
Lily almost laughed.
Her mother had left socks, keys, and instructions in an underground federal crime scene.
Her mother did not raise her to trade
