Her smile faltered. Much as she liked to believe that sentiment, and while she knew deep down Johnny never meant any harm, he did let Cass get away with murder (likely to compensate for his own upbringing and how she was never there).

That the mark hit a nerve at all surprised her more than anything. "She had him wrapped around her finger the moment she was born. Most little girls ask for ponies at some point, but of course never get them, she received two of them-because she didn't want the first to be lonely."

A strange mix of showing off and generosity...she couldn't fault her for that.

Once inside the kitchen carriage, Sonya felt she could brief just a little easier, and set about filling the electronic kettle.