Chapter 42: Sofia

Groaning, I roll toward the alarm clock and slap it.

My eyelids feel like they've been cemented shut. Prying them open takes a Herculean effort. Unable to force my limbs into action, I lay in bed as memories of yesterday assault me.

Roman is an undercover police officer.

Never in a million years could I have foreseen this. If anything, I'd wondered if he worked for the Russians.

But the police?

The Chicago PD?

No. I feel completely blindsided by the revelation. What am I going to do? Acknowledging what a mess this situation is makes me burrow deeper under the covers, wishing I could stay in bed for the rest of the day. Maybe the next few. I had a difficult time falling asleep after getting home because my mind wouldn't click off. As a result, I feel tired and irritable.

I would love to call in sick, but can't.

Two parent meetings and an IEP are on my agenda for today. These parents have rearranged their schedules to come in and discuss their children's educational needs, whic