he blinds, hitting France

m. Her body felt like one giant bruise. Her

ked her

by the window. Back

esca

andscape of musc

s that ran from his shoulder blade do

ga

slowly. He was butto

he drive

expression unreadabl

heart was hammering. The scars... the ru

charges for gas. He's just a guy who's

k," she b

er his shoulder, unbothered. "Industrial

est. It wasn't him. It was

some, in a dangerous, unpolished way. Dark stubble on his

he night before was spotty. She remembered t

ill, crossing his arms. A smirk p

lt her face burnin

You were unconscious and drooling blood on my

out a breath

n I carried you in," he added, enj

ed," she def

over to the beds

ked smartphone o

in the glovebox. Screen is

it up. "M

y. "Using your old SIM is like sending up a flare

im, surprised by his

" he said. "Phone co

n was obsessed with money. It was

er legs over the side of the bed. The

concussion,"

o salvage." She

hospital gown. "I c

on the floor and tossed her a pair of grey sw

hange. The clothes smelled of detergent an

t, Cooper was wa

y dollars," she said, s

brow. "You already o

't walk home like this. I'll p

seemed to x-ray her soul. Then, he reached in

said, handing it over with a r

She snatch

ve you," h

on't want you involved. My f

," Cooper re

s," she c

. At the door, she turned back. "I wi

unting

le

til he heard the

m opened. Benjamen stepp

," Benjamen said. "You? Wo

piece of paper where she had written her IOU. Fran

said. "If she thinks I have power, she'l

to the lion's de

t burner phone. I want to hear every word sh

out the

his fist. "But the war is just starting. Find out who gave

back of the taxi, wat

on the crac

en missed calls forwarded from

er. Ten from Janeen

from

ned her

ish bitch. You r

Now. Or don't bother

dn't leave the city, F

r eyes. The n

g into the opulent gate

er, handing him Cooper's

. The gates

d the inte

me," s

er voice sounded strained. "Miss Francesca...

Wait fo

ecide if you'

concussion. She was wearing a stranger's sweatpants, sta

the shade of a large oak tree,

ield. He saw her shoulders slump. He

the stee

is headset. "Short the Leo