a puddle that had formed in the gutter. It was raining now, a cold, miserable New York

r ankle in her heels, but she ca

sked, eyeing her disheveled ap

mpled bill at him-she didn't even look a

erto, smiled as he saw her approach. "G

, hair plastered to her cheeks. She couldn't bear t

ing so badly she dropped her key fob twice before managing to scan it. The do

sharp gasps that didn't deliver

st Nurs

ld kill her grandmother-indirectly, s

opening directly into

hroat. The clasp snapped, scratching her skin, but she didn't care. She threw the jewelry onto the

t, cold, decorated in shades of grey and charco

the hardwood floor. She threw it open on the bed and started grabbing clothes indiscriminate

e

rom the foyer. T

s Gra

nst her ribs like a trapped bird. H

d on the marble floor of the livi

hed to the bedroom door. She grabbed the handle to slam it s

gainst the wood, holding i

. He looked like he had just come from a board meeting, not from destroying his

loosened his tie, unbuttoning the top button of his shirt. It

hit the mattress. "I'm leaving you," she said, her voice

glanced at the messy suitcase on

hen I say yo

kicked the suitcase shut. The sound

htstand. She needed a lawyer. She ne

nds. He simply raised his voice slight

ol, level three,

reen of Jada's phone went black. She tapped

motely disabled it. She clawed at his arm, her na

her sides, using his weight to back her against the

t," he

from his body. For a split second, the old chemistry-the physic

es darkened, pupils dilating. For a heart

back into place. His fa

esday," he said, his voice devoi

with eyes blazing with tears and fury. "You'll

ice was dangerously low, a rumble in h

f away as if touching her burned him. He

ome system is engaged. All communications are blocked

this! This i

s corrected coldly. "A

ed to t

n the forty-fifth floor. The street below was a blur of

roat. "Sleep in the guest room," she spat out.

hold. He looked back at her

," he said. "I sl

and pulled t

. Whi

iding into place. The smart home system

heavy wood with both fists. "D

as the on

r throat was raw. She kicked t

n't co

She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in her arms. She

n a gilded cage, wai