ng the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned w

Your left tail light is out, Ms. Chen. That's a violation. Of

er. "Handle the driver. I

dition. Kia was meticulous about maintenance. But argu

r. The dome light flooded

d. One word.

seatbelt strap acro

on his jaw, the exhaustion lines around his eyes. "Don't make a scene, Kelsie.

ew exactly which button to push. He knew s

t. The sound was like a g

t asphalt. Her legs felt weak,

o open her do

n her path. "Ma'am, plea

just above the elbow. His grip was firm, bordering on painful

elsie hissed, try

lashing lights, toward a black SUV parked in the shadows on the s

elsie said, digging her

ing out the rest of the world. "You're not gett

d into her coat pocket for her phone. She needed

he phone from her grasp before s

lsie grab

t next to her license. "I am you

," Kelsie said,

fight," he corr

dn't shove her, but his presence was a wall that pus

ed the d

the handle, she heard the thun

houette cut through the beams of the headlights.

t. The interior of the car smell

to life. He pulled out into traffic, m

staring out the window. The city

e days ago. The kitchen. The

shb

he brochure for the IVF clinic. "Dr. Hester says my levels

from his file. "Not now, Kel

wing the brochure on the counter. "It's been

cold. "Because you're not stable eno

sion shifting instantly from annoyance to concern. He had taken

Flas

e memory was colder

d the climate control dial. W

everything. It was part of his job, part of his nature.

said, though her te

oftly. "Stop fightin

pped me,"

ou from a ro

used th

. He just kept hi

s. They were heading west. Towar

Kelsie said, panic flaring a

oint. You stayed away for three days.

ughed, a bitter sound.

his cheek. "I knew where you were. I

hanged

e just pressed hard