car felt charged. Gerhard sat close to her, his thigh pressi

ed, Marta gaspe

ard ordered

iving room. He sat her down and

rkened again. Thunder r

or had given her starting to kick

le in front of her. He pointe

I want to see what wa

fingers fumbled with th

ied with ribbon. And a paintbrush. The handle was broken, t

was a painter. He wasn't famous. He p

ked up the brush. He turned

aid, his voice surprisingly

surprised. "How

"I did a background check on you, Dawn. Standard proc

ourse. It

worn bristles. He placed the brush back in the box with

ve se

said dismissively. "I'v

e pack. Gerhard took the ice and hel

" he said. "I

elids grew heavy. She lean

the sound of rain

e night, the w

hunder shook

n the penthouse. She was in the subway tunnel. The lights were out. The air wa

reathe. Her th

heets. She tried to scream, but no soun

couldn't count. Her f

the door b

h overhead light, but the warm glow

aw

ing sweatpants and a t-shirt.

g, her face blue

ed. He grabbed her shoul

im, her eyes wi

ice low and steady, an anchor in the storm. "

didn't pull her into his arms. Instead, he took her clenched fist

pressing his thumb into the

thing. The steady pressure i

The car crash faded. The smell

ke. She cried, her shoulders shaking, grippi

r. With his other hand, he reached out and stroke

he whispered.

e of the bed, a silent guard, until her ragge