p. Imogen's core muscles, weakened by years of poo

th leather, her shoulder

the driver's side door, pressing himself a

back to her side,

essy, chopped-short hair. "Sor

nversational, which made it terrifying. "Or are you still playing th

e had protected by keeping her mouth shut during the trial. Protecting him, and by

ly, a carefully calibrated tremor. "There were women... they we

e checked the rearvi

mogen's lungs.

d the paymen

, the heater, the radio-it all faded in

she whi

ights. The pillowcase filled with bars of soap. The k

orized corporate expense, s

and acidic. She clamped a h

dow. The glass slid down. "Don'

face. She gulped down the fresh air, fighting the nausea, fighting the re

kyscrapers loomed overhead, gra

on the console. The

tension in his shoulders dropped.

ar, sweet and airy, like spun suga

mogen hadn't heard in years. "Don't worry. I'll bring her in

"I just want her to be s

eat, Bella. I'll

ogen. "Bella is trying to protect you. She doesn't want you e

lip so hard she

she wouldn't be seen entering the front door lik

of the Crawford building, where Ford kept hi

word, walking towar

r frozen fingers clumsy. She pushed the

hit the concrete, and she stumbled,

elevator, holding the bu

u look like a beggar

y thing she had left. She limped toward him,

he elevator. The w

time, she saw

e suit, glowing wit

t stained and wrinkled. Her e

, looking at her reflection inst

lass. The love she had held

and hard was growing. Somet

e said. Her v

. The doors slid op