ed in the circular driveway of the sanatorium.

's longtime driver, stood by the rea

door open and bowed his head slightly. Leland

g her cardboard box. She moved

His elbow subtly but fi

yes were filled with disgust. He jerked his chin toward the rear-facing ju

h. She squeezed past Arthur's blocking arm, b

ut. The heavy thud sealed

lided forward, leaving the ir

as suffocating. The heat

poured himself two fingers of amber whiskey. He didn't offer

letting the ice clin

onight," Leland said, staring at the passing t

led the

t. You exist only to make Ashlyn shine brighter. You will show t

he sharp corner grazing her thigh. "Memorize every single word on this card," he commanded, his eyes narrow

The bare trees blurred into a gray

uscle in Leland's jaw twitch.

picked up a thick, glossy black paper

of the bag struck th

A thin red line appeared on her knuckl

ou look like a beggar who crawled out of a dumpster. I won

bag. She reached inside

d conservative, designed to make the wearer look entirely invisible. It was the p

gly fabric over h

aid. Her voice was flat, me

s head and stared out his wi

and glass of Manhattan. The neon lights from the city streets

glowing spire of the

p edge dug into her palm, but she welcomed the pain. She s

front entrance of the Four Seasons. Instead, it veered into a dar