it belonged to another planet. Finley watched the gritty streets of Queens give

ng streetlights. The man who had twisted her stepbrother's wrist and the man who had gently placed a

and pulling up in front of a respectable-looking brick apartment

nd retrieved her suitcase, placing it on the curb. He got

make a desperate leap of logic. He must have rented it. Or borrowed it. Just for to

on said, leading h

e unlocked the door and pushed it open,

d inside a

gs, large windows, and gleaming hardwood fl

ble. The kitchen, visible through an open doorway, was a pristine expanse of s

brow furrowed in confus

"No. I just rented it. My old lease was up,

personality. And it did something more. It made him seem incredibly thoughtful.

th washing away her confusion.

hat's the master bedroom. It's yours. It has its own bathroom." He the

s offering her the main bedroom, the comfortable bed, while he took a cot. It was another gesture of such profound decency that it left her s

weakly. "It's your apartment.

tone leaving no room for argument. "You need

ther. She was too ti

is voice gentle. "Relax. I'll order so

ling numb. "Anything is

nk slate. She stood under the hot spray of the shower for a long time, letting the water was

ound a pizza box and a container of salad on the coffee table. Garrison was

e said, pushing the bag toward her.

things. He had thought of everything. They ate in silence, sitting on the floor of their empty new home. It shoul

finally, her voice s

serious. "You're my wife, Finl

contract, part of the deal. But the way he said it, with such s

m to the kitchen. "You should get some sleep," he said.

nd retreated

large, comfortable bed. The sheets smelled clean, like sunshine and cotton. For the first time

d, his hands laced behind his head. He listened until he could

ut his phone. He sent a

arthy. I want to know every debt he has, every corner

ll he could see was Finley's face, pale and de

s the silent, empty apartment, a wall separating them, it was clear that the