the underground parking gara

e walked past the private driver Bernhard had hired for her, ignoring h

s was her silver Porsche 911. It was the only thing she owned that she had bou

d into the low driver's s

The palm of her right hand was throbbing violently, a hot, stinging

The engine roared to life

garage, merging aggressively into the chaotic,

f the Porsche

e sea of red tailli

flashed behind her eyes. It was a physical blow. Her chest cave

d been holding b

ng her vision. She let out a ragged sob, aggressively

n her chest that she didn't see

t of her slamme

way. The brake lights flar

stomped her foot down on the

y screeched against the asphalt

UN

act was

The seatbelt locked, biting savagely into her collarbone an

ed back agains

oy, but the world spun

r air. Her chest burned. Her hands were shaking so

open and stumbled

ont of her Porsche.

ed at the car

on Martin DB5. A car worth more than most penthouses. The rear b

e door of the As

steppe

t his broad shoulders perfectly. His jaw was sharp, his hair dark, and his eyes were

r. He stared at the crushed bum

c in her throat. She walked towar

ng. "I wasn't paying attention. It was entir

d slowly. His icy gray

he way her hands were visibly shaking. The hard, furious edge in his eyes so

a large, s

s voice was a low, resonant baritone

let. She pulled out her driver's license, her insurance card,

nced at the insurance slip, th

en C

ized the name. The Carter family was old New York real

w it etched on the premium insurance card he briefly flashed a

latly. He turned his back to her and wal

briefly. The officer hopped off and began directin

tood on the side of the road. They didn't speak. The s

y of the accident report. Hayden w

ed it back, and gave the m

her damaged Porsche

screen of her phone, resting

of text message

e ar

cting lik

ight now an

g a massive m

. The sadness was gone. Th

e. She went into Bernh

Block

e seat, face down. She started th

days. Three days of absolute silence to pr