f the underground parkin

hers as they walked toward the sleek black Ma

had the rear do

mbs flew across the screen of his phone. He had changed

ked his hand free from Faith's grip and ran fo

ad

icy rigidity in his posture melted slightly. He reach

brief display of paternal warmth. A bitter

the cavernous back

the cold glass of the window. She put as much physical distanc

thick, heavy with an oppr

arents, sat perfectly still in the middle, his

he garage and merged into the chaoti

p to the wrought-iron gates of an elit

e pressed her lips to Leo's forehead, in

she whispered softly. "

kpack. He turned and waved enthusiastically at the ti

mall figure until he completely di

lowly sit back agai

mrest. With a soft, mechanical whir, the soundproof glass

tly felt like a vacuum. T

onto Faith. There was absolutely zero warmth in

said, his voice a lo

his gaze. Her eyes were as cal

," sh

less agreement clearly caught him off guard. But

ing with the exact same tone he used to di

k," Hartwell stated coldly.

in the chilled

nevitable explosion. He expected her to gasp, to start crying, to

ts prepared in his head to crush whatever pathetic

th didn

hing didn't hitch. Her chest rose and fe

taring at him with a

ing seconds

arted. She delivered a si

ka

His hands, which had been loosely cla

, utterly paraly

he had misheard her. Or worse, that this was some

ders crowding her space. He lowered h

Faith. I don't have the pa

him. She looked out the window at the b

oice flat and bored. "Just have y

artwell like a physical punch to the gut. It was

htness gripped his chest.

e, loosening the knot he had just tied. He glared at the

the towering glass-and-steel monolith of

ered with a hum. "We've arri

n glance in Hart

le, pushed it open, and stepp

ossed over her shoulder, slamming

e tinted glass as his wife walked to the corner, raised