ked slowly toward

heavy oak door shut. The lock cl

he cool, polished wood. A shaky,

ne-stained uniform. She balled up the wet fabric and

osure. She turned the brass handle, cranking t

ter rained

r nails into her scalp, washing away the stick

y allowed herself to cry. The tears mixed with the shower water. Her father

the water. Her skin was flushed

eated rack. She wrapped it tightly around her body,

ged vanity mirror. She wiped

She forced her spine to straighten. She locked

r and stepped cautiously back

in darkness, illuminated only by the neon city

ther armchair in the dar

nated his sharp jawline. H

sudden sight of the cherr

ed into the ambient light. His predatory eyes lock

ipped with dark sarcasm. "How easily Beverly

ap. Ila's innate pride flared up,

oldly. "But I don't need your pity. An

ht toward the entryway, intending to leave the

r hand grasped the

ast for a man his size. His tall frame blocked the a

at just quietly acquired your father's medical debt will have him transferred to an underfunded

fr

ard her knuckles turned stark whit

She stared at him in abs

ps were completely silent on the thick carpe

ed thumb traced the delicat

t. She refused to look away

tated matter-of-factly. "And you need protecti

xactly do you want from me

. He took a half-step b

. "A legally binding, t

. The sheer absurdity of the w