. The sky above Manhattan broke open, and

tes." He had no proof she would take a bus tonight. Only the image of her worn coat and the worn soles of her cheap black p

ed rhythmically against the windshield. Julian's eyes

s down, h

around her legs. She was shivering visibly, her arms wrapped tightly around her

p smoothly to the curb. Its tire

heart rate spiked. The tinted rear windo

s face was half in shadows, lit only by

re you catch pneumon

o her chest like a shield. "I prefer public transit," she sta

ointed a long finger at the torrential rain flooding the

shelter. Her eyes were cold, distant, and completely guarded

urned his pride. She was blatantly rejecting a

ntended to step out into the rain and physic

Her posture screamed defensive pa

It wasn't the calculated hesitation of a woman

pulative gold digger persona he had

bus roared down the street. Its bright headlights cut thr

er back on Julian and the Maybach entirely. She ste

r board the grimy, crowded bus, choosing the dam

nd it pulled away, leaving a

h the rearview mirror. He silentl

stance," Julian ordered. His obsess

he sat down heavily. She pressed her forehead against the cold,

t the memory of his cedarwood cologne and

od in Queens. Kinsley stepped off the train and walked the remaining blocks to her apa

llowed her to the subway entrance, then tracked the transit line east. He was a man who acquired

lit street with practiced caution. Sh

unlocked the heavy, graffiti-covered security door. She glance

t see the

uch absolute poverty? He tried to force the image of the dilapidated building to fit his narrative of a manipulative social climber, but the pieces violently cl

s jaw tight, desperately trying to patch the crack

e was determined to crush her resistan

her small, freezing apartment. She immediately took of

e corner. She struck a match and lit a cheap vanil

to the photo. She rubbed her cold arms, steeling her resol