diately silencing the children's chatter. "Oka

t casting curious backward glances. L

ched. He watched her every move with a guarded intensity.

oked like confusion in his eyes. "Where am I?

his eyes just moments before. He was lying. This was a calculated move. He didn

readable. "You were in an accident," she said, her voice cool and clinic

upillary response. "What's t

er leaving her face. "Nothing," he said, his voice l

s is the game we're playing, she thought. Fine. She wasn't g

er," she said smoothly. "R

ids..." he started, his voice casual, but Chloe could feel the weight of the qu

dren," she said,

ssed, his eyes searchi

. "Is that relevant to your medical c

raising a hand to his temple. "No,

d up, clear and matter-of-fact. "We

d, "Uncle, would you be our d

gaze on Chloe intensified, now filled with a thousand unspoken questions. Chloe felt a hot

. Now. I

silence that remained was more c

one of sincere, if feigned, gratitude

welcome. As soon as you're stable, I'll contact th

ne alarm crossed his face before he could hide i

th a wince of pain. "No police. Please. I don't remem

t she knew he wasn't scared.

. He wanted to stay here, under the radar. Why? To hide from wh

uld us

"You can stay here. For now. U

hed over h

oice firm. "You will pay for your ro

ocket, then stopped, remembering his tattered clothes. A slow, charming smile spre

," he said, his blue eyes twinkling. "But I'm sure o

turning to leave. "For now, just focus on gettin

game had begun. And for the first time in a long time, she felt a t