onths

own leaves across the cracked p

, her hands stuffed into the pockets

n and a half months pregnant. Her lower back ached wi

jab struck her rib

hand to her stomach. She smiled, whi

oap shop paid for her groceries, and

ching, she had to get a prop

of-network clinic. The waiting room

and filled out the paper regis

cash, the receptionist d

eptionist said, tapping the incomplete box on

rote down Brenda Hollowa

new intern sitting at the computer, who dutifully typed

alled boardroom of the Whitaker Building

the last six months, he had become a ruthless, unpredict

ardroom door

the shocked gasps of the board me

d tablet on the table

dilated. He snat

ency contact was Brenda Holloway-Janelle's college roommate. "Sir, the system flagged the n

clinic in a remot

racking system had been scanning for Brenda's nam

her chair screeched backward, tipp

was frozen mid-presentation. He

oom, adjusting his tie wit

ecurity officer trailing behind him. "

Maybach tore through the Linc

ed, building up to a deafening roar as the jet shot

n, Bryant poured himself

red out the window at the clouds, his mind cycling thro

ked out of the clinic, holding a sm

d her the baby was

r coat tighter around her body. She looked up at the gloomy sky, complete