piece of dry bread Vivian shoved through the door on the second day. Her hunger was a dull, constant ache, b

the house, and rain lashed against the small porthole window. Thunder cracked ove

scratching sound at the door. She held her breath

face pale in the dim light. She was holding a raincoa

spered, her voice choked with tears. "I won't

kly, her heart aching. "They'll fi

've saved. It's not much, but it will get you started somewhere new. This," she said, unfolding the paper

round the old woman's frail body. This was the only moth

oan from... a mother. Now go. I've sent Vivian on a fool's errand to the phar

d the money and the bus schedule deep into her pocket. They crept down the stairs, t

fierce hug. "Be safe, my dear girl. Live a

ide, plunging into t

neakers. She glanced back one last time at the house, a dark monolith with a sin

d and rain, her sights set on the distant glo

Ballard Stark stared out at the rain-streaked cityscape. The phone pressed t

rust is clear. You need a wife, an heir. Stabi

d of emotion. He massaged the bridge of his nose, a flicker of irritation crossing h

good enough.

, unbidden, to a chaotic night just a few days ago. The scent of jasmine, the feel of soft skin under his

street away, its sign a blurry beacon in the downpour. But her body was f

gs gave out. She pitched forward, the world tilting

s cut through the deluge, i

vid Foster, yelled, s

fishtailed, stopping with a violent lurch just inches

hell, David?" he snapped, his voice sharp with annoyance. H

the bone, lying facedown i

is voice cold and dismissive. "Mov

lard's gaze caught the woman's profile, h

eath h

e body we

w that

omething unreadable-shock, recognitio