hing, clawing its wa

-fitting scrubs, with no cash and no car. The evening traffi

she opened the ride-s

Sterling Es

was a tiny instrument of torture. Each second that passed was a

ecti

on, c

e pressed the wrong number twice b

ed up. A black Toyota C

alleyway, stripped off the scrubs and cap, and stuffed them into a dumpster. Underneath, she wore the simple jeans and t-shirt she'd put on tha

he curb. Chloe yanked th

. "And please, I'm in a huge hurry. I'll pay you double

sheveled appearance. He must have seen the desperation in her face, because he just nod

ng canyon roads, Chloe forced her

She neede

it was almonds. Not just the nuts themselves, but any tr

ersaw the family's event planning, would have known that. He also would have known that th

ident from the kitchen. I

ising her for landing the engagement he felt should have gone to a more suitable bride. He wanted Adrian's position, hi

ming Chloe in one move

could sh

would think she was insane. They would call security

storefronts. An idea sparked

she urged the driver. "It's an emergency. I need to

ed but swerved in

into the store, the automatic doors hissing open before

acist looked

aid, her voice breathless.

ng with sobs, without

have a prescription? I can't dispense an

er fear and urgency into her voice. "My friend. She's at a party. She has a severe nut allergy, and s

ievable panic. "There's no time to go to an ER.

man in front of him. He looked at her desperate face, the genuine

ay," he said, his voice

apped her phone on the payment terminal before he could eve

ing the box from his hand. "You h

precious box in her hand. It felt heavier than it s

the Camry, her he

, her voice steady now. "Le

irror. "Miss, the traffic is terrible in Be

ced at the

he didn't know. B

er weapons. Now, she was