n blanket. In the tiny, quiet apartment, the so

. She had brought a complete stranger, a man she'd known

tting hurt for her, and the gu

lready up. He was sitting on the sofa, looking

breaking the silence. "D

ok his

th two plates holding toasted bread and f

." She handed

flickering in his dark eyes. It had been a long,

movements were surprisingly graceful, at odds with his vagran

you can stay here and rest. Until you're bette

er, a hint of sur

es. The truth was, the apartment had been too empty for too long. Ha

ause, Ace gave

quickly finished her breakfast a

is for you. Don't wander off. Wait for me to get back." She

y on the table, his

lence descended on th

ow, watching her small figure merge with th

old-fashioned burner p

y. A respectful voice came through th

cold, authoritative, stripped of the raspy quality he'd used before.

ylin Cobb aske

rived on his phone. He opened it, his eye

t Columbia Law, her promising career at the New York DA's o

e victim's name, Gideon's

Melanie

the Martinez family and a member of the s

fian

m Gideon's face, replaced b

death. And now, through a bizarre twist of fate,

filled with the scent of soap and cheap coffee. A s

," he murmur

become much, much