a's

smelled like stale

tress, wrapping a thin, scratchy t

the cracked windowpane. My wet dress l

g. I pulled out the tiny plastic stick and stared at the

ould the happiest discovery of my life happen on

y, prepaid phone Adrian had shoved into my

with a high-priority video notification. It was a secret, encryp

ssed

en. His eyes were wide, and sweat dripped down his

se hummed through his speakers. "I don't have much time. Julian is blind right now, but you are comple

sing a hand ag

racking with panic. "When they realized someone was getting close to discovering their money laundering ring, they nee

who built the trap, but he had believed it. He had

"It contains part of the financial ledger. I am driving to the main police station right now

sentence, a loud, violent crash

t out instantly, replaced

I screamed at the tiny phone

d and clicked on the small television hanging on the wall

m with urgent news. A luxury sedan belonging to the Sterling family has just suffered a ca

ghway. A car was engulfed in r

hit the cold carpet, sobbing so hard I couldn't breathe. Adrian w

prepaid phone. It was an automated text message A

knows the truth. Do not try to clear your name. Do not try to go back to Julian. Run. Change your name. Hide where no one ca

in my fist until my k

save my relationship. I couldn't fix my reputation. The man I loved thought I was a mons

ks, my fear slowly hardening i

nd dropped it into the trash can. I grabbed my bag, wrapped a dark sweater tight aroun

baby," I whispered

d out into the freezing rain, a