h and silver. Isla hadn't slept. Her mind k

involved with a man

id she

uld Dominic go

t the door jol

ayed s

came aga

a voice calle

barely older than her, clean-shaven,

he said. "B

protest. But her pride wouldn't let he

ok the

tching?"

he didn't answer. He simp

the tray on the edge of

poisoned

rries. A glass

ed up th

as r

imitation. Not

ee

red back at her in

Or an op

e mattress before ta

watched

tion, posture, the subtle way

irl," he

tablet. "We found her sister. Violet Ha

jaw clench

me Leigh Green. Showed up again in Tokyo six months ago. Vanished again last month.

wns th

he last person seen with h

s eyes d

i K

s. Human trafficker

y name. Every transaction. Every fa

ded. "And

. Isla had finished eating. She w

ome to me

she do

smiled

e w

opened

, she did

tood ther

with

idn't

" she

said simply. "And I want t

foll

use he o

needed to un

rol

ape

e didn't touch her, but his presence wrappe

before a thic

his palm to

ssed

inside wa

A single chai

an tied

a f

neath him. His shirt was t

this?" she

c step

said, "is y

rned t

ght he

d. Not

. inev

et to look a

he a

r n

le. "Why are you

e said, "is what

ven't

tecting someone who has. Tha

away from h

is

Small time. But

e hurt

led the man like a wolf. "It ended badly. He t

's a

met he

epends

d, still trembling. She hadn't spoken since

n't ha

asping-was carved behind her eyes

f how calm Do

n't hi

t sho

ly asked

d waited for the pa

it

rned somethi

ale wasn'

s a s

he summone

to the m

sly, unsure of what

the pian

. Haunting. Beaut

il he gestured to t

e mood for a d

when I was ten. My mother insisted. S

d i

N

idn't

e piece, then

nk I'm a

ow yo

owly. "But n

sed to make me

posed to make

he bench and s

n who would have torn you open on that a

twisted versio

perspe

st her, pause

one week

r w

ce me not

closed be

nally let h

didn't l

't broken-but becaus

the bed, and pressed her back to the cold wall. The silence in

r what he was capable of.

nt there

eeper. Some

o get ahe

eded t

eded a

Violet stole-and why it was

ing, the rout

Tray. S

folded note reste

g. Just a pri

is open. U

art po

tr

portu

n the same black silk robe

lway. Just velvet carpet and ol

library two

was m

od and glass cabinets. Tables stacked with

just a rea

an ar

books, stopping at a table

sie

otos. Dat

one. A woman. Earl

n. Lawyer. Va

one made h

et H

pies. A map with circles. The s

methin

Isla didn't recognize-dark-skinned, hea

ath in red i

mentioned hi

rembled as she f

log. Weap

m, a note scribb

hem, the shipment stalls. Inte

omach

stolen some

't the only one

wanted h

the door c

round, hea

et man from before, t

o find that," he said,

for permission

inside, clo

arter than

let

ate fo

use I saw

closer. "Because

cked. "Chosen

en you and Dominic. But if I were you?"

e threatens. You threaten

iver o

ned an

clicked b

Dominic didn

mehow fe

thickened with questions and fear. Isla couldn't sleep, coul

believe she wa

l st

racks wer

minic

e, watching the storm buil

ed the sky in v

l her unrave

came from brute force. He want

him. He ex

ly, Isla Har

use he b

use she

d her name

ing her captivity. Isla sat on the window seat, legs curled unde

ghts kep

ant from me,

e. Power. Money. Men

ething

ied. No advances. No physical threats. Just fear and pr

her to com

hoos

erous in a way she

, a sliver-wondered who he was befo

uriosity w

d to k

, she didn't wai

nd stepped out, baref

efore stood holding the b

" she sai

ping aside as s

efore he turned. "

tated.

leave this

he camera above her d

ves unless

ften does

ked down

her more than the pr

o cameras. No blind spots. She found a second knife h

being gi

. A weapo

of them w

g her. Trying to convince her that h

dn't fal

ldn

ht, she heard

pi

polished floors. The house was sleeping, but that me

the doorway to

e he

shirt, sleeves rolled,

n't fo

't for

rief. Lo

a

scared her more

e was still a s

t be capab

he coul

d also

uld make her

way before h

n the hall, a voice ca

alk qu

fr

't stop

tle rabbit,"

am?" she asked

abbits

der. "Maybe I'm waiting f

. The silence between t

in redemption?"

inked.

. "Then you won

oom and lay in bed st

't just buil

uilding

e wors

her a version of herse