ecovered

arcus, her heroic fiancé, had

Ethan reported for

his long-sleeved uniform shi

t. She thanked Marcus a

er car door, he winced. A

arp eyes mi

g with your

thi

t." Her voice

he rolled u

ed burns were star

ment, something flicker

one, replaced

d this

er the truth. It woul

her from the full, devastating truth about her moth

"Down by the shelter where I'm staying. Some guys

hetic lie, a

brief flicker of concern v

t for trouble, Ethan. Alwa

se, pulled out a wad of

nd try not to bleed

y was a ph

he money, his

Ms.

d them, his e

livia, increasingly paranoid about any atten

needed to be remo

o pick up her car from a dealership af

knew th

dealership's parking garage, looking for a spot,

in front

ly. The car barely t

t out a theat

than tried to

ound, clutching his k

then, walking from t

the ground. She he

er mother. The

ng back, fueled b

she shrieked, her fa

believed Ethan was a re

r other car,

engine, and in a moment o

han was standing beside,

sent him

cked against

ded throug

blac